Midtown Plaza will stay open at least until the end of the year while the city makes plans to buy four parcels on East Main Street and South Clinton Avenue - the first steps in the Midtown Plaza revitalization project.

The city will attempt to negotiate a purchase price for 285 East Main Street, 18-26 South Clinton Avenue, 32-58 South Clinton Avenue; and 100 South Clinton Avenue, from Midtown Rochester Properties. These are "all of the buildings we traditionally define as Midtown," says Tom Richards, the city's corporation counsel. They include the tower, the mall, the former McCurdy's and B. Forman buildings, and the Euclid building.

Not included is Citizens Bank at the corner of Main Street and Clinton Avenue.

The buildings will be demolished, and a portion of the 8.6-acre site will be sold or leased for Paetec's world headquarters. The state has pledged up to $65 million to tear Midtown down. The remainder of the site, excluding Paetec, will be subject to a development plan, Richard says: a general concept of how the property should be used.

"There will be lots of room for public input," he says.

The Midtown complex, Richards says, is over 80-percent vacant.

A consultant will be hired to help relocate existing tenants. The city has begun meeting with the tenants, Richards says.

City Council will hold a hearing on the proposal to buy the property at its November 13 meeting. The vote should come at the December 18 meeting. The four parcels the city wants to buy will be appraised. The purchase price for the plaza as well as the cost of relocating current tenants will be part of the December legislation.