Massive Mayo Clinic Development Plans in Rochester Move Forward

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- Mayo Clinic's plans for a development that would transform downtown Rochester have taken another step forward. 

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An update to the healthcare provider’s five-year plan was the subject of a public hearing held during Monday night’s Rochester City Council meeting.

The changes to the plan involve projects planned in connection with Mayo's Bold-Forward-Unbound strategy for transforming the delivery of healthcare.

The Rochester city council last night unanimously approved an update to Mayo’s plan. Documentation submitted to the city indicates that Mayo is planning for the addition of nearly 1.7 million square feet of space for medical care at the current Ozmun Building site and the current Damon Parking Ramp. 

The project also includes a unified patient entry area to the Mayo downtown campus that will likely result in closing portions of 3rd and 4th Avenues Southwest between the Gonda Building and the patient care facility proposed for the Ozmun site.

The five-year plan includes the demolition of the former Lourdes High School Building for use as an ancillary support facility. The Damon Parking Ramp and the Ozmun parking structure would also come down to make way for additional medical care space. 

The plan also calls for adding two new parking structures, one designated for Mayo Clinic patients and visitors and the other for Mayo Clinic employees. Overall, the five-year plan adds almost 190,000 square feet of space for parking.

Earlier statements from Mayo Clinic indicated the massive construction plan could be presented to the Mayo Clinic Board of Trustees for final approval before the end of the year with construction beginning in 2024.