A vibrant new chapter is unfolding in Southwest Rochester as developers of The Mayflower project unveiled updated plans to the community at a recent public meeting held on July 1 at United Way of Southeast Minnesota. With design approvals advancing and public engagement deepening, the project aims to deliver market-rate housing, short-term lodging, a public park, and retail amenities in one of the city’s most walkable corridors.
Located at 834 1st Street SW, the project will transform a set of parcels into a six-story residential complex, condominiums, and a community-facing plaza. Design will include over 130 units a blend of long-term rentals and 32 short-term stay units aimed at supporting Mayo Clinic employees, traveling patients, and families.
Led by architect James Warner Pankratz and planner Andrew Masterpole of WSB, the development embraces both density and ecology. The design team committed to incorporating 75–80% native landscaping, a three-tiered planting strategy (canopy, understory, and groundcover), and replacement of removed trees with evergreens and habitat-supporting species. A total of 11 new boulevard trees are slated for planting along 1st Street and 2nd Street SW, matching city diversity and spacing standards.
Residents praised the park-like aesthetics of the site plan, which includes a public plaza, ADA-accessible sidewalks, benches, and outdoor seating, while also voicing support for minimizing negative impacts on light, noise, and neighborhood charm.
In response to concerns about light pollution and headlight glare from vehicles, the project will feature dark-sky compliant lighting and a 5-foot, semi-transparent fence for both privacy and openness. Community feedback also prompted further consideration of shading impacts on nearby gardens, which the team plans to address through detailed sun/shadow modeling and softer plantings.
The development will include 81 total parking stalls, exceeding city minimums, with underground and surface options carefully designed to avoid conflict with existing shared driveways.
With a 10 PM curfew on park use, The Mayflower development attempts to strike a balance between public access and neighborhood peace. Developers also pledged that while construction may require staged access through narrow alleys, work will be phased and coordinated with residents. Construction on the main building begins this September, with the condo building to follow in June 2026.
One of the most pressing questions from residents asked whether this development would change the pace and feel of the neighborhood.
While the original 2019 concept included more commercial space, developers explained that pandemic-era shifts necessitated scaling that component down. However, they retained core amenities like the café, sandwich shop, and plaza to maintain activation and walkability.
With the support of the Kutzky Park Neighborhood Association (KPNA) and a meticulous design process, The Mayflower stands as a case study in balancing development pressures with community priorities. Final review and permits including a recently submitted tree planting permit are underway.
If all continues on schedule, residents could see the new plaza and public spaces blooming by summer 2026.
Park design by WSB (landscape) and Dream Architecture (building); includes shaded seating, engaging spaces described as an “adult playground” for socializing
This article was made with assistance from AI