2 days Ago By Michael Wojcik
The original Metrodome was built for about $68 million. That project came in under budget.Now, that was a long time ago, but I wonder if some of those project managers might be looking to moonlight on a Rochester Regional Sports Complex.
The current uninspiring design is about 200% over budget, is planned for in an inaccessible location, and has foregone some of the key features that were used to sell it to the Rochester public.At this point, the city council should put a pause on this project and figure out what is the best strategy going forward. We should not be surprised that this project has spiraled out of control — at the time it was added to the package of projects, the concept was half-baked at best.
It’s worth noting that Mayor Kim Norton saw how this project lacked details and certainly didn’t guarantee public benefit for those that live here. The mayor attempted to break up the four projects in the sales tax referendum into four separate votes. She was right in foreseeing the lack of planning and clarity with the recreation complex and probably rightly worried that the vague recreation center could take down the other projects as well.
That didn’t happen, but it is very possible that a series of votes would have passed the other three buckets of money for street construction, flood control, and economic vitality (including housing). I suspect that the regional sports complex might not have passed on its own.There really isn’t a need to act immediately on this project, as the total sales tax collections will come in over the course of more than 15 years.
There is plenty of time, so freeze the project and focus on some more scaled-back options that fit within the budget. We should expect projects that meet the original intent and provide community benefit.In making the pitch to the state Legislature, city officials wrote the following:“Specific project elements will be further defined through substantial community and stakeholder engagement and an equity focused co-design team.
Initial concepts include a synthetic turf field complex, a tournament quality pickleball complex, outdoor recreation features, supportive indoor recreation features, and related community focused elements.” The most recent plans are not a result of community and stakeholder engagement, ignore equitable access, contain no indoor facilities, and have no community focused elements. I suspect the current proposal didn’t really come from “an equity focused co-design team.
” We are being told that instead of what was promised we will get more outdoor fields in an inaccessible, inequitable location and nothing more for our residents. Partnerships are not being considered to make the limited dollars go further. Instead the proposed project and location will further contribute to Rochester sprawling out beyond its means to support basic infrastructure.
The actual language in the law that passed is flexible enough to allow for any number of solutions. The language only states:“(4) $65,000,000, plus associated bonding costs for a Regional Community and Recreation Complex.”Because this language is so flexible, the dollars could be used for any number of facilities providing recreation and community benefit.
Regional benefit is easy to show because people from around the region rely on most Rochester facilities.I have read some great suggestions from others and have some thoughts of my own. The city should do right by its voters and return the question of where and what we build to those voters who were misled.
If, for some reason, a clarification of legislative language is needed, the city has a decade to get that done.Here are some possibilities that we could consider that would cost far less than $65 million and even make that money go further. Indoor children's playground.
Parents are desperate to get kids out of the home in the winter months. Rochester has many great indoor playgrounds, but in general they are private and can be quite expensive. We could create an amazing free or nearly free indoor playground in a location like Chateau Theatre or any number of well-located existing parks.
We could even integrate this with a public school facility or partner with a future desperately needed child care project. Pickleball facility. Unlike soccer or softball, pickleball does not require much space.
We could again partner with a public school, existing park, or even a new development that would probably love to host a public amenity like this along with retail and housing. Curling club. Let's be honest, Rochester can be more fun in the summer than in the middle of winter.
I find that most people do not accept the offer when I invite them on a midwinter 10-degree bike ride. (Their loss.) Curling is a popular and growing year-round activity that could use a home in Rochester.
Again a facility like this could easily be built in partnership with a public school, in an existing park, or as an amazing centerpiece to a future mixed-use development. Flexible gym space. It’s so simple and effective up to 365 days a year.
There are any number of organizations focusing on sports like basketball, fencing, or even cosplay, chess, and board games. These organizations are largely priced out of existing limited space. I’m sure you can think of your own possibilities that can be done for less than $65 million on existing land, meet the definition of a regional facility, and bring year-round enjoyment to the people who live here.
Many of your council members are new and they need to hear from you. If they don’t, we might end up with an inaccessible project providing little community benefit.$65 million is still a lot of money.
It is possible that the pot of money along with partnerships could build all four projects suggested above — with money left over, and a roof, unlike the Metrodome's, that doesn’t collapse under snow load.Michael Wojcik, of Rochester, represented Ward 2 on the Rochester City Council from 2009 to 2021. He is now executive director of the nonprofit Bicycle Alliance of Minnesota, also known as BikeMN.
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