Olmsted County Board Delays Decision on Rochester Performing Arts Center

Olmsted County purchased the 10‑acre former Seneca Foods site in Rochester, Minnesota for $5.6 million in 2019 and demolished the plant. Since then, multiple proposals have been considered, including a 2,000‑seat Southeast Minnesota Performing Arts Center (SEMPAC) and a new location for SPARK Children’s Museum, whose lease at the Apache Mall ends in 2030.

The county Board of Commissioners voted 4‑3 to table a non‑binding agreement that would have allowed a long‑term ground lease—potentially up to 99 years—while the performing‑arts group works toward milestone plans. The decision was delayed by 30 days, with the next board meeting scheduled for September. Commissioners asked SEMPAC and SPARK to explore a joint plan, but the two organizations could not share the site as proposed, prompting the postponement.