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This is a "home-grown" portal that provides views into the DMC Project. The information here is extracted from publicly available sources.

DMC Plan Reader
Explanation

Official DMC Plan which frames the vision and execution of the public spending on the project.

2020 DMC Plan Update

 


 

DMC Original Plan

DMC Plan

dmc docDMC Corporation has approved the 2015 DMC Plan and Framework. The official version of the plan can be found on the DMC website.

The plan is a 694 page document which can downloaded as a 100MB PDF file.

To make it easier for online access, we have separated the monolithic PDF file into subject sections. Readers can click on the link to access the topic of interests.

  1. DMC Plan Introduction
  2. Goals
  3. 1.3 SUMMARY OF MASTER PLAN AND DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS
  4. Market Summary and Program Statement (Summary Section 1.4)
  5. Section 2.4 Metrics
  6. DMC Pillars
    1. DMC Plan Draft Section on Health & Wellness (Page 83 - 86)
    2. DMC Plan Draft Section on Commerce & Science & Technology (Page 87)
    3. Retail, Dining and Entertainment
    4. Hotel and Hospitality (Page 101)
    5. DMC Plan Draft Section on Learning Environment
    6. DMC Plan Section on Sports And Recreation
    7. DMC Plan Draft Section on Livable City
  7. DMC Administration
    1. Section 2.0 DMC Capital Investment Plan (Phase 1)
    2. Section 2.3 Implementation Plan - DMC-CIP/Finance Plan (5 Years)
    3. Section 2.4 Metrics, Measurements and On-going reporting
    4. Section 3.0 Applying For and Evaluating Projects/Funding
    5. 3.2 Evaluation Criteria for Projects
    6. 3.3 Policies Consideration
    7. Operations
  8. Transportation Subplan
    1. Transportation Introduction
    2. Transportation Authority Proposal
  9. DMC Places
    1. DMC Key Places
    2. DMC Heart of the City
    3. Discovery Square
    4. UMR and Recreation
    5. DMC Central Station
    6. DMC Waterfront
    7. St Marys Place
  10. DMC Sustainability
  11. April 2015 DMCC Resolution - Adopting the Development Plan
  12. Appendix
    1. Reader Introduction
    2. DMC EDA 2016 Workplan
    3. DMC Development Guide
  13. DMC Dashboard

 

Read more

 

Discovery Square

Concept Description   Discovery Square Design 

Discovery Square Related Status

Central Station

Concept Description

Central Station Related Status


.

Transportation

LINK - Bus Rapid Transit

Develop Description

Link is a proposed 2.8 mile route along 2nd Street that will connect downtown Rochester, Mayo Civic Center, Mayo Clinic campuses, and the Downtown Waterfront Southeast area. Link will be operated by Rochester Public Transit and will be free for all users. Link buses are high amenity, 60-foot electric buses which will provide service to 7 stations across the city. Service intervals will be every 5 minutes on weekdays from 6 to 9 a.m. and 3 to 6 p.m., and every 10 to 15 minutes at other times. Link will operate from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 8 a.m. to midnight on weekends.

Strategies (How)

Why is Link necessary?

The 2nd Street SW corridor is one of the most heavily-used corridors in the City of Rochester, carrying more than 21,800 vehicles and 13,000 transit riders each day. The corridor is already near capacity, and congestion causes significant delays for transit users, drivers, and others traveling through the area. Link Rapid Transit will:

  • Expand transportation options.
  • Reduce the need for expensive parking.
  • Alleviate future congestion.
  • Prepare for downtown growth and support sustainable development.
  • Improve quality of life for residents, employees, and visitors.

 

BRT was selected in 2019 as a result of the Alternatives Evaluation. The preferred route follows 2nd Street SW from the Mayo West Lot to downtown Rochester and will primarily operate in dedicated bus lanes. The current phase of work includes:

  • Environmental review.
  • Preliminary engineering.
  • Communication and public engagement.

Results (Work Products)

  1. Efficient, convenient and accessible transportation systems that provides favorable cost structure commuters, employers and the public sector
  2. More marketable downtown properties
  3. More efficient and effective use of existing and future parking supplies
  4. Better efficiencies in the use of land and reduced parking development costs (for both private and public sectors)
  5. Greater transit ridership
  6. Reduced traffic congestion
  7. A strong partnership between the public sector, Mayo Clinic and the downtown business community
  8. Measurable success based on consensus targets for access and growth

Indicators (How do we know we are achieving the results?)

  1. Organization that effectively supports and advocates the long-term economic vitality and livability of the downtown
  2. Downtown parking to support economic development goals
  3. Increased percentage of downtown employees commuting by transit from 10% (2008) to 23-30% by 2035
  4. Increased number and percentage of commuter bike trips to downtown Rochester from an existing bike/walk mode split of 7% (2008) to 13% by 2035
  5. Increased percentage of downtown employees commuting by carpool/vanpools to downtown Rochester from 12% (2008) to 14% (2035)
  6. Increased employee awareness of the Rochester Access Management Authority and alternative mode transportation options
  7. System-wide partnerships to support parking and TDM efforts/mission

Status/News

Link BRT a milestone project for Rochester (March 28, 2025)

DMC Feb 2025 Board Meeting Memo 

City of Rochester Receives $84.92 Million Federal Grant for Transformative Link Bus Rapid Transit Project

LINK Progress Report to City Council 

Rochester eyes TIF to support Transit Village, Public Parking

March & May, 2025 Update per PB Reporting

Read more ...
Mobility Updates (December 08, 2023)
October 23, 2023 City Council Study Session 

May 2022; February 2022 and November 2021 Rapid Transit Updates and Upcoming milestones presented to DMCC. 

Read more ...
SRF Consulting - Rochester Rapid Transit (September 08, 2021)
To achieve maximum results, the project team took a unique “co-design” approach to gather the input needed for shaping the Rochester Rapid Transit Project to reflect the community’s values. 

Read more ...
DMC Transportation Plan - Circular (November 20, 2020)
DMCC Board Voted in favor of staff recommendations 2019

Read more ...
DMC Mobility Presentations (October 30, 2020)

October 2020 Series of DMC Webinars - 5 Year Updates

Read more ...
Rochester City Transit Development Seeking Co-designers (September 08, 2020)

Co-designers will be Rochester residents with strong connections to their communities and local knowledge of their neighborhood and the Rapid Transit Project area. 

Read more ...
DMC Transportation Plan Status (November 06, 2018)

Status reports and documentations presented to DMCC.

Read more ...
SRF Status Reports on DMC Transportation and questions about MWO supply chain (June 24, 2016)
A number of DMC Transportation RFP questions were brought up by Susan Park Rani, DMC board member.

Read more ...
DMCC Board raised concern about lack of transporation planning progress (May 29, 2016)

Frustration was raised about the lack of transportation stake-in-the-ground at the May 26, 2016 DMC Board meeting. In project management 101 parlance, there is a lack of a work-break-down-structure of the overall DMC development plan.

Read more ...

Rochester, MN Transit Development Plan Update

Plan Description

The Rochester Transit Development Plan 2022 Update will provide recommendations for how Rochester’s transit system can improve and build upon Rochester’s 2017 Transit Development Plan. The plan will evaluate and make short- and long-term recommendations for:

Results (Work Products)

Same as DMC Transit? 

Status/News

Rochester Public Transit (December 06, 2024)

To better serve the needs of residents in the southeast part of the city, Rochester Public Transit’s (RPT) on-demand transit service “RPT GO” has been modified in the following ways: 

Read more ...
2022 Rochester, MN Transit Development Plan Updating (June 24, 2022)
May 5 2022 virtual open house: Presentation and Video Recording

Read more ...
Rochester City Transit Development Plan - Transit Hub (January 14, 2020)

Will transit hub be on former Seneca site? And what is being proposed? 

 

Read more ...
Rochester Transportation Plan References (January 02, 2019)
Found the following links on Rochester City Website.  The City of Rochester is conducting four integrated transit studies to refine the concepts identified in the DMC Plan.

Read more ...
City Transit Plan ready for public review (February 23, 2017)

Bryan Law presented the latest Rochester city transit planning status to CNG's Feb. 2017 meeting.

Read more ...
Rochester City Transit Development Plan Public Feedback Sessions (October 11, 2016)

Five public meetings are scheduled to discuss Transit Development Plan here in Rochester. The RPT is asking for people's input on how to make the new Transit Development Plan successful.

Read more ...
Joseph Kapper, AICP Senior Transportation Planner SRF Consulting Group, Inc. Conducting Focus Groups (October 18, 2015)

Rochester Transit Development Plan – Focused Discussion Groups Date:Tuesday, October 27th Times:Option #1: 9:30a.m. – 11:00a.m. Option #2: 1:30p.m. – 3:00p.m. Location: Rochester City Hall, Conference Room #320 201 4th Street SE, Rochester, MN 55904

Read more ...

Transportation: ROCOG Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP)

Plan Description

The purpose of the Long Range Transportation Plan is: To identify major transportation investment needs in Olmsted County over the next 30-40 years To satisfy the federal mandate that all urban areas have a transportation plan that discusses the level in investment that can occur based on reasonably available funding To coordinate the actions of cities, counties, townships and MNDOT in developing major transportation facilities and services To provide updated system planning maps reflecting current thinking on community growth and land use development

Status/News

Transportation: ROCOG Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) (August 08, 2024)

2024 - 2027 Transportation Plan 

2023 - 2026 Transportation Plan: The Rochester-Olmsted Council of Governments (ROCOG) has released a draft of the 2023-2026 Transportation Improvement Program (TIP), for a 30-day public comment period. 

Read more ...
Transportation: ROCOG Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) (December 25, 2016)

Per the following  the ROCOG LRTP has been rendered online for immediate consumption.

Read more ...

 

 

 

 

 

DMC Reports
Explanation

Official DMC status statements or positions that the public may hold accountable toward the execution of the publicly funded portion of the DMC plan.

