Rochester's Historic Buildings Set For Significant Expansion

Update: Proposed Addition to Historic Rochester Buildings Rejected

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) is set to take up a proposal to add multiple stories to a host of historic buildings in downtown Rochester.

Rochester Community Development staff is recommending the commissioners approve a Certificate of Appropriateness for the proposed addition during Tuesday night’s meeting.

The property is located within the Downtown Rochester Historic District.

Certificate of Appropriateness Recommended for 7-Story Addition to Buildings in 300 Block of South Broadway Ave.

GH2 Investments LLC, the owner of the properties located at 309, 311, 313, 315 and 317 South Broadway Ave., is proposing a seven-story addition to the historic buildings.

Documents submitted to the HPC indicate the addition would be used for student housing. It would include 35 “tower units” and eight renovated units.

The plans indicate the addition would be at the back of the buildings and would rise five stories above the current roof line.

The addition would be located as far as 80 feet away from South Broadway Ave. and as close as 40 feet away from the busy street.

Access to the 318 Commons along 1st Ave. SW by skyway would be maintained under the new proposal.

Also included in the plans are a conversion of the entrance to the 309 building, currently Treedom, into a two-story lobby while maintaining the current facade and the addition of a two-story covered courtyard for tenants in the back lot of the buildings.

Staff Rational

The staff recommendation for approval is based upon the proposal meeting “Secretary of Interior standards for rehabilitation” and “locally adopted design guidelines,” the agenda item says.

Prior Redevelopment Attempts

The proposal is the latest in a series of efforts to attempt to redevelop the historic buildings.

As recently as last year, the HPC and the Rochester City Council rejected plans that called for completely demolishing the former FJ Paine Company Building and only maintaining the front facades at 311-313 and 315- 317 South Broadway Ave.