Riverfront Small Area Plan

The City of Rochester is developing a small area plan for a central waterfront property that links together several civic, cultural and government assets to the heart of downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic.

Project Impact(s): Recreation & Open Space, Universal Design

This project is in Plan Phase

Explore this page to view Beam's assessment of the basic description of the project, its impacts and collaboration atrributes. Also shown are status reports related to the project.
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Collaborators, Project Type, Impacts, Related Projects

Collaborators

Lead Organization: City of Rochester and DMC EDA

Contact: TBD ; Email: TBD ; Phone: TBD

Known/Likely Collaborators: City of Rochester, MN ; DMC EDA ; Riverfront Small Area Consultant Team

Potential Collaborators: Community Mobilization Resource Coalition (CMRC) ; Diversity Council ; Sherman Associates

Related Projects

DMC Discovery Square ; Destination Medical Center (DMC) ; Discovery Walk Co-designing ; Downtown Waterfront Southeast: 6th Street Bridge Concept Design ; Intercultural Center, Rochester (Creating a 21st Century Community Space) ; South-of-Downtown Waterfront Small Area Plan

Impacts

Major Impact: Recreation & Open Space

PlanScape Impacts :

Level 1: Recreation & Open Space, Universal Design

Level 2:

DMC Impacts:

Livable City, Waterfront

Community Health Impacts:

Type of Project

Planning, Programming

Detailed Description

Feb, 2022

The Riverfront Small Area Plan is a community-driven process to develop a market-supported vision for a central waterfront property. The site’s transformation will link together several civic, cultural and government assets to the heart of downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic. The plan will establish a people-centric place that leverages natural and cultural resources and supports multi-modal connectivity to adjacent areas including the Downtown.

The Riverfront Small Area Plan will be a transformative, one-of-a-kind project, which encompasses Rochester’s past as well as its future and is welcome to all. It will include vibrant public spaces, some development, and an integration of nature and the Zumbro River. As America’s City for Health, Rochester is a global medical destination. Therefore, the project will incorporate accessibility for all abilities and center human wellbeing in its design.

The consultant team, composed of Gamble Associates (lead, Urban Designers and Architects), NEOO Partners (Community Engagement and Economic Development), SWA Group (Landscape Architects), omloop (Branding and Wayfinding) is partnered with a co-design group composed of members from different communities around Rochester. Multiple public engagement events will be held for the duration of the project, beginning with this virtual series.

Project Overview Link to video

October, 2019 Statement of Interest

PB Reporting, October, 2019

The next steps following a failed proposal to build a pair of towers along the Zumbro River could be taken Monday.

The Rochester City Council is expected to start the process of asking developers and others for potential uses and partnerships for 2.5 acres of city-owned land that sits along the west side of the Zumbro River opposite the city-county Government Center, between Second and Fourth streets.

The bulk of the land was slated to be developed by Bloom International Realty until the company backed out of approved plans late last year.

“At that time, we took it as an opportunity to maybe utilize that space for what the community and city deem as priorities,” said Josh Johnsen, the city’s project manager for the Riverfront Re-Imagined effort.

Bloom had held City Council-approved exclusive negotiating rights for most of the property since 2015.

The city plans to start actively soliciting submissions detailing concepts, partnerships and development options for the site Tuesday, if the City Council supports the plan during its 3:30 p.m. work session Monday.

Ideas will be gathered through Jan. 30, with plans to use the information to develop a proposal early next year. A final plan for the project could be in place by the end of 2020.

Where the Bloom project called for a mix of senior housing, hotel rooms and condos, amid parking and retail space, Johnson and Assistant City Administrator Aaron Parrish recently told the Rochester Public Library Board that nothing is ruled out at this point.

That could mean relocating the library, which has been a target for potential expansion in recent years.

In the city’s document seeking development concepts, the library is seen as a potential asset for a future business partner, noting approximately 500,000 community members and visitors visit the site, and its bookmobile, each year.

It also notes the current site could become part of a bigger package.

“The City Council and Library Board would consider leveraging the existing library site to facilitate a (public-private partnership) development framework, or using the site as equity for potential integration within the Riverfront Re-Imagined development,” it states.

Johnsen estimates the land currently occupied by the library would be valued at approximately $4.4 million.

“It’s just another asset we could potentially bring to the table,” he said.

Other benefits developers could potentially tap into by working with the city as partners for developing the riverfront site include eligibility for tax-increment financing and cost sharing with the city or other entities.

The city also indicates potential partnerships with University of Minnesota Rochester and the Rochester YMCA could be part of a plan.

While the city is outlining its potential priorities for developers, Johnsen said a key part of the process calls for giving developers enough room to produce creative proposals without needing to pander to specific city requests.

“We want to actually get their feedback on how they see the development,” he said, noting the goal is to develop a project that meets public needs of the city, as well as private interests of a potential developer.

Parrish said a potential development agreement could unfold in various ways, which might include selling a portion or all of the city land.

“We’re open to all different options for partnership,” he said.

Pinned Reports on: Riverfront Small Area Plan

Riverfront Small Area Plan (November 30, 2023)

November DMCC Board:

Presentation Slides
Video Clips

May 19, 2023 Report to DMC

Nov 20 City of Rochester Study Session

Riverfront Small Area Plan (November 19, 2022)

Consultant Team Report and Recommendations to the City of Rochester

Riverfront Small Area Plan Community Engagement Sessions (March 24, 2022)

Rochester’s downtown riverfront is poised for transformation. The Riverfront Small Area Plan project will create a high-level plan for future phased redevelopment.

Riverfront Small Area Plan Consultant selected (February 03, 2022)

Gambol Associates, a Massachusetts firm, selected for the project to come up with a concrete proposal.

Reports on: Riverfront Small Area Plan

Riverfront Small Area Plan (November 30, 2023)

November DMCC Board:

Presentation Slides
Video Clips

May 19, 2023 Report to DMC

Nov 20 City of Rochester Study Session

Riverfront Small Area Plan (November 19, 2022)

Consultant Team Report and Recommendations to the City of Rochester

Riverfront Small Area Plan Community Engagement Sessions (March 24, 2022)

Rochester’s downtown riverfront is poised for transformation. The Riverfront Small Area Plan project will create a high-level plan for future phased redevelopment.