Perspectives

Your Voice: Perspectives: Living in Rochester
 June, 2007

 Does Rochester have what it takes to attract people to visit there... to live there?

Rochester is generally known as pleasant and quiet, but also as one of the state's fastest growing cities. It's home to the world-renowned Mayo Clinic, a remarkably diverse population and a ear of corn water tower.

That's its reputation. But is it the reality? We reached out to people living in and around Rochester who are part of MPR's Public Insight Network to share their views on the city. Here's what a few of them had to say:


Our diverse, well-educated population has high expectations on what the city should be like. Beyond the parks and such that people associate with a "nice place to live," our city and county government and local organizations are held accountable to understanding and then addressing the causes of problems. That will maintain Rochester as a nice place to live.

You need to try pretty hard to get your commute time over 15 minutes. I've lived in a number of cities so I appreciate the difference. A person quickly gets spoiled not sitting in traffic, not waiting in long lines at a restaurant or movie, not wasting hours of your life just getting from one place to another. It's fun to listen to the "locals" complain about the traffic. Yep, those 6 cars in front of you at the light are an absolute abomination!

There is more to Rochester than Mayo Clinic! Gosh, you'd think the 5,000 people at the largest IBM facility under one roof in the world cranking out world-class technology, including components for XBox 360 and PS3, are some tawdry souls we dare not speak of. By the way, I don't work for IBM. If you're young and single, however, I feel sorry for you. I'm neither but I suspect it's about the same as it was when I moved here 20 years ago. Lucky for me, I met the love of my life within a few months.

Terry Lambert
Rochester, Minn.


A lot of Rochester's greatest assets to some people are its biggest deficits to others. Rochester is a great place to raise a family (if you have one) and a great place to be sick (if you are) and is very safe and quiet. Everyone goes to bed early and there's no young people hanging about in the center of town.

The deficits are the flipside of the above. There's no decent nightlife, little vibrancy around the center of town. The one nightclub there is just dreadful. The town is very conservative and seems to be run "by Mayo for Mayo" as a quiet place to recuperate rather than a modern, vibrant town. You can see this by the preponderance of family-friendly sports bars -- burgers on the menu, football on the TV and the lack of vibrant classy places such as can be found in the Cities. I am married but we have no kids. Thank goodness I am not single in Rochester!

Ben Ellis
Rochester, Minn.


Rochester is great for families but poor for singles. I wrote a city councilman pointing out that Rochester is split on all fronts. The medical community gets recognized. The service people do not. The number of seniors is growing but their requirements are not being met. People no longer want to live in the north and shop in the south or vice versa. Minorities have not been assimilated into the community.

The Elk Run project north on Highway 52, if it's potential is realized, will have a dramatic impact on the city. The light rail proposal that will get some action even this month is not being discussed in Rochester. Would we dare after the DM&E?

Julie Gay
Rochester, Minn.


Everything is focused around Mayo Clinic. There used to be a theater at the Galleria so that patients and family without transportation could do something but Gus Chafoulios closed that, claiming bankruptcy then spent millions building on that outskirts of town and an overpriced apartment complex. Housing in town is too expensive for value.

When the Clinic is closed there is no reason to come to town for those from the out of town and Rochester is more concerned about out-of-town money than catering to the residents.

Teri Gibbons
Rochester, Minn.


Rochester's greatest assets are that there are no real traffic problems (you can get across town in 15 minutes and out into the country in 15 minutes also) and there a couple of state parks that are within 1/2 hour. There's also a great bike trail system and they're working on improving it. Great library, too.

The deficits are boring restaurants, and not a lot for culture. The people who live here think they're good (the restaurants) and there's plenty (of culture). The public transportation is not good.

Amna Quereshi
Rochester, Minn.


Rochester's greatest assets are the stable housing market, it's easy to get around, the relatively clean air, it's within driving distance to the Twin Cities and to LaCrosse, there's an international airport and the restaurants are smoke-free.

The downside is that the employment market is limited, there are limited entertainment venues, you can't fly directly to major U.S. destinations from the airport and the antiquated art center. Once DM&E starts rolling through town, Rochester will not be a great city to live in.

Mehrdad Shabestari
Rochester, Minn.


Rochester needs to have a more community friendly ambience with small outdoor cafes that offer snacks like good pastries (homemade) and coffee (not Starbucks, but Vienna style, for example) and also the beer gardens with snacks for adults and kids, such as brats, franks, and also healthy sandwiches - along the walking and bike paths as well as in town. Most places want you to order and eat a whole meal, when you just want to stop and rest, and get a refreshment.

I'd like to see more small, home-owned shops that carry food and things you can't get in a chain. I dislike chain stores very much.

Edith Lueke
Rochester, Minn.


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