September 2015 DMC Board Status

2016 EDA Budget

September 22, 2015 DMC EDA: Read more

August 27, 2015 DMC Board Meeting

August status includes:

DMC Agency Reports:

DMC August 2015 Status Report and Meeting Material

PB headline: DMC EDA cuts budget to $3.9M for 2016 ...

Since the July meeting, the EDA board has polished its work plan, a document that details specific actions and objectives the agency will pursue. Fine tuning the work plan was a key step in refining the budget request, said Jeff Bolton, EDA Board chairman.

"Our objective is to attempt to really understand what it is you're trying to accomplish with these dollars. We want to make these dollars be as accountable and deliver as much return on the investment as we can,"  Jim Campbell (DMCC Board member) said.

What does DMC mean for Rochester's visitors?

"We don't have a competitive market analysis for visitors," Bill George, DMCC board member,  former Medtronic Corp. chairman and CEO, said Thursday.

August 26, 2015 DMC EDA/PB: Read more

July 30, 2015 DMC Board Meeting

July 30, 2015  DMCC Meeting Material:

Status report

Agenda and backup info

July 30, 2015 DMC EDA: Read more

EDA Status Report 2015-06-01

Eight Points Plan from Lisa Clark:

1. Creating a formal process for developers to approach and work with both DMC and the City of Rochester. 
2. Development of a formal monthly report for the DMC Corporation Board of Directors and the public.
3. A new Transportation Working Group held its first meeting bring all affected parties together. 
4. Website redesign is underway in two areas: more user-friendly, and developing a portal for investors and developers to get the information they need from anywhere in the world.
5. Community Engagement: “Partnerships are critical, Clarke said. 
6. Airport Engagement
7. Workforce Development: Elevating opportunities and satisfaction for employees across several industries throughout Rochester.

June 03, 2015 DMC Blog: Read more

DMCC's 6 Focus Items

The 6 Areas of concern identified by Tina Smith (May 4, 2015 PB Editorial print version) are:

  1. Social service and health impacts of the community
  2. A desire for energy and sustainability
  3. Making sure the process is inclusive (eg. reaching out to women- and minority-owned businesses)
  4. Addressing changing transportation needs
  5. Preserve historic elements of the city
  6. Meeting affordable housing needs

May 06, 2015 Post Bulletin: Read more

Heart of the City

Concept Description  Heart of the City Design

Heart of the City Related Status

Water Front

Concept Description Per Original Plan

Waterfront Related Projects

Waterfront Related Status


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Economic Development

Destination Medical Center (DMC)

Available Description

Intended to bring to Rochester, Olmsted County and Minnesota private investment in excess of $5.6 billion: • Seeks to create at least 35,000 new jobs in Minnesota and bring tax revenue in excess of $7 billion to the State • Intended to give prospective employees,patients and visitors substantial reason to consider Rochester their ‘destination’.

Strategies (How)

2020 Plan

 

 

 


 

1. Create a comprehensive strategic plan with a compelling vision that harnesses the energy and creativity of the entire community.

2: Leverage the public investment to attract more than $5 billion in private investment to Rochester and the region.

3. Create approximately 35,000 – 45,000 new jobs, with workforce development strategies that support that growth.

4. Generate approximately $7.5 - $8.0 billion in new net tax revenue over 35 year. 

5. Achieve the highest quality patient, companion, visitor, employee, and resident experience, now and in the future.

DMC 2019 Workplan

Per November 2018  DMCC Board Meeting: DMC 2019 Workplan  

 

 

2016 Work Plan

Click to view fullscreen

Drive subplans

DMC Heart of the City ; Discovery Square Feasibility Study   Transportation: DMC Transportation Framework 

Results (Work Products)

First Phase (2020) Summary of  Results  as reported per DMC Second Phase Forward report. 

New Jobs

Rochester added approximately 7,700 positions over the past five years, with growth concentrated in healthcare and additional jobs added in retail, hospitality, research and office segments. More than 80 percent of the new jobs paid more than Rochester’s Area Median Income of approximately $75,000. More local women and minority owned businesses are needed to fulfill the DMC vision and the project is on track to meet its 2035 jobs goal.

New Investment

Private investment during Phase 1 exceeded goal and totaled $963 million, which leveraged $98 million of public investment, including TIF funds. In all sectors except hotels, actual buildouts exceeded planned square footage. Projections indicate strong Phase 2 public funding while the impact of COVID-19 will influence how private investment occurs in 2020-2024.

New Tax Revenue

Phase 1 programs and investments delivered a tax revenue impact equal to roughly 12 percent of the goal, ahead of projections. New job creation has been the main driver of increased tax revenue. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on future tax revenue projections is being analyzed. DMC is working with the city and other collaborators to update the relevant economic models and projections.


Plans and Prototypes

To create the DMC Development Plan, DMC EDA recruited a group of the nation’s leading development and planning consultants to work in collaboration with the City of Rochester, Olmsted County, Mayo Clinic and community stakeholders. More detailed planning exercises with numerous organizations have also occurred, focused particularly on public realm planning, mobility options, housing needs and downtown energy district planning.


