Rochester Council to Hear Appeal Over Historic Buildings Project

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News) - A recent decision by the Rochester Heritage Preservation Commission to reject a proposed project involving several historic buildings in downtown Rochester will be before the Rochester City Council on Monday.

GH2 Investments seeks to overturn commission decision

GH2 Investments LLC is asking the City Council to overturn the Preservation Commission's decision. The City Council is expected to vote on the appeal following a public hearing concerning the proposed project.

Seven-story addition proposed for S. Broadway

Documents submitted to the city indicate that the addition would be used for student housing and would be built on the back sides of the existing buildings at 309, 311, 313, 315 and 317 S. Broadway. The plans call for a seven-story addition that would rise five stories above the current roofline and would include 35 "tower units" and eight renovated housing units.

Preservation Commission rejects proposal

The Heritage Preservation Commission voted 6-2 to deny a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness that would have allowed the proposal to move forward. The commissioner of the panel stated that the addition of modern buildings to the corridor would detract from the history and culture of the area, while another member of the commission argued that the addition would obstruct views of the Plummer Building and Kahler Hotel sign.

City staff recommend approving the appeal

Rochester Community Development staff are recommending that the City Council approve the appeal. The staff recommendation concludes that the proposed addition meets "Secretary of Interior standards for rehabilitation" and "locally adopted design guidelines."

Developer Has Faced Multiple Rejections

The proposal is the third plan to be presented to the Heritage Preservation Commission and the Rochester City Council. Last year, the commission and the City Council rejected plans that called for completely demolishing the former FJ Paine Company building and only maintaining the front facades of the other buildings included in the proposal.