Rochester City Council moves forward with plans expected to lead to demolition of former AFL Labor Temple. 8:06 pm, Jan. 20, 2021 ×
The former Legends Bar & Grill location along the Zumbro River in downtown Rochester. Photo taken Jan. 20, 2021. (Andrew Link / alink@postbulletin.com)
A split Rochester City Council gave the green light Wednesday to end the city’s lease with Legends Bar and Grill and move forward with potential demolition efforts.
“This building has been slated for demolition since I joined the council,” said council member Nick Campion, who’s starting his seventh year on the council.
He added that the goal is to move toward the eventual redevelopment of the city-owned property that runs along the west side of the Zumbro River between Second Street Southeast and Fourth Street Southeast.
He said the lower-level floor of the building at 11 Fourth St. SE is buckling and would require expensive repairs. Additionally, a heating and air-conditioning system prone to breakdowns with costly repairs would cost an estimated $156,000 to $210,000 to replace, and the roof is prone to leaking.
He also said an elevator replacement required to meet code would cost an estimated $100,000. The city has received a one-year reprieve on replacement based on plans to demolish the building within a year.
The building’s proposed demolition is expected to make way for future development on the west side of the Zumbro River, but the short-term use is expected to be green space for the city, with plans to gauge potential uses at the site, according to city project manager Josh Johnsen.
Legends bar owner starts petition to stop demolition, creation of green space
Legends Bar and Grill owner Jeff Fieseler is urging people to sign a petition to stop the City of Rochester from demolishing the building at 11 Fourth St. SE. 10:53 am, Jan. 12, 2021 ×
Legends Bar & Grill is closing after the city decided not to renew its lease. (Randy Petersen/Post Bulletin)
A petition to stop the City of Rochester from demolishing Legends Bar and Grill has been launched and almost 400 people have signed it.
However, no specific development is in the works for the space. That means the city expects to use the resulting open land as “green space” until a development project moves forward.
City to end Legends Bar lease to clear way for development
“It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Legends will not be reopening.. On Monday, we received an email from the City of Rochester stating they would be moving forward to terminate our lease in preparation of putting a development plan together for the property in which Legends sits, wrote Jeff Fieseler, who owns Legends Bar and Grill at 11 Fourth St. SE, on social media. Written By: Jeff Kiger | ×
Legends Bar & Grill is closing after the city decided not to renew its lease. (Randy Petersen/Post Bulletin)