photo of project site looking west from the county building side of the river

Rochester Riverfront Small Area Plan

Welcome! 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.

Review the Approved Plan

Rochester Riverfront Small Area Plan
 View & Download

 

14
May
2022

Thank you for joinging us at the Ice Cream Social and Walking Tour!


Civic Center 

 There were walking tours of both sites, family-friendly fun like music, chalk art, and
snacks. The community shared thoughts on how to leverage Downtown’s unique assets, and forge a stronger relationship with the Zumbro River and your neighbors! 

Get Involved!

The Riverfront Small Area Plan is a community-driven process to develop a market-supported vision for a central waterfront property. The site’s transformation will link together several civic, cultural and government assets to the heart of downtown Rochester and the Mayo Clinic. The plan will establish a people-centric place that leverages natural and cultural resources and supports multi-modal connectivity to adjacent areas including the Downtown.

Photo of residents completing a survey at a table

Share Your Vision

Help us brainstorm ideas for activities and mini-events to activate project site and riverfront. 

Start 31 Jan 2022
End 31 Mar 2022
Add Your Idea
Photo of a group of stakeholders listening to a another stakeholder speak

Join the Conversation

Join us for a five-part virtual series about enhancing downtown Rochester’s public realm and riverfront.


THIS EVENT WAS VIA ZOOM AND IN  PERSON:

The Chateau

15 - 1st Street SW

Rochester, MN 55902


Start March 24, 2022 11:00 PM GMT

Previous: RIVERFRONT TALKS Conversation Series

Purpose: Rochester’s downtown riverfront is poised for transformation. Come share your thoughts and ideas about how to leverage downtown’s unique assets to enhance overall connectivity and forge a stronger relationship with the Zumbro River. 

8
February
2022

LAND USE + OPEN SPACE


VIEW POWERPOINT PRESENTATION


There is increased demand for parks and open space, and the Zumbro Trail network is a remarkable amenity that could be better engaged.  At the same time, open spaces that do not have active building edges and a robust calendar of events can languish. This session will...

17
February
2022

EQUITY + ECONOMY


VIEW POWERPOINT PRESENTATION


Downtown Rochester is witnessing a good deal of new development with an influx of multifamily housing, institutional expansion and increased investment in the public realm.  New development should leverage what is already occurring and not syphon away activity from other locations.  This session will look at the...

1
March
2022

SUSTAINABILITY + ACCESS


VIEW POWERPOINT PRESENTATION


The Zumbro River through downtown is in a concrete channel to facilitate water movement and protect downtown from floods. The channelized condition also means that access to the water is limited. In many downtown locations one cannot even see the water. This session explores strategies for addressing...

10
March
2022

HISTORIC PRESERVATION + REDEVELOPMENT


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The Study Area resides at the city’s origin point, and it is defined by historic structures that trace the evolution of downtown Rochester. Over time, building uses change but their form can endure.  This session looks at the historical evolution of the site and how it has...

24
March
2022

URBAN DESIGN + PROGRAMMING


VIEW POWERPOINT PRESENTATION



In Person Location:

The Chateau

15 - 1st Street SW

Rochester, MN 55902



Session five brings forward themes explored in the previous four virtual sessions and formulates a series of community-based planning and design principles for the site’s evolution.  

 

- What community-based themes have emerged in the...

Videos: Riverfront Talks Series

Follow Our Progress

Phase in Progress
Current Phase

Identify Priorities

Continue identifying and prioritizing the local communities needs, goals, and aspirations.

Future Phase

Design a Menu of Options

Begin developing a variety of development scenarios and programming for public feedback.

Project Location

This city-owned site has the potential to be both a “front door” that faces the river, as well as a gateway into downtown. Located at the intersection of the Rochester Arts and Culture District and the Main Street Mixed-Use District as outlined in the Downtown Master Plan, it is also located within the Destination Medical Center (DMC) district, a public-private economic development initiative that funds selected public infrastructure within the district.

 

The city envisions the site as part of the historic cultural triangle that encompasses the Library, Mayo Civic Center, Government Center, and the historic shops at 3rd and Broadway. The future Bus Rapid Transit corridor, now in design, will run east along 2nd Street and west along 4th Street adjacent to the site.

 

It is anticipated that completed plans would outline:

Mix of land uses

Public realm concept design

Heritage preservation objectives

Street and block layouts

Residential densities

Guidance for urban design

Sustainable design elements

General building forms

Future infrastructure needs

The Riverfront Small Area Plan will be a transformative, one-of-a-kind project, which encompasses Rochester’s past as well as its future and is welcome to all. It will include vibrant public spaces, some development, and an integration of nature and the Zumbro River. As America’s City for Health, Rochester is a global medical destination. Therefore, the project will incorporate accessibility for all abilities and center human wellbeing in its design.

 

The consultant team, composed of Gamble Associates (lead, Urban Designers and Architects), NEOO Partners (Community Engagement and Economic Development), SWA Group (Landscape Architects), omloop (Branding and Wayfinding) is partnered with a co-design group composed of members from different communities around Rochester. Multiple public engagement events will be held for the duration of the project, beginning with this virtual series.