Plan for More Parking Spaces in Rochester Moves Forward
Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- A plan that adds more parking in the downtown Rochester area took a step closer to becoming reality.
The Rochester City Council Monday night unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a proposal that would add more surface parking spaces at the former Kmart and AMPI sites along 3rd Ave. Southeast. City documents indicate nearly 400 parking spaces would be added on the AMPI property and almost 250 additional parking spots would go in at the former Kmart building.
The plan calls for demolishing the west portion of the former Kmart building as well as some of the structures in the former AMPI complex. Right now there are about 740 parking spaces at the site. The proposal would boost that total to nearly 1400.
The majority of the parking spaces are and will be used by Mayo Clinic employees, but there are also some spaces available to the general public. City officials say the AMPI site needs to be cleaned up before more motorists can start parking there. They plan to pursue grants to fund the cleanup effort.