Rochester Seeks Proposals for Housing Development on City Land

The city is accepting bids to redevelop two residential parcels for owner-occupied 'missing middle' housing.

Apr. 16, 2026 at 9:52pm

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a single, iconic townhome design repeated in a tight grid pattern, conceptually representing the city's efforts to encourage new 'missing middle' housing development.Rochester's push to redevelop city-owned land aims to spur new housing options that cater to a range of homebuyers.Rochester Today

The City of Rochester, Minnesota is looking to sell and redevelop two city-owned residential parcels to advance its housing goals. The city is accepting proposals from qualified individuals, for-profit developers, and non-profit housing organizations to purchase and redevelop the land for residential use, with a focus on owner-occupied 'missing middle' housing types like townhomes.

Why it matters

Rochester, like many cities, is facing a housing shortage and affordability crisis. By making underutilized city-owned land available for redevelopment, the city hopes to spur the creation of more diverse and accessible housing options for residents.

The details

The two parcels available for redevelopment are located in the Durand subdivision and Hilmer's High View Acres neighborhoods. The city is encouraging proposals that will result in owner-occupied housing, particularly 'missing middle' housing types like townhomes that can provide more affordable options between single-family homes and large apartment complexes.

  • Proposals are due on May 22, 2026.

The players

City of Rochester

The local government of Rochester, Minnesota that owns the residential parcels and is seeking redevelopment proposals.

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What’s next

After the May 22 proposal deadline, the city will review the submissions and select a developer or developers to purchase and redevelop the parcels for residential use.

The takeaway

This initiative by the City of Rochester demonstrates its commitment to addressing the local housing shortage by leveraging underutilized public land to spur the creation of more diverse and affordable housing options for residents.