ROCHESTER N.Y. -- Residents who have lived in Rochester for more than a generation can remember the prominent Midtown Tower and mall that was once the epicenter of Rochester’s downtown culture. Younger residents wouldn’t know it as anything special, but soon a new legacy is to be created for the location.

Tower 280’s construction is almost complete. The newly renovated and renamed building will offer luxury residential apartments and prime commercial real estate. The site offers a variety of living accommodations for a fairly expensive amount.

There are 181 apartments total, including 750 square foot studios for $1,100 a month and 2,000 square foot-two bedroom apartments for nearly $4,000 a month. Tower 280 offers underground parking, a concierge, fitness center and even a rooftop dog park.

Building managers say they’ve been giving tours to interested renters almost every day and that some units have already been leased.

Despite the comparatively high rent rates for Rochester, Buckingham Properties Manager Ken Glazer says people want the special touches, like indoor garages, and Midtown’s original windows and the incredible views they open up to.

“People want to live downtown and they are will to pay a little more for luxury,” Glazer said. “Once we get some of the units open and people living here, we think it will fill up real soon.”

The 17-story tower is almost 400,000 square feet of commercial, retail and residential space. Engineering firm Bergmann Associates announced in May it is moving into the entire second floor. Builders say they will soon announce some retailers moving into the first floor, but added they do have more space to fill.

Glazer says this project has meant a lot to him personally and he wanted to see it through. This was something his father started before his death in 2014, and cared very much about.

“This personally for my father was his last 'hurrah',” Glazer said. “It’s critical for me personally that we see it through and make it successful and let it be known that it was his to start and here we are.”

Residents are expected to move in by January 2016.