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Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - Mayo Clinic has developed a 15-year construction plan for downtown Rochester that would transform the city’s skyline and economy.

Numerous anonymous sources have provided KROC News with exclusive information about a multibillion-dollar plan that dwarfs the turn-of-the-century Gonda Building project. The sources have outlined a development plan that covers at least five entire city blocks that is highlighted by the construction of a new hospital on the Ozmun Building site that features twin towers that could rise 10 stories above the 21-story Gonda Building.

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Sources say Mayo's plan also includes a new laboratory facility at the current Baldwin Building site. It would cover the entire block south of Second Street between Fourth and Fifth Avenues Southwest. A 3D mockup of the development shows a five-story structure that incorporates a 15-story tower on the side of the property.

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The mockup also shows two new structures replacing the Damon Parking Ramp and the Mayo Medical Sciences Building. It appears they could be parking facilities. While shorter than the highest of the two hospital towers, the mockup shows a new structure at the Damon Parking Ramp site that is taller than the Gonda and Mayo Diagnostic Buildings with numerous skyway connections to the Gonda Building and the hospital complex.

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The sources did not have an overall price tag for the downtown construction projects, but it's likely they account for much of the more than $4 billion in investments that Mayo Clinic has warned could be shifted to other states if significant changes are not made to provisions of the omnibus health and human services bill that appears to be headed for final passage in the Minnesota State Legislature this week.

The email sent to Governor Tim Walz and legislative leaders earlier this month warning that the proposed legislation could jeopardize Mayo Clinic's plan for the Minnesota investments also indicated the Board of Trustees was set to make a decision on the projects last week. Mayo Clinic later issued a statement indicating that the decision had been postponed due to the ongoing negotiations with state lawmakers and the governor.

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Legislative leaders are indicating that a compromise is in the works. State House Speaker Melissa Hortman gave an interview to WCCO over the weekend and suggested Mayo Clinic could receive exemptions from the nurse staffing and healthcare cost provisions that would allow the healthcare giant to proceed with its ambitious development plans.

When contacted by KROC News, a Mayo Clinic spokesperson responded with the following statement.

“Mayo Clinic is exploring a multi-year, strategic initiative that aims to transform health care with a focus on Rochester. Our planning efforts are focused on reimagining the future of care from a digital and physical perspective. This includes envisioning new and renewed spaces to meet the needs of Mayo Clinic patients, visitors, and staff in future generations and far exceeds the original goal of Mayo Clinic private investment in the Destination Medical Center initiative. Currently, Mayo Clinic is awaiting the outcome of the legislative session before determining next steps.”

This is a developing story; download the KROC News App for updates.

UPDATE (11/28/23): Mayo Clinic Unveils $5 Billion Expansion Plan

UPDATE (5/18/23): Mayo Clinic Exemption Added to Nurse Staffing Bill

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