Transforming Experiences

The DMC team forged new partnerships with a range of community stakeholders to advance DMC’s core goal of delivering the highest quality patient, visitor and community member experience now and in the future. The “When in Rochester” app and a new RDA Ambassadors program grew out of ongoing efforts to ease stress for visiting patients and their companions and improve their stay experience from arrival through shift from clinical care to free time and end-of-day activities.

 


 

September 26, 2019 Updates

 

 

Indicators (How do we know we are achieving the results?)

Economic-Fiscal Projections/Analysis 

  1. Increases in Jobs
  2. Increases in Visitation
  3. Increase in Income, Property, Sales, Hotel-Motel and Other Taxes  
  4. Estimated Indirect Benefits (e.g. jobs, tax base, etc

Other Economic Indicators:

  1. Increases in Median Income (Above Inflationary Rates)
  2. Increases in Work Force Population Living in City/County
  3. Increases of the Gross Regional Product (GRP) 
  4. Increases in Targeted Business/Industry Sector

Real Estate Indicators:

  1. Number of Building Permits
  2. Property Tax Collection
  3. Hotel Occupancy/ADR
  4. Commercial Rental/Sales Data (e.g. Occupancies, Rental Rates, etc.)
  5. Retail Rental/Sales Data (e.g. Occupancies, Rental Rates, etc.)
  6. Residential Home Sales Data §Residential Rental Data (e.g. Occupancies, Rental Rates, etc.

Other Indicators:

  1. Number/Attendance at Conventions, Exhibitions and Other Events at Mayo Civic Center
  2. Visitation to Downtown
  3. Transit Ridership

 

Note: above Information based on DMC Plan Draft Section 2.4 Metrics, Measurements and On-going reporting

Status/News

May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Reports (10-Year Milestone) (May 29, 2025)
May 2025 DMCC Board Meeting Report

10-Year DMC Looking Back

 

Read more ...
Record Mayo Clinic DMC investment seen as other private development drops (March 28, 2025)
 

Annual Report to DEED Prep 

PB Reporting

" Overall private investment related to the Destination Medical Center initiative bounced back in 2024, but non-Mayo Clinic development continued to decline in the DMC district for the sixth year."

Read more ...
DMC Feb 2025 Key Topics (February 06, 2025)
Feb 2025 DMC Board Meeting Key Topics:

Annual Report; Metrics and Accountability; 2nd Street SW Public Realm Enhancement; Public/Private Collaboration to advance City for Health brand; Video Recording

Read more ...
DMC 2025 Budgets (October 16, 2024)
2025 Budget and Workplan September DMCC Board Meeting

City Council Oct 2024 on DMC 2025 Budget

 

Read more ...
2024 Destination Medical Center Reports (October 16, 2024)
Proceedings

September 2024 DMCC Board Meeting with 2025 Workplan Breakout

May 2024 DMCC Board Meeting and City, County, DMC Joint Meeting

Feb 2024 DMCC Board Meeting

Read more ...
2H 2023 Destination Medical Center (DMC) Meeting Informaiton (December 13, 2023)

November DMCC Meeting Info 

September DMCC Meeting Info

May DMCC Meeting Info 

Read more ...
Destination Medical Center 3Q 2023 Reports (October 01, 2023)
1. September 2023 DMCC Board Meeting:

2. Meeting Package,

3. Meeting Slides,

4. Video Recording 

5. Breakouts

Read more ...
1Q 2023 Destination Medical Center (DMC) Reports (March 23, 2023)

March 2023 Executive Committee Meeting;

Feb 9 2023 DMCC Board Meeting and City, County, DMC Collaborative Session

Read more ...
Destination Medical Center (DMC) (November 12, 2022)
November 2022 DMCC Board Meeting: notable topics: Experience Metrics,  Soldier Fields, Equitable development, Discovery square, Heart of the City

Read more ...
Destination Medical Center (DMC) (November 11, 2022)
November 2022 DMCC Meeting: Featuring Equity Development 

Read more ...

Mayo Clinic Bold Forward Unbound

Develop Description

An initiative that invests $5 billion to reshape six downtown blocks by 2030. The plan includes the construction of five new buildings — including two clinical buildings — with architectural firms Foster + Partners and CannonDesign and construction manager Gilbane. Construction is anticipated to pick up in early 2024, beginning with the demolition of former hotels on West Center Street, the former Lourdes High School building, Damon parking ramp and the Ozmun building. The 2.4 million square feet of new space will be “infused with technology to improve care delivery,” said Dr. Amy Williams, Mayo Clinic executive dean of practice. Those clinical buildings will feature a flexible grid where rooms and floors can meet the structural specifications needed for operating suites, inpatient hospital beds and diagnostic imaging spaces. This opens the door to converting some operating rooms, for example, into inpatient rooms, or vice versa.

