Mayo's $6 Billion Investment in Rochester (Minneapolis, Edina: home, to buy, luxury)

[xandrex]

Originally Posted by uptown_urbanist

I agree with most of this. I don't think supporting high-end shopping is necessary, but if it develops as an outgrowth of a more interesting Rochester, then excellent. Same thing for a five-star hotel. But it would be excellent if the Mayo and Rochester can work together and identify potential gaps and help get those gaps filled.

Agreed. If shopping develops, that's great.

Of course we need to be realistic. Even the Twin Cities--much larger than Rochester and certainly with plenty of wealth--barely has a high-end scene.

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by xandrex

I still would be concerned with actual light rail at this point...especially with only "two or three stops". This would make it a very expensive project (the distance between the airport is about the same as from downtown Minneapolis to MSP Airport) that would get very little ridership. I would assume most people flying in are landing at MSP and either taking a local flight down, or very liking driving. The poor are never going to be able to fly in, so they're either driving or taking a bus.

For a city this size, I think an enhanced bus service would work well. I assume there must be some shuttles already taking people from the airport to hotels? I'm not sure. But enhanced bus service (or if they can actually get good projections, a streetcar) could circulate downtown and bring people to hotels, retail establishments, etc. Light rail has its place, but Rochester is not to that critical mass yet.

Fair points about the light rail. I think if they want to see Rochester grow, it could be something that is to consider. Perhaps not from the airport, but for someone who is at Mayo and isn't very mobile, a downtown rail is not a bad thing. Even if you connect it to the U of M Rochester, which I know the city and U of M wants to expand.

I think you're right, but I think downtown there could be one specifically with a few stops for Mayo campus. In this case, it will cost less than you might think (still in the millions, but not break the bank).

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by golfgal

No, they want their millionaire patients to spend their money in Rochester while getting medical treatments for themselves or their family members. Makes a heck of a lot of sense to me.

You are going to have a lot of trouble getting legitimate high end shopping to Rochester in the first place. There is no way in hell you are going to attract the likes of Prada or anyone remotely close to that. You might get people like H&M or Zara, but they aren't exactly high end shopping. Those two stores you will have better luck, but it's not going to do as well as expanding the restaurant business.

There's only a few reasons anybody visiting Rochester would ever buy that versus their hometowns and that is the 0% sales tax on clothing in Minnesota. Another reason might be family (or the patient) to take their mind off of what's going on if they are going through treatment, especially in Rochester for a long time.

The shopping is not going to work, and even if it does, you need more entertainment and food options along with it. When people go out shopping, especially high end shopping, they don't just go shopping and then that's it. I can't tell you how many people where I live (downtown Chicago) go out for food/drinks/whatever after they've done their shopping. It's part of the whole deal.

Shopping for clothing can wait, especially if you're from a large city with that stuff already. However, people have to eat everyday (healthily). If they do not expand the restaurant "scene" in Rochester past what they already have and get more non-chain places, then they're completely missing the point here. The money is in the food, not the high end shopping. There is just not a big enough market for it even with the visitors. However, agian, everyone eats. The people from the larger cities, no offense, don't want to eat at TGI Friday's or Green Mill. There are some decent restaurants there now, but it really needs to expand beyond what it is.

1 million visitors per year. If you increase the number of people eating out of those by only 10% and you average a 3 day visit per person per year, spending $25/day, then you've just increased the GDP of Rochester by at least $7.5 million. Try doing that with high end shopping. The market isn't there. The restaurant/entertainment industry is what needs to be expanded with this.

[uptown_urbanist]

I haven't been to Rochester lately so can't comment on the food situation, but I'll take your word for it, and agree that good food options are a big deal. Good, non-chain options are of interest to visitors, but they're also of interest to people consider relocating for work. A robust food scene (and it seems like Rochester would be ideally located to take full advantage of the local food movement, for one) can really make an impact on a city these days.

