DMCC Board Receives Development Plan

The Destination Medical Center Corporation Board Wednesday accepted a draft development plan for the initiative and will spend the next 30 days analyzing and possibly refining the 700 page report.

 The report includes a 20 year plan to make dramatic changes to the downtown in an effort to make Rochester an inviting place for Mayo Clinic patients to visit and others to live in. The board was told the plan is flexible and meant to serve as a guide. But it was also told of the urgency to implement the plan due to competition from other cities.

The report recommends implementing the plan in four 5 year phases with an infrastructure investment of $1.86 billion over the 20 year period. The city’s total share would be $328 million.

The plan consists of five unique districts. One called the Waterfront District would completely change the area between the Government Center and Mayo Civic Center, including the removal of the public library building.

Nearly $205 million would be spent during the first 5 year phase. Included in that phase is the construction of a so-called City Loop and the relocation of the bus layover area.

The DMCC is scheduled to adopt any changes to the plan at its January 29th meeting and then submit it to the City Council. The Council will have 60 days to consider the plan and take action.

Wednesday was also the final meeting for one of those involved in the DMC initiative. Dr. Patricia Simmons has served as chair of the DMC’s Economic Development Agency and she told the board she is retiring from Mayo at the end of the year.

Her EDA position will be taken over by Mayo Chief Administrative Officer Jeffrey Bolton.