City explores possibility of partnering with private developer on new, expanded library

The first gears are turning for a possible move of the Rochester Public Library, after the Rochester City Council directed city staff to look into a new ‘public-private partnership’ for a new library space — potentially allowing RPL to expand into a space totaling at least 150,000 square feet.

The council passed the action in a 6-1 vote Monday, with only Council Member Shaun Palmer voting nay.

Council Member Michael Wojcik and Council President Randy Staver presented the idea to the council, saying the city may stand to benefit from bringing in a private developer to take on some of the building cost. Staver noted, however, that the action passed Monday did not “obligate the city to anything.”

“This is another avenue we might pursue, and something that might address some public needs, as well as some additional private needs,” said Staver. “I’m certainly willing to spend some time exploring it.”

Public-private partnerships have become a oft-used tool in the development of downtown, with Destination Medical Center and University of Minnesota-Rochester, among others, utilizing the idea in recent years. 

In a blog post published Tuesday morning, Wojcik said the current library space is too small for the growing community, not to mention $5 million in maintenance costs needed over the coming year. He added the best option for all parties may be to help the library expand, while bringing in a private developer to “spread out the cost” — and make the building eligible for tax increment financing (TIF).

“Using [conventional] tools, it would take a large bond referendum to build or rebuild a central library,” wrote Wojcik. “Public-private partnerships are an unconventional tool being used around the world. No solution is perfect, but there are some real advantages to this approach.”

On Monday, the Post-Bulletin reported that one potential suitor had already reached out to the city to discuss what a public-private partnership for the library might look like. According to the article, PB Rochester Investments — the new owner of the former Post-Bulletin headquarters — had a “very, very conceptual” discussion with Staver about doubling the size of the current library with a new space on the former P-B site, complete with a hotel or condos above.

PB Rochester Investments, not affiliated with the paper, purchased the site from the former Post-Bulletin ownership in 2019 for $10.5 million.

A progress report is due to the Council by December 15.

Meanwhile...

The conversation comes as RPL goes through a period of massive change and increased usage. The physical library space remains closed thanks to the pandemic, but the raw amount of books in circulation has jumped by nearly 75 percent on a month-to-month basis. 

Karen Lemke, director of marketing and community engagement for the library, says the increase is thanks to the library meeting people on their home turf - creating a curbside book pick-up service and leaning heavily on the Bookmobile.

“We needed to pivot, and we couldn’t pivot on our own,” said Lemke. “So it’s really reinforced and reiterated how much as a library that we as individuals and as a community really need to rely on each other.”

Lemke says RPL received nearly 20,000 phone calls in one month, dealing with topics far past checking out books — common questions were related to food insecurity, internet access, Covid-19 testing, and unemployment registration. 

With the city now putting out feelers for a new space and a global pandemic changing the way people use the library’s services, Lemke says the future of the library is exciting — but anything but certain.

“We really can’t picture just going back exactly to the way things were, but we don’t know what exactly will change,” said Lemke.

Isaac Jahns is a Rochester native and a 2019 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism. He reports on politics, business and music for Med City Beat.

Abdulla Gaafarelkhalifa contributed to this report.