Funding for Rochester Apartment Denied, DMC Sets 2025 Projects

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Destination Medical Center Board made two key decisions during their quarterly meeting on Thursday.

See Also: Copper Reported Stolen from Rochester Construction Site

Officials took up a private funding request to construct a new apartment building along the recently-finished Discovery Walk in downtown Rochester.

They also laid out spending plans for Capital Improvement Projects next year.

Get our free mobile app

DMC Board Rejects Funding Request for Downtown Rochester Apartment Building

Board members rejected a private request for funding the construction of a 94-unit apartment building. The proposed site was along 2nd Ave. Southwest south of Two Discovery Square.

The agenda item says the decision to deny was based in part on the size of the funding request. R&R Properties of Mankato, LLP has requested more than $8.4 million in DMC funds to construct the $34 million development, an amount officials say is more than six times higher than the average amount of funding DMC has dished out for past projects.

Google

The development was also denied because it did not meet DMC’s goals for affordable housing and failed to align with the City of Rochester guidelines for street activation, the meeting agenda items says.

“While we wish to see the successful development of this site along Discovery Walk, we believe that the applicant’s request was not the best use of limited DMC resources,” said DMC Executive Director Patrick Seeb in a statement following the meeting.

Nearly $38.5 Million Approved by DMC Board for Project Spending in Rochester in 2025

Board members also approved nearly $38.5 million in spending for Capital Improvement Projects next year.

Some of the projects slated for the funding include construction activities related to the Link Rapid Transit on 2nd St. Southwest, design and planning for construction of a bridge to connect 6th St. Southeast to South Broadway Ave.

6th St bridge plan/Rochester

Funding is also set to be spent on interim wayfinding activities to help employees and visitors navigate downtown Rochester during Mayo Clinic’s expansion construction and analysis and planning for future capital needs at the Chateau Theater.

The next DMC Board meeting has been set for Dec. 5.