Controversial Rochester development to go ahead

Standing inside his record and vintage shop, Treedome Vinyl and Vintage owner Nathaniel Nelson said he chose to open his record shop and music venue in a historic building wedged between a bar, a coffee shop and an art gallery for a reason.

“Seeing a district that already had that arts community starting to blossom was really intriguing for us,” he said. “And part of the reason why we decided to move to Rochester instead of like Minneapolis, we wanted to be a part of something that felt like it was moving in a good direction.”

But a city council vote last week that clears the way for a potential $23 million new residential project has thrown Treedome’s future into question. The historic storefront with high ceilings and hardwood floors is slated to be the lobby for a new residential development, and it’s unclear how long Treedome will be able to stay in that location.

For the last week, Nelson and other members of Rochester’s arts community have been lobbying Mayor Kim Norton to veto the proposal. But in a statement Monday, she said she would let the council’s 4-3 decision stand. Norton said she believes that the development proposal, which would add a seven-story residential building but retain the historic retail space facades, preserves the historic integrity of structures.

“While I may not agree with all the arguments that the majority made in favor of approval, I believe their discussion was thoughtful and focused on the legally relevant criteria,” said Nelson in a written statement. “My decision is heavily influenced by the integrity of the process and that, agree or disagree, the process and the decision are legally defensible.”

All three buildings are in Rochester’s downtown historic district. The city’s Heritage Preservation Commission rejected the developer’s proposal several times, and the city council’s approval of the plan prompted at least one member of the commission to step down.

Proponents of the plan say that the project could add much needed residential housing to the city. Tenants, they say, are paying below market rate rent because the buildings are older and need updating.

Nelson and other businesses operating in the affected buildings have strenuously opposed the plan, saying it would prompt a downturn in business during construction. Some businesses in addition to Treedome may have to move to less optimal locations with lower foot traffic.

And while the proposed development affects only three buildings, the debate over whether to allow it to move forward exposes broader tensions around Rochester’s ongoing development under Destination Medical Center. Questions about what structures downtown deserve historic status have dogged the 20-year economic development plan.

Meanwhile, small businesses have struggled to secure and maintain a foothold downtown, as rents increase.

Nelson said Rochester’s transformation may be good for neighboring Mayo Clinic and the patients that visit the city. But it’s unclear if all this change is meant to help businesses like his that promote arts and culture thrive.

“When it comes to how music in the arts is represented in this town, there is a degree where it has to kind of fit in that like you know Instagram and boardroom-ready image for what DMC and what the city wants to portray,” he said. “Seeing, you know, a bunch of kids moshing in a record shop isn’t necessarily what they want to see.”

The development proposal will face additional hurdles with the city as it moves forward. For now, Nelson says he plans to stay in his downtown space.