Rochester City Council Backs Denial of Proposed Development in Downtown Historic District

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council backed the Heritage Preservation Commission's denial of a proposed development in downtown Rochester. 

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Local developer Hal Henderson proposed the demolition of one of the historic buildings in the 300 block of South Broadway Ave. to accommodate construction of a mixed-use tower on the west side of the street. 

The proposal called for a glass elevator tower and would only retain the front facades of several adjacent properties, which are in downtown Rochester’s Historic District. 

Spaces for retail, higher education uses, student housing, and market rate housing were included in the plans. Much of the space facing South Broadway would be used for gymnasium, according to the proposal. 

Rochester City Council Sides with Heritage Preservation Commission to Deny Development in Downtown Historic District

In April, the Rochester Heritage Preservation Commission denied issuing a "certificate of appropriateness" needed for the development to move forward.

 A request to remove the historic landmark designation for the properties was also rejected by the commission last month.

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The denial was based on a staff recommendation that indicated the proposed development did not meet standards for the treatment of designated landmark properties and required demolition.

On Monday night, the Rochester City Council upheld the Heritage Preservation Commission's denial. 

Councilmembers rejected the request to scrap the historic designation for the properties on a 5-2 vote with council members Shaun Palmer and Andy Friedrichs voting against the denial. 

The council also upheld the commission’s decision to reject the certificate of appropriateness on a 5-2.

It's the second time since 2023 the city has rejected a proposed development at the properties.