Month: September 2020

Mortenson Announces the Start of Construction for Discovery Square 2

Mortenson today announced the construction start of its second building in the Destination Medical Center (DMC) Discovery Square sub-district in Rochester. Designed to help foster life science research and innovation, Discovery Square 2 will build on the overwhelming success of One Discovery Square, which Mortenson opened in 2019. Groundbreaking on the new project is planned for late September 2020 with a target completion date in mid-2022.

Rochester International Airport Receives $9.2 Million Federal Grant for Runway Safety Improvements

Rochester International Airport (RST) has announced it will receive $9.2 million from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Airport Improvement Program (AIP) grants. The grant will be primarily used to initiate Phase 1 of construction on RST’s runway safety improvements.

“We are extremely grateful for this federal grant to support critical airport infrastructure projects,” said John Reed, RST’s executive director. “Reconstruction of Runway 2/20 will commence in spring 2021 resulting in new jobs in our community.”

Destination Medical Center Creates Equitable Design Process for Public Spaces

Pilot Project Employs “Community Co-Designers” to help plan Discovery Walk design concepts in Downtown Rochester

Destination Medical Center and several community partners are working together to ensure that more diverse voices are included in the design of public spaces, policies and programs.

Kevin Bright, director of energy and sustainability for Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency and the City of Rochester, is leading the effort in partnership with Jess Roberts, Affiliate Researcher at the Minnesota Design Center at the University of Minnesota. A steering committee comprised of several community organizations helped to develop the initiative.

Envisioning the Future of Discovery Walk

Design Team Kick-Off Brings Together Collaborators and Community Partners

 Destination Medical Center staff, local artists, city officials, builders, neighborhood leaders, designers, and media recently met at the north edge of Soldier’s Field Park to take a tour of the future. They had assembled to walk along the future Discovery Walk parkway and kick off the project’s final design.

Discovery Walk stretches five blocks along 2nd Avenue SW, from historic Soldiers Field to the 2nd Street SW. It’s an ambitious mission to bring business, pedestrian life, art, and community into a cohesive whole.

DMC NOTICE OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT PLAN MODIFICATION

The Destination Medical Center Corporation, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.43, subds. 1 and 4, provides notice of a proposed modification to the Destination Medial Center Development Plan. The DMCC must update the Development Plan not less than every five years.

Copies of the proposed update to the Development Plan are available at the DMCC and City offices (201 4th Street SE, Rochester, Minnesota 55904) and at the DMC EDA office (195 South Broadway, Rochester, MN 55904), as well as on-line at the following websites: www.dmc.mn and www.rochestermn.gov.

All interested persons are invited to submit written comments on this matter by 5:00 PM on Thursday, November 12, 2020, to the City Clerk, City of Rochester, 201 4th Street SE, Room 135, Rochester, MN 55904, or to attend the public hearing to be held on November 19, 2020 before the DMCC Board of Directors. Notice of the time and place of the public hearing will be posted separately.

View the draft document of the proposed 2020 update to the DMC Development Plan here.

DMCC Notice of Proposed Development Plan Update

LISA CLARKE, DESTINATION MEDICAL CENTER ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENCY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, TO RETIRE

Clarke has led the initiative to transform Rochester, Minn., into a global destination for health and wellness since its inception

Lisa Clarke, executive director of the Destination Medical Center Economic Development Agency (DMC EDA), today announced that she has made the decision to retire, effective Jan. 4, 2021. Since 2014, Clarke has led Minnesota’s largest public-private economic development partnership in its mission to transform the city of Rochester, Minn., into a global destination for health and wellness and a key economic development asset for Minnesota. Patrick Seeb, DMC director, economic development and placemaking, has been appointed by the DMC EDA Board to succeed Clarke.