Status/News

City SUPPORTING TRANSFORMATION - BOLD Unbound (February 11, 2025)
City Council Study Session:

Video Recording Link

Presentation

Collaboration Commitment

Read more ...
Mayo Clinic Bold Forward Unbound (February 21, 2024)
Bold Forward Announcements

Video Mayo CEO

Mayo News June 2023

Related News: Community Reactions ; City of Rochester Support of Bold (2/1/2024)

Read more ...

Public Comments
Explanation

Public comments that voice educated positions on the status of DMC.

Transit options need budget flexibility?

"It looks like the state is going to give us more than the 2 percent (increase) we budgeted," Knauer said, noting the increased funding could be as much as $400,000. However, that comes with the expectation the city will add three people to its streamlined five-person staff, which oversees parking and transit in the city. "There was a feeling (at the state level) that we didn't have the capacity for some of the larger projects," Knauer told the city council last week. "They could be right."

October 05, 2015 Post Bulletin: Read more

Good intention should be backed up by good process

I am aware that the various anchor initiatives in Rochester have similar goals and that the organizations/teams driving these initiatives have great intention to collaborate.  I am also familiar with the difficulty of teaming and collaboration. That's why alignment of goals, indicators, strategies and measurements is highly valued in best-practices such as Lean 6 Sigma.  While leaders of the various organizations and projects have publicly declared their commitment and intentions to collaborate and to align goals, efforts and measurements. 

Beyond the rhetoric, where is the "beef"?

October 04, 2015 openBEAM.net: Read more

Follow the DMC Information Technology Budget Money

If I were a few years younger and had more ambition to prove there is money to be made in IT solutions: cloud computing, big data, knowledge management. And if I had the bandwidth in selling and marketing products and services, I would look into the DMC IT infrastructure's scalability and reach.

I would pay close attention to the 2016 DMC EDA budget lines to do with IT, which is casually referred to as server and maintenance contract, website design. The fact is there is a general set of community enablement IT needs that require more thorough review and applying concepts such as data integration, real time aggregation, business process enablement.

September 23, 2015 openBEAM.net: Read more

More funding for Planning

County-run vs city-run ... who is in control

September 22, 2015 TBD: Read more

Paul Wilson: Why there is a need for the HRA levy

Our community has long recognized the need for safe, decent, affordable housing options. Olmsted County's housing market is working well for renters and home buyers with higher incomes, but there is a crisis of need for people with moderate or limited incomes who are seeking affordable rental or for-sale housing.

August 08, 2015 Post Bulletin: Read more

A curious of way to report progress and status -- how much of the 2.8 million has been spent?

In the July 2015 DMCC Board meeting, the project manager in me at first was glad to see a succinct template being used to report progress to the DMCC Board and the public. 

Then I looked at the report template a little closer and noticed its rather unusual way of reporting project progress.

Rather than reporting on milestones, deliverables and schedule in the form of project management 101's  work breakdown structure, it shows progress in terms of how much money is being spent on each of the major tasks--as if spending money is equivalent to progress made and objectives met. 

 

August 03, 2015 dmcBEAM: Read more

Construction site diversity needs watchdogs

"People are watching," said community advocate Jackie Johnson last week during a meeting with local lawmakers. Hosted by the newly renamed Council on Minnesotans of African Heritage, the conversation shifted from equality in grant funding and housing to employment opportunities.

"We haven't seen minorities out there working," Johnson said while discussing the issue at the city-county Government Center, which seems nearly surrounded by construction as Olmsted County courthouse and Mayo Civic Center renovations continue.

July 27, 2015 Post Bulletin: Read more

More indications that a systems approch to acheive growth is required

We all know that within Rochester, DMC is a real big deal. And one of its components is to build out the Education District of UMR. The recent article on PB showing a troubling trend of enrollment decline is another reminder there is fragility in one component within the system. In dealing with fragility, you can either let the component itself solve its problem, in this case, have UMR on its own address some of the issues such as student recruitment pool expanding to larger scope.  Or, have a systems approach of mobilizing the DMC-global market reach vision to have a bigger impact on the attractiveness of UMR.  

July 11, 2015 dmcBEAM: Read more

Can social agencies keep pace with DMC growth?

"The social services discussion of this expansion is still in the 'early stages.' That is unacceptable. It needs to be considered now....We have to protect against this indifference," Olmsted County District Judge Kevin Lund said.

June 18, 2015 Post Bulletin: Read more

Al Depman: Affordable housing czar can address growing need

Our czar/advocate can keep the public abreast of the progress of the DMC, EDA, J2G and Rochester's future comprehensive plan, while monitoring private development initiatives via city council and county board decisions. Findings can be reported to us via the Post-Bulletin and other local media on a regular basis.

June 16, 2015 Post Bulletin: Read more

Saint Marys Place

Concept Description Saint Marys Place Design

St Marys Place Related Status

UMR/Rec District

Concept Description

UMR and Recreation Related Status


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Housing

Coalition for Rochester Area Housing

Available Description

A continuing project to realize this purpose: “We are a cross-sector Alliance of organizations and individuals who seek to preserve and increase the supply of affordable housing that meets community needs and priorities in the Rochester area, through shared information, coordination, and collaboration.”