[tijlover]

When I took an Economic Geography class at Rochester Community College, back in 1970, my professor rattled off the names of some big corporations that sought to locate there, but being that city is, admittedly or not, controlled by the Mayo Clinic, they were rejected for whatever reason. IBM was accepted. Makes you wonder what this city would be like today, if they were allowed in!

I left Rochester in 1972, for good, and I find this proposal very exciting.

Not sure about light rail, but some cities are opting for streetcars instead, and I think streetcars would work better. I drove cab for a year in Rochester, and a good many of my runs were from St. Mary's to the Clinic and vice versa. Perhaps that would be one possible route! And the Airport? That's too far out!

[marothisu]

Originally Posted by tijlover

When I took an Economic Geography class at Rochester Community College, back in 1970, my professor rattled off the names of some big corporations that sought to locate there, but being that city is, admittedly or not, controlled by the Mayo Clinic, they were rejected for whatever reason. IBM was accepted. Makes you wonder what this city would be like today, if they were allowed in!

I'd be interested to hear who. Mayo has a tight grip on that city.

Not sure about light rail, but some cities are opting for streetcars instead, and I think streetcars would work better. I drove cab for a year in Rochester, and a good many of my runs were from St. Mary's to the Clinic and vice versa. Perhaps that would be one possible route! And the Airport? That's too far out!

Street cars...good point...they would work but also add some character.

[tijlover]

Originally Posted by marothisu

I'd be interested to hear who. Mayo has a tight grip on that city.

I can't recall all the names, but I do recall General Electric!

Anytime you have a dominant employer in any city, it's not surprising they would have the power to control that city.

Las Vegas is no different! The casino moguls not only indirectly control our city and county, but the state as well!
They have a certain image they want to retain here, and they'll do everything to maintain that image, even if it's to the detriment of its residents!

[uptown_urbanist]

Funny you mention Las Vegas, as that's the city that has been popping into my mind when reading about the Mayo's plans! Mostly because of I've been reading a lot lately about all the money being pumped into downtown LV redevelopment by the Zappos guy. Not as much as what the Mayo is talking about, but still, massive amounts of private money focused on improving a place. The Las Vegas initiatives sound really innovative; I haven't had a chance to track down the details of Rochester/the Mayo's vision, but I hope that when attempting to realize the portion of the plan that involves sprucing up/improving the non-Mayo portions of the city (the improving entertainment/dining/lodging/shopping portion of the plan) Rochester can be similarly creative.

[1stpontiac]

For recruitment purposes, I've been on (medical) resident recruitment dinners in other cities, and when selling the town, certain amenities were always big hits:

-Great, unique local restaurants
-Good music, arts, and theatre
-Biking and running paths and parks

Shopping was a bigger deal to some than others, but most of those were reasonably satisfied if there was some good shopping within a few hours drive.

[my54ford]

Originally Posted by tijlover

When I took an Economic Geography class at Rochester Community College, back in 1970, my professor rattled off the names of some big corporations that sought to locate there, but being that city is, admittedly or not, controlled by the Mayo Clinic, they were rejected for whatever reason. IBM was accepted. Makes you wonder what this city would be like today, if they were allowed in!

I left Rochester in 1972, for good, and I find this proposal very exciting.

Not sure about light rail, but some cities are opting for streetcars instead, and I think streetcars would work better. I drove cab for a year in Rochester, and a good many of my runs were from St. Mary's to the Clinic and vice versa. Perhaps that would be one possible route! And the Airport? That's too far out!

There has been a huge amount of expansion to the South since then...It's not as far as you think, not sure what the road was back then but it's 4 lane all the way to Stewartville now and after they get 14 finished it will be 4 lane all the way to Mankato......As for food I happen to think there are a number of very good resturants in Roch. Several new Indian and Japanese as well as non chain Texmex resturants have gone up in the last year or so, along with a plethory of chain food places> Also some very good spots down town Pescera's, Michell's, Vitorios ....As for rail system downtown. Most people forget that Mayo still runs on steam, both from Franklin heat station and Silverlake power plant. Depending on route it takes putting track over steam lines is a pricey propisition!