DMCC Board Withholds Decision on St Mary’s Hotel Proposal
Rochester, MN (KROC AM News) - The DMCC Board was briefed Thursday on a proposed hotel project near St Mary’s Hospital and was asked to authorize the use of public funds for the development.
City Council President Randy Staver presented the request for the DMC-tax increment financing, which the developer has said is needed to make the project work. But many of the board members indicated there are too many questions about the project and other issues in the St. Mary’s area to authorize the use of TIF at this time.
It decided to appoint a working group of its members to address the concerns that were raised at the meeting.The concerns include landscaping and transit issues. The group will report its findings at the board’s next meeting, which is scheduled in March. It could meet sooner if the issues are resolved.
Rochester City Councilmember Ed Hruska - who is also a member of the DMCC Board - voted against the motion. He said the developer has been working on the project since August and wanted the board to send a stronger signal as to its future.
The board has also lost one of its inaugural members. Bill George announced during Thursday’s meeting that he is stepping down and will be succeeded by Michael Dougherty, who owns a financial group based in Minneapolis. Like George, he is a member of the Mayo Clinic’s Board of Trustees. He will serve as Mayo’s representative on the board.
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