Downtown Rochester saw a regal arrival this week.
Fourteen Regal Prince Oak trees arrived to be planted along two blocks of First Avenue Southwest, north of Second Street, as part of the Destination Medical Center Heart of the City project.
The $17 million first phase of the project is set to include 101 trees, with the majority being planted along both sides of First Avenue Southwest. The remaining trees will be planted in the eastern half of Peace Plaza to create a windbreak.
As construction continues on the project, special curbs were poured recently to provide planting space for the trees. The addition of porous paving will allow the new trees to continue to have access to water as they grow in place.
Additional renovations will include an increase in handicap-accessible parking spaces, new seating options, art features and an update to Peace Fountain, which will remain part of the plaza.
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“It’s going to be an amazing space,” DMC Economic Development Agency Executive Director Lisa Clarke said of the first phase of the project that will eventually extend along Peace Plaza west of First Avenue and include the alley on the eastern end of the project.
Clarke told the DMC Corp. board work on the first phase, which started April 6, is ahead of schedule.
Second Street Southwest opened last month, ahead of the Sept. 28 scheduled completion date.
The block north of First Avenue north of Peace Plaza was expected to be closed for another year but is now scheduled to reopen before Christmas.
The southern block of First Avenue is expected to open between early March and July after originally being slated to open in August 2021.
Peace Plaza is expected to reopen in mid-June, approximately two months ahead of schedule.
In addition to working toward future phases of the Heart of the City project, Patrick Seeb, director of economic development and placemaking for the DMC EDA, said last month that preliminary discussions have started with the owners of University Square to develop a plan that could fulfill the DMC vision of creating a more-direct connection between Mayo Civic Center and Mayo Clinic’s Gonda Building at the street level.
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