Rochester City Council to Hear Appeal for Major Project in Downtown Historic District

Update: Rochester City Council Backs Denial of Proposed Downtown Development 

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Rochester City Council will review a previously denied proposal for a development in downtown Rochester. 

See Also: Another Disruptive Road Project Starts Monday in Rochester 

Last month, the Rochester Heritage Preservation Commission denied a proposed development at the property for the second time since 2023. 

The Rochester City Council is set to review the denial on Monday night. 

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City Council to Hear Appeal of Denial of Proposed Downtown Rochester Development

Local developer Hal Henderson is proposing construction of a mixed-use tower on the west side of the 300 block of South Broadway.

The plan calls for the demolition of one of the historic buildings to accommodate a glass elevator tower and would only retain the front facades of several adjacent properties. 

See Also: Rochester's Long Awaited 6th St. Bridge Gets New Design Update 

The proposed development includes spaces for retail, higher education uses, student housing, and market rate housing. Much of the space facing South Broadway would be used for gymnasium. 

Henderson sought a "certificate of appropriateness" and requested the removal of the historic landmark designation for the properties, which are in the city’s Downtown Historic District. 

Commission members voted to deny the certificate and rejected the request to remove the historic designation. 

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