ROCHESTER — Olmsted County commissioners split Tuesday to shift focus for development of the former Seneca Foods canning facility site.
A 4-3 vote called for county staff to start
negotiating with Spark Children's Museum
to determine whether it would fit on a portion of the county-owned 10.6-acre site at the intersection of 12th Street and Third Avenue.
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“I believe they will make an outstanding tenant for the Seneca property,” Commissioner Bob Hopkins said, suggesting talks start a month after commissioners
delayed approval of a commitment letter
to reserve the site for a proposed Southeast Minnesota Performing Arts Center.
While earlier discussions proposed splitting the site between the two groups, representatives from both entities said
it would be a tight fit.
“I think it is very unlikely that we can function very well with that shared scenario, and I think it hamstrings Spark, too,” Southeast Minnesota Performing Arts Center Committee President Rick Kvam said, pointing to parking and access concerns.
With the uncertainty, Kvam said his group struggles to say it needs to be given the priority as a business plan continues to emerge.
“I think we are a little uncomfor...