Strategies (How)

Strategies:

Greater Minnesota Housing Funds (GMHF) Facilitating "Housing Action Plan"

Coordinated with all local planning efforts

Establish housing production goals

Identify financing tools, policy tools, best practices

Consult with State, Federal & Local Government & Foundations

Plan for increased local development capacity

Innovative policies, strategies & Public/Private Partnerships

Results (Work Products)

2021 Report

 

Indicators (How do we know we are achieving the results?)

Indicators:

Homeless rates reduction and demographics profile improvement

Reduced area Annual Rental Production Trend (2006-2012) and Annual Needs Projections (2014 - 2020) Gaps

Market Rate Rental

Affordable Workforce Rental

(General)

Market Rate SeniorAffordable Senior
Production Demand Production Demand Production Demand Production Demand
117 167 20 246 16 251 8 126

 

1. Rental affordability improvements from current statistics of 58.2% of area renters cannot

afford the average market rent of $957 / Month. Majority of renters are rent burdened.

2. Improved affordable workforce rental general occupancy from 1.2% to xx% and affordable

senior rental housing from 0.8% to yy%.

 

Status/News

2024 Housing Coalition Investments (May 17, 2025)

2024 Investments:

$8,491,000 supporting 11 projects totaling over $77M

Read more ...
Housing Stats 5 Year Summary 2020 - 2025 (February 15, 2025)
5 Year Housing Demand vs Supply (Production)

Rochester, Olmsted County, and Township Production 

Avg Demand vs Avg Production Shortfall

Read more ...
Minnesota Housing Profile Housing Statistics and Findings (May 17, 2024)

2023 Olmsted County Housing Profile

State of MN Profile and Findings

Read more ...
Contract Opportunity for Homeownership Mentor Program (February 01, 2024)

Get paid while helping others achieve their homeownership goals!

Referencing BIPOC Homeownership Co-design Report

 

Read more ...
Housing Alliance Coalition (August 14, 2023)
1. Housing Coalition Report: 2023 Legislative Housing Policy & Funding Update.

2. Future Starts at Home: Constitution Amendment For Housing

Read more ...
Accessory Dwelling Unit Pilot Program Open for Applications (March 29, 2023)
The Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) Pilot Program supports and encourages property owners in the city of Rochester to develop ADUs on their properties.

Read more ...
Housing Alliance Coalition BIPOC Co-designing (January 19, 2023)
Housing Alliance Coalition BIPOC Homeownership Co-designing Co-designing report

Read more ...
Housing Alliance Coalition Senior Housing Report (August 10, 2022)
(A) Aug 2022 status: Request for Proposals for Senior Housing Development;  (B) Dec, 2021 status: (1) Senior Housing Community Co-Design Project Report;  (2) Project Background: Describing Senior Housing Project and Recruiting Co-Designing Team Members

 

Read more ...
Olmsted County & Rochesster Joining House America (May 02, 2022)
 Olmsted County and the City of Rochester commit to federal housing solutions effort, House America

 

Read more ...
Multi-Year Plan and $15M Commitment (December 02, 2021)
Mayo Clinic announced an additional $5 Million contribution to affordable housing bridge. 

Read more ...
Housing Alliance Coalition (March 06, 2021)
 Work Products: 2021 Housing Profile and Coalition Report 2020

Read more ...

DMC Plan Metrics
Results

Results

  • Intended to bring to Rochester, Olmsted County and Minnesota private investment in excess of $5.6 billion:
  • Seeks to create at least 35,000 new jobs in Minnesota and bring tax revenue in excess of $7 billion to the State
  • Intended to give prospective employees,patients and visitors substantial reason to consider Rochester their ‘destination’.

Read more ...

Strategy

1. Create a comprehensive strategic plan with a compelling vision that harnesses the energy and creativity of the entire community.

2: Leverage the public investment to attract more than $5 billion in private investment to Rochester and the region.

3. Create approximately 35,000 – 45,000 new jobs, with workforce development strategies that support that growth.

4. Generate approximately $7.5 - $8.0 billion in new net tax revenue over 35 year.

5. Achieve the highest quality patient, companion, visitor, employee, and resident experience, now and in the future.

Indicators

Direct Indicators:

Economic-Fiscal Projections/Analysis

  1. Increases in Jobs
  2. Increases in Visitation
  3. Increase in Income, Property, Sales, Hotel-Motel and Other Taxes
  4. Estimated Indirect Benefits (e.g. jobs, tax base, etc

Other Economic Indicators:

  1. Increases in Median Income (Above Inflationary Rates)
  2. Increases in Work Force Population Living in City/County
  3. Increases of the Gross Regional Product (GRP)
  4. Increases in Targeted Business/Industry Sector

Real Estate Indicators:

  1. Number of Building Permits
  2. Property Tax Collection
  3. Hotel Occupancy/ADR
  4. Commercial Rental/Sales Data (e.g. Occupancies, Rental Rates, etc.)
  5. Retail Rental/Sales Data (e.g. Occupancies, Rental Rates, etc.)
  6. Residential Home Sales Data §Residential Rental Data (e.g. Occupancies, Rental Rates, etc.

Other Indicators:

  1. Number/Attendance at Conventions, Exhibitions and Other Events at Mayo Civic Center
  2. Visitation to Downtown
  3. Transit Ridership

Read more ...

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DMC Related Projects
Project Phase Definitions

The following defines the various project phases:

  1. Available - a product, program or service is in production
  2. Develop - program or application is being developed
  3. Plan - idea is solid, stakeholders are identified, and there is strong commitment to go forward from all parties.
  4. Concept Phase - idea scoped out with enough details to give an early sizing and/or to build a proof of concept
    demonstration
  5. Pre-concept Phase - an early idea or a requirement.

The following projects are deemed to be under considerations for funding assistance from DMC:

 

Concept Phase

Co-design Tracker

  • OpenBeam: To showcase Rochester Area's Co-design projects and to track the progress toward implementing their recommendations.

Downtown Waterfront Southeast: 6th Street Bridge Concept Design

  • City of Rochester and DMC EDA: As part of the approved 2021 Downtown Waterfront S.E. Small Area Plan, a series of public realm improvements projects was identified to create a cohesive, connected, and activated redevelopment district. These public realm improvement projects not only provide improved access and connections to the district, they also elevate the overall experience, enhance the natural systems on a degraded site, and provide confidence that the Destination Medical Center (DMC) and the City of Rochester are committed to redeveloping the site and improving adjacent neighborhoods.

Education, Health and Recreation Space (DMC UMR/Rec sub-district)

  • TBD: This sub-district incorporates UMR's Master Plan and the northern edge of Soldier's Field as an anchoring element to the DMC Development District and strategies for growth. This sub-district integrates and urban college campus and recreational uses into the district, thereby creating another catalyst for the growth of retail, entertainment and residential uses in the downtown. It is anticipated that UMR will have its first building built in this area before the end of the first phase of the DMC implementation process.

Kmart park-and-ride proposal

  • Mayo Clinic: Mayo Clinic has proposed converting the site into a park-and-ride hub with more than 1,200 employee parking spaces. Employees would be shuttled from the site to St. Marys Hospital. Mayo says the lot would be a temporary solution for staff parking as the city works toward its goal of establishing a downtown transit circulator.

South-of-Downtown Waterfront Small Area Plan

  • City of Rochester and DMC EDA: In Rochester's most recent comprehensive plan, adopted in 2018, the South-of-Downtown Waterfront Small Area was identified for revitalization due to its proximity to the downtown, frontage along the Zumbro River, and the presence of large tracts of underutilized property. The City of Rochester felt that it would be beneficial to work with stakeholders, including DMC EDA to prepare a collaborative that that represents a shared vision of the Project Area.

 

Plan Phase

Mix Housing Mayo Civic Center Parking Lot

  • Sherman Associates: The plan calls for creating approximately 335 new apartments — 250 with market-rate rents and 85 at more affordable rents based on income requirements.

Riverfront Small Area Plan

  • City of Rochester and DMC EDA: The City of Rochester is developing a small area plan for a central waterfront property that links together several civic, cultural and government assets to the heart of downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic.

Valleyhigh Villas

  • TBD: 139-unit senior affordable housing

 

Development Phase

DMC Accountability Metrics

  • DMC EDA: 1. To be able to best track, present and communicate the progress of the DMC initiative 2. Monitor broader social and economic conditions of the district.

DMC Discovery Square

  • DMC EDA: DMC’s Discovery Square, which will include the current Minnesota BioBusiness Center, is anticipated to be one of the largest drivers for job growth as it positions Rochester to attract medical innovators and researchers with the ultimate goal of commercializing new medical discovery and businesses throughout the city and the state. A feasibility study of the proposed biobusiness hub Discovery Square is expected in February of 2016, according to Economic Development Agency Director and Mayo Clinic Chief Administrative Officer Jeff Bolton. The study, which is being funded by Mayo Clinic, will evaluate the extent to which Mayo Clinic and DMC might attract investment and entrepreneurs to Rochester, in addition to potential developer revenue streams and other types of industries that might be interested. “We’re hoping this serves as a hotbed of innovation that pushes us toward new modes of development,” Bolton said.

Discovery Walk Co-designing

  • DMC EDA: Public realm along the 2nd Avenue corridor from 2nd Street to 6th Street (Soldiers Field.)

Enclave Development Housing Plan for the Y Site

  • Enclave: Developer sees 220 units and greenspace at former YMCA site. The new apartment complex proposed for the former YMCA site is being designed to take advantage of the surrounding views.

Place Maker | DMC Urban Prototyping

  • DMC EDA: DMC has been working with Rochester Downtown Alliance and Rochester Art Center on a new program concept for Rochester called PlaceMaker|Rochester Prototyping Festival. Prototyping is a business strategy used in other industries and is now being applied to city development. This is a year-long initiative that began in January and will conclude with a final report and analysis in December, punctuated by numerous public events and activities, the most visible of which is the Sept 15-17 public display of project installations held in conjunction with Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation’s Transform Conference.

Residence at Discovery Square (Third Ave Lofts Residence at Discovery Square)

  • The Urban Studio: Early tentative plans were presented to Rochester's Committee on Urban Design and Environment in January by the Vinar's architect, Teresa McCormack. McCormack, the owner of The Urban Studio in Rochester, described the complex with an estimated 150 market-rate apartments plus mixed-use commercial space.

Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan

  • City of Rochester, MN & DMC EDA: The Sustainability and Resiliency Action Plan will focus on five key areas - Vibrant Neighborhoods, City for Health, Transportation, Resilient Economy, and Greenhouse Gas Emissions - highlighting economic, environmental, and social resiliency strategies that can help guide the city on future decision making. This will better prepare the community for foreseen and unforeseen impacts from disasters, but also strengthen the community through successes.

 

Available

Berkman Apartments (Alatus Development)

  • Alatus, LLC: A more than $100 million housing and commercial development is proposed for a high-profile corner of Second Street Southwest, next to Mayo Clinic's Saint Marys campus. The plans call for a 13-story building with two levels of underground parking to be built on more than two acres at the southwest corner of 14th Avenue Southwest and Second Street. The Brentwood on 2nd and the Ray-Mar Motel stand on that corner. The hotels, along with some nearby houses, will be demolished to clear the way for the project. The Brentwood also houses several businesses, including City Market, Charlie's Eatery & Pub, A Shared Smile and the Healing Touch Spa.

Building Strong Communities

  • Building Strong Communities: The Building Strong Communities program is a multi-trade apprenticeship preparatory program that will prepare you for a career in the construction industry. This program offers individuals the opportunity to receive Union endorsed training, exposure and a “foot in the door” to a career in the trades. Program graduates will have an opportunity to interview with participating Construction Trade Unions and Contractors.

Castle Community Proposal for Rochester Armory Building

  • Castlecommunity : A Truly Unique Community Space Imagine a bustling, rejuvenated community gathering space in our downtown, where artists can afford to work, learn, and grow their craft. Imagine a place where the community can explore, meet, and expand. Imagine a creative environment where young, old, rich, poor, artsy, and fartsy can escape, dream, and celebrate together. Imagine a Creative Castle Community.

Chateau Theater

  • City of Rochester, MN: City of Rochester is looking into various options for the preservation of Chateau Theater. This has been approved as a DMC Project. The historic theater was constructed in 1927 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

Conley Maass Build Out on Discovery Square

  • Hunter and Traci Downs: Building owners Hunter and Traci Downs is renovating the 115-year-old downtown Rochester building to help inspire economic activity and preserve local history. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the building is slated to eventually be home to Area 10 Labs, Brandhoot, a business incubator, a "maker space" and a future restaurant.

DMC In the Middle of Everywhere (DMC Marketing Plan)

  • DMC EDA: Support DMC development by driving qualified investor/developer, entrepreneur and life science leads through hyper-targeted digital strategies; keep DMC top-of-mind with key influencers and stakeholders. Target audiences include: investors, healthcare innovators, commercial real estate and life science professionals. Target markets include upper Midwest and select national markets.

Destination Medical Center (DMC)

  • DMC EDA: Intended to bring to Rochester, Olmsted County and Minnesota private investment in excess of $5.6 billion: • Seeks to create at least 35,000 new jobs in Minnesota and bring tax revenue in excess of $7 billion to the State • Intended to give prospective employees,patients and visitors substantial reason to consider Rochester their ‘destination’.

Discovery Square One

  • Mortenson and Mayo Clinic: The building (Building1@DSQ) aims to serve as a catalyst for Discovery Square, a 16-block area on the south end of downtown that Mayo and local officials want to develop as a life science research campus. Representatives from Mortenson announced today to members of the Destination Medical Center Corporation (DMCC) Board of Directors the specific location where construction will take place on its hallmark Discovery Square project. The planned 60,000+ square foot, state-of-the-art research and development complex, currently being designed by RSP Architects and HOK, will be built at the corner of 4th Street SW and 2nd Avenue SW, according to Mortenson representative Jeremy Jacobs.

First Avenue Flats

  • Joseph Development: $4.9M - Central Station: A downtown development that has garnered favor with city officials for providing affordable housing is on track to win the city's approval. The Rochester Planning and Zoning Commission on Wednesday reviewed a final development plan for the Flats on First, a 68-unit apartment building formerly referred to as The Downtowner. The commission previously had recommended denial of the development's preliminary plat, but the city council gave approval based on the city's desperate need for affordable housing in light of Destination Medical Center plans.

Flats on Fourth (Ovation/Stencil-Buckeye)

  • Stencil Group: 92 unit multi-family complex in Rochester, MN. The developer and builder at Stencil Group plans to build a six-story apartment complex with retail on the main level and underground parking for residents.