Property owner says plan is to expand, not demolish Olmsted County Bank building
Despite submitting a demolition request with the city, the owners of the Olmsted County Bank and Trust Building say there are “no plans” to tear down the property anytime soon.
Mike Hawkins, who purchased the building in 2017 along with his son, AJ, filed a permit request on Tuesday to demolish the 103-year-old building. However, the Hawkins say the move was a procedural strategy to trigger a review of the property to determine whether the building meets ‘landmark’ status under the city’s historic preservation ordinance.
The Hawkins say they have a tentative deal to sell the building to an unspecified buyer who plans to build two stories on top of the structure. Renderings presented to the Heritage Preservation Commission (HPC) also show the new owner potentially activating the adjacent alley.
Beyond the renderings, however, much of what is planned for the site remains a mystery. A listing shows the property being advertised for $2.9 million, twice what the Hawkins paid for the property four years ago.
Proposed expansion of the building / via HPC meeting
On Tuesday, HPC members signaled support for an adapted reuse of the building, though some still asked the owner to consider withdrawing its demolition permit to show a measure of “good faith.”
The 10,770-square-foot structure was built in 1918 by First State Bank of Rochester. Olmsted County Bank and Trust purchased the building in 1936 for $100,000, and stayed there until 1965. More recently, it housed a sports bar and comedy club, as well as a Japanese steakhouse.
“We were impressed by the way Destination Medical Center, HPC and the Community Development office quickly came together to work toward a solution for this project and similar projects in the future,” said AJ Hawkins, in a phone call Tuesday following the HPC meeting.
Because the property is designated a ‘potential landmark’ under the City Heritage Preservation Program, the demolition application will trigger a 60-day review to determine if the property should be considered a historic landmark. From there, it falls in the hands of the Rochester City Council.
Sean Baker is a Rochester journalist and the founder of Med City Beat.
