KTTC Rochester, Austin, Mason City News, Weather and SportsKTTC accepts offer to sell downtown Rochester property

KTTC accepts offer to sell downtown Rochester property

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ROCHESTER (KTTC-DT) -- KTTC Television Inc. has accepted an offer from the City of Rochester to sell its old broadcast center building on 6th Street Southwest.

City Council President Dennis Hanson says the agreed-upon price is $650-thousand for the property.

"The City's intent really is to get the whole block purchased," said Hanson.  "And then market it as a whole block... the sooner the better."

The location is a prime place for downtown development, as it is just blocks south of the Mayo complex, and near Soldiers Field and the YMCA.

Leaders of the nearby University of Minnesota-Rochester campus have also been working on plans to grow UMR facilities for the Bio-Infomatics curriculum over the next ten years, envisioning plans to draw thousands of students to downtown Rochester for classes.  It's not known if this redevelopment effort might someday fit into those concepts.

KTTC Vice President/General Manager Jerry Watson says he is delighted that the old broadcast center site will soon be used for something new for downtown Rochester.

The former television station complex has been largely unused since 2001, when operations were moved to 6301 Bandel Road NW and merged with KXLT-TV facilities.