With all the activity taking place in the Destination Medical Center (DMC) District, the recent DMC Corporation Board of Directors meeting agenda was a full one and included updates on DMC’s top development priorities, such as Discovery Square and Heart of the City.
Financial update
At the end of 2016, private investment in the DMC district surpassed $200 million, the threshold required to trigger the release of State dollars to support Rochester’s infrastructure needs. It was reported at the meeting that the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) certified the report and has authorized the release of $2.6 million of the state money for local infrastructure improvements by September.
“This is the reason we’ve been doing this for the past several years,” says DMCC board vice-chair R.T. Rybak. “I encourage the staff to take time to celebrate this achievement.”
Discovery Square Developments
One of six DMC sub-districts, Discovery Square will be a live-work environment organized around attracting and retaining the best and brightest to our community. While there is progress taking place in all of six sub-districts, Discovery Square is a board-identified priority for DMC, as are Heart of the City and transportation.
Since the September festival, which addressed “Health and the Built Environment,” the community is beginning to see more examples of urban prototyping taking place.
Growth
DMC: You recently took on a role in the Mayo Clinic Center for Innovation. How has design thinking – CFI’s primary methodology – impacted your evolving approach to health care delivery?
Of the many prototyping proposals submitted to take part in the 2016 PlaceMakers | Rochester Prototyping Festival, 16 were selected and will be on display from September 15 to 17 near historic 3rd Street SW. Community members of all ages are invited to attend the festival and engage with the prototype designers (or “Makers”) during the three-day event.