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Renting an Apartment in Rochester
What You Should Know
Rochester is a city in Olmsted County, Minnesota. The city was estimated to
have population of 97,191 as of April 1, 2005, making it Minnesota's
third-largest city. It is perhaps best known as the home of the Mayo Clinic. The
city has long been a fixture on Money magazine's "Best Places to Live" index,
and is ranked number 67 on the 2006 list.
History
Rochester was founded by George Head in 1854[1]. Originally from Rochester, New
York, Head had settled in Waukesha, Wisconsin before moving west to Minnesota.
He named his new settlement after his New York hometown. In 1857 Rochester was
named the Olmsted County seat. Rochester was a stagecoach stop for travelers who
journeyed between Saint Paul, Minnesota, and Dubuque, Iowa. When the railroad
came to town in the 1860s, it brought new residents and business opportunities.
On August 21, 1883, a tornado demolished much of Rochester, leaving thirty-seven
dead and several thousand wounded. There was no medical facility at the time, so
Dr. William W. Mayo and his two sons worked together to care for the wounded.
$60,000 in donations were collected and the Sisters of St. Francis, assisted by
Dr. Mayo, opened a new facility named St. Marys Hospital in 1889.[2] The Mayo
practice grew immensely and today is one of the largest and most well-respected
medical facilities in the world.
Geography
Rochester lies along the South Fork of the Zumbro River. According to the United
States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 103.0 km� (39.8 mi�) - 102.6
km� (39.6 mi�) of it is land and 0.4 km� (0.1 mi�) of it (0.35%) is water.
Rochester is in Olmsted County, one of only four counties in Minnesota without a
natural lake. Artificial lakes exist in the area, including Silver Lake, a
dammed portion of the South Fork Zumbro River just below the convergence with
Silver Creek near the city center. The lake was used as a cooling pond for the
nearby electrical power plant for many years, although the amount of water used
for this purpose has been significantly reduced. Heated water in the lake
generally prevents it from freezing over even during Minnesota winters,
attracting migrating giant Canada geese, which have become symbols of the city.
A major flood in 1978 led the city to embark on an expensive flood-control
project that involved altering many nearby rivers and streams.
Minnesota is in the Central Standard Time (CST -6:00 GMT) zone and central
daylight time.
Demographics
Rochester was estimated to have a population of 97,191[2] as of April 1, 2005.
The 2000 census� counted 85,806 people, 34,116 households, and 21,493 families
in the city. The population density was 836.4/km� (2,166.3/mi�). There were
35,346 housing units at an average density of 344.5/km� (892.4/mi�).
Racial Makeup
82.51% White
10.57% African American
0.30% Native American
4.63% Asian
0.04% Pacific Islander
1.16% from other races
1.79% from two or more races.
1.99% Hispanic of the population.
Of the 34,116 households, 32.6% had children under the age of 18, 51.8% were
married couples living together, 8.5% had a female householder with no husband
present, and 37.0% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of
individuals and 8.5% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older.
The average household size was 2.43 and the average family size was 3.06.
Population is spread out with 25.8% under the age of 18, 9.1% from 18 to 24,
33.4% from 25 to 44, 20.3% from 45 to 64, and 11.5% who were 65 years of age or
older. The median age was 34 years. For every 100 females there were 94.6 males.
For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 91.0 males.
The median income for a household in the city was $49,090, and the median income
for a family was $60,754. Males had a median income of $40,380 versus $30,136
for females. The per capita income for the city was $24,811. About 4.7% of
families and 7.8% of the population were below the poverty line, including 8.8%
of those under age 18 and 10.2% of those age 65 or over.
Economy
Commerce and Industry
The primary industries in Rochester are medical services, computer design and
programming, light manufacturing (mostly computers and electronics), and
substantial hotel and restaurant trades serving visitors from around the world.
The largest enclosed shopping space in Rochester is Apache Mall.
The U.S. Federal Medical Center, Rochester, a health care facility for federal
prisoners, is on the campus of the former state hospital at the edge of the
city.
Transportation
Rochester offers a skyway system, subterranean walkways (called the “subway”
system), bus, taxi, car rental, and airport shuttles.
Subway/Skyway - Rochester has climate controlled skyway and underground walkways
known as subways. Downtown businesses, hotels, shops and dining are all
accessible without having to step outdoors in the winter. A variety of shops and
businesses are also located along the underground subways and skyways. The
skyway and subway wheelchair accessibility is useful for patients of the Mayo
Clinic.
Bus Line - Rochester’s city-owned bus line connects many attractions, hotels,
meeting facilities and major industries.
Taxi Service - There are two taxi companies in Rochester, Yellow Cab and RTS
Airport Express Rochester.
Airport - Rochester International Airport is located eight miles south of
downtown Rochester and is accessible via Highway 63 or Interstate 90. Taxis and
airport shuttles provide service between the airport and the city’s business
centers. The airport features two runways and service terminals operated by
American Airlines and Northwest Airlines. A large FedEx terminal, small DHL
station and general aviation terminal are also on-site. The airport services
flights from all over the world connected through American Eagle (American
Airlines) and Northwest Airlines.
As in most American cities, the primary mode of transportation in Rochester and
the surrounding area is the automobile. The city is served by three U.S.
highways (U.S. 14, U.S. 52, and U.S. 63), and the southern edge of Rochester is
skirted by Interstate 90 and Minnesota State Highway 30.
Freight railroad service to and through the city is provided by the Dakota,
Minnesota and Eastern Railroad.
Government
* List of mayors of Rochester, Minnesota
Education
The city is home to University Center Rochester (UCR), a grouping of Rochester
Community and Technical College, Winona State University's Rochester Center, and
the University of Minnesota's Rochester campus. Crossroads College, a four-year
nondenominational Christian college, also is located in the city.
Sites of Interest
A number of buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places, including
the former Chateau Theatre, which now houses a Barnes & Noble Bookstore and
Starbucks Cafe.
The city has three homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright: the A. H. Bulbulian
Residence, the James McBean Residence, and the Thomas Keys Residence.
Rochester may also be home to the largest "ear of corn" in the world. Actually a
water tower, it is next to the Seneca Foods plant in the city.
Many of the tallest buildings in Rochester are owned by Mayo. The Gonda Building
is the tallest building owned by the clinic, and it is attached to the
cross-shaped Mayo Building. Mayo's Plummer Building is considered to be among
the most architecturally significant in the city. The tallest building in
Rochester is the newly constructed Broadway Plaza, a residential dwelling
catering to the many extended- stay visitors who frequent Mayo.
IBM Rochester is a 3.6 million square feet (330,000 m�) structure on a business
campus in the northwest part of the city. It was initially designed by noted
architect Eero Saarinen.
The brick motherhouse of the Sisters of Saint Francis of Rochester, Minnesota on
the wooded hill of Assisi Heights, can be seen from many parts of the city.
Sports and Recreation
Sports
The Med-City Aquatics Swim Club is named after the medicine and health centered
town itself. The organization was founded in 2000 to offer the Rochester
community a new option in learn-to-swim programs, competitive youth swimming,
and masters club swimming. Swimmers from Med-City have competed at Division 1
Universities and at state and national competitions.
The Rochester A’s are a part of the American Legion Division I Baseball. In
2003, the A's became only the fourth team from Minnesota to win the National
American League World Series in its 77-year history.
The Rochester Active Sports Club is a multi-sport club for enthusiasts of sports
such as cycling (MTB and road) and nordic skiing in South East Minnesota.
The Rochester Giants are a semi-professional football team formed in 2003. All
games are played on Saturday nights.
The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club is a summer collegiate baseball league. Top
college players from the Midwest and across the country participate. Home games
are played at Mayo Field.
The Rochester Ice Hawks hockey team made Rochester their home in 2002-2003,
moving from nearby Mankato, Minn. The Ice Hawks recruit players locally and
nationally. They are a Junior B United States Hockey League team.
The Rochester Patriots is an amateur American Legion baseball team.
The Rochester Red Hawks baseball team is another American Legion club.
The Rochester Rowing Club was founded in 1990 to promote the sport of rowing in
the Rochester community. Crews from Rochester have won national championships
and have traveled across the US, Canada and even to England. Members have been
recruited to Iowa, U of M, Wisconsin and Princeton.
The Rochester Royals are an amateur baseball team that has called Mayo Field
home since 1924. They won the state tournament in 2006.
The Rochester Swim Club is a private swim club founded over 40 years ago, and is
the largest swim team outside of the Twin Cities. Knows as the Orcas, the club
has won the Division AAA State Meet for several years.
The Rochester Track Club is an all-ages, all-seasons running club.
Parks and Recreation
Biking/Hiking Trails - There are many opportunities to enjoy running, hiking,
inline skating, biking or walking throughout the city of Rochester. The city
offers more than 60 miles of city trails, all paved.
The Root River and Douglas State Trails combine for nearly 55 miles in the near
Rochester area. Developed on historic railroad passages, the trails provide
rural scenery, with a combination of paved and unpaved surfaces for wheels,
hooves and shoes. The Douglas Trail gently travels through a mix of forest and
rolling fields, while the Root River Trail gives views of the soaring limestone
bluffs of the Root River Valley. The latter was newly paved in 1999 and features
a choice of less and more challenging areas. The Harmony-Preston Valley State
Trail contributes 18 additional miles of trail, connecting with the Root River
system. All state trails have convenient parking lots with rest facilities.
Quarry Hill Nature Center offers more than five miles of trails covering 270
acres. Like the state trails, Quarry Hill’s system links with the City Trail
System.
There is a large park system in Rochester, with more than 100 sites covering 5
square miles (13 km�). There are several golf courses, including 2 disc golf
courses, among many other athletic facilities.
Arts & entertainment
Arts
Rochester Art Center - Opened in May 2004, the Rochester Art Center is a small
art center with no permanent collection but a variety of temporary travelling
collections. The outdoor Zumbro Gardens is a terraced park and sculpture lawn
stepping down to the edge of the Zumbro River.
SEMVA Art Gallery - The South East Minnesota Visual Artists Gallery is located
in the Peace Plaza in downtown Rochester, offering a variety of works from
southeastern Minnesota artists ranging from pottery, woods, clothing, fabrics
and canvas.
Mayowood Galleries - Fine 18th and 19th Century English antiques and garden
accents can be found at Mayowood Galleries’ two locations, downtown and at the
Mayowood Mansion.
Chorale Arts Ensemble - This 40-voice auditioned choir performs choral and
orchestral masterworks, as well as vocal jazz. The Choral Arts Ensembleis
dedicated to the creation and performance of new music, as well as the
presentation of masterworks from the Renaissance to the 20th Century.
Masque Youth Theatre - With a mission to involve young people in the theater
arts, the Masque Youth Theater presents a variety of children’s plays performed
from October to June.
Rochester Civic Theatre - Offering nine performances a year, including dramas,
comedies and musicals, the Rochester Civic Theatre has presented Fiddler on the
Roof, It’s A Wonderful Life and The Adventures of Stuart Little.
Rochester Community Band - The Rochester Community Band offers quarterly
performances with additional summer festivals. It is open to all, without an
audition. If you are interested in joining they meet every Thursday from 7:00 -
8:30 p.m. in the Lourdes High School Band Room (621 West Center Street).
Rochester Repertory Theatre - The Rochester Repertory Theatre offers classical
and contemporary works by a variety of artists. Past performances have included,
Three Tall Women, The Foreigner and FoxFire.
Rochester Orchestra & Chorale - The Rochester Orchestra & Chorale performs a
variety of works under renowned music director and conductor Jere Lantz.
Southeast Minnesota Youth Orchestra - A non-profit organization, the Southeast
Minnesota Youth Orchestra brings middle and high school students together to
study music, learn to work together, and contribute to the cultural life of the
community.
Swing Street - Swing Street is an elite group of musicians with a love of jazz.
The ensemble formed in 2000, and has been in demand for community events and
private functions ever since. The Swing Street repertoire extends from the early
days of jazz to modern arrangements. Whether you want to dance or just listen,
Swing Street is for you. Preview recordings are available to checkout from
Riverside Concerts. Repertoire lists are also available and most special
requests can be accommodated. Swing Street is presented by Riverside
Concerts/City of Rochester - Music Department.
Rochester Civic Music, presented by the City of Rochester, features free live
music in their “Down By the Riverside” outdoor summer concert series. This
series has been known to highlight acts such as Joan Baez, Three Dog Night and
The Marshall Tucker Band, as well as celebrated local acts. Concerts are held
Sunday evenings at Mayo Park behind Mayo Civic Center along the Zumbro River.
RiversideLive! and Cabaret Riverside are also presented by the City as a
ticketed indoor concert series held from September to May. Additional publicly
funded music entertainment includes the annual Youth Concert featuring the
Southeastern Minnesota Youth Orchestra and Honors Choir of Southeastern
Minnesota.
Each August, the Olmsted County Fair features a variety of musical
entertainment, and the 1st Avenue Street Market & Concert Series highlights the
finest local musicians throughout the summer season. Among other seasonal
entertainment options, four gardens in the Hawthorn Hills Neighborhood host the
Rochester Orchestra and Chorale’s Annual Musical Garden Tour presented by the
Eden Garden Club, featuring local music ensembles.
A variety of Rochester nightspots, restaurants and other venues provide free
music and entertainment. Dunn Bros Coffee, the Redwood Room historic lounge,
Shar’s Country Palace & Bar, CJ’s Midtown Lounge, and Whistle Binkies Old World
Pub regularly feature musicians and DJs with no cover charge. The Plummer
Building in downtown Rochester, Leo’s Pizza Palace, the Calvary Episcopal
Church, the Chateau Theatre, the Rochester Public Library, and the VFW hall are
also venues for free concerts, including bands, carillon bells, movies,
magicians, and other performances.
Media
The city newspaper is the Post-Bulletin [3], an afternoon paper which publishes
six days a week (no Sundays). Papers from the Twin Cities area are available as
well. There are two television stations based in Rochester, KTTC channel 10
(NBC) and KXLT channel 47 (FOX). Both TV stations share studios as part of a
special agreement between Quincy Newspapers and Shockley Broadcasting. KAAL
channel 6 (ABC) in Austin, Minnesota and KIMT [4] channel 3 (CBS) in Mason City,
Iowa are among the stations that serve the market.
Some Things to Consider When Looking for an Apartment...
When searching for a new apartment make sure to take your time to
think through what are the most important things to you in an apartment
and plan your search based on those priorities. Here are some things to
consider when planning your move:
1. Consider the areas where you would like to live
* What is the crime rate?
* If you have children - what rating does the local school system have?
* Is there area convenient shopping, health and recreation services in
the area?
2. Make a list of your housing priorities
* Do you have pets?
* Do you need parking?
* Do you need to be on the ground floor?
* What amenities are important to you - swimming pool, fitness room, in
unit laundry?
3. Evaluate the building
* What is the condition of the unit and building?
* Are the grounds maintained?
* Are windows, steps, and railings in good condition?
* View the property at night. Is it safe and well lit?
4. The security of the property
* Are there security service? When is the guard on duty?
* Does the building have controlled access?
* Does each unit have secure door and window locks?
5. Talk to the neighbors
* Ask other residents whether they are satisfied with the building.
6. Amenities
* Who is allowed to use the amenities?
* When are they open?
* Are the fees charged to use those facilities included in rent?
7. Ask about Utilities
* Does the owner or tenant pay the utility bills?
* Are any utilities included with monthly rent?
* Do units have separate thermostats to control heat and air
conditioning?
8. Review the lease
* How much notice must you give before moving out?
* Can the rent be increased? If so, by how much and how often?
* Are pets allowed?
* What is the security deposit and cleaning costs upon move out?
* What is the responsibility of tenants for damage to property?
* Is there a penalty for breaking a lease?
9. Information too bring to a lease signing
* Credit Report
* Pay stubs/tax returns
* Reference
* Application
More Apartment Information
An apartment (or flat in Britain and most other Commonwealth
countries) is a self-contained housing unit that occupies only part of a
building. Apartments may be owned (by an owner-occupier) or rented (by
tenants).
Some apartment-dwellers own their apartments, either as co-ops, in which
the residents own shares of a corporation that owns the building or
development; or in condominiums, whose residents own their apartments
and share ownership of the public spaces. Most apartments are in
buildings designed for the purpose, but large older houses are sometimes
divided into apartments. The word apartment connotes a residential unit
or section in a building. Apartment building owners, lessors, or
managers often use the more general word units to refer to apartments.
Units can be used to refer to rental business suites as well as
residential apartments. When there is no tenant occupying an apartment,
the lessor is said to have a vacancy. For apartment lessors, each
vacancy represents a loss of income from rent-paying tenants for the
time the apartment is vacant (i.e., unoccupied). Lessors' objectives are
often to minimize the vacancy rate for their units. The owner of the
apartment typically transfers possession to the occupant by giving
him/her the key to the apartment entrance door and any other keys need
to live there, such as a common key to the building or any other common
areas, and an individual unit mailbox key. When the occupant move out,
these keys should typically be returned to the owner.
Apartments can be classified into several types. Studio, efficiency,
bed-sit, or bachelor apartments tend to be the smallest apartments with
the cheapest rents in a given area. These kinds of apartment usually
consist mainly of a large room which is the living, dining, and bedroom
combined. There are usually kitchen facilities as part of this central
room, but the bathroom is its own smaller separate room. Moving up from
the efficiencies are one-bedroom apartments where one bedroom is a
separate room from the rest of the apartment. Then there are
two-bedroom, three-bedroom, etc. apartments. Small apartments often have
only one entrance/exit. Large apartments often have two entrances/exits,
perhaps a door in the front and another in the back. Depending on the
building design, the entrance/exit doors may be directly to the outside
or to a common area inside, such as a hallway. Depending on location,
apartments may be available for rent furnished with furniture or
unfurnished into which a tenant usually moves in with his/her own
furniture. Permanent carpeting is often included in an apartment.
Laundry facilities are usually kept in a separate area accessible to all
the tenants in the building. Depending on when the building was built
and the design of the building, utilities such as water, heating, and
electric may be common for all the apartments in the building or
separate for each apartment and billed separately to each tenant
(however, many areas in the US have ruled it illegal to split a water
bill among all the tenants, especially if a pool is on the premises).
Outlets for connection to telephones are typically included in
apartments. Telephone service is optional and is practically always
billed separately from the rent payments. Cable television and similar
amenities are extra also. Parking space, air conditioner, and extra
storage space may or may not be included with an apartment. Rental
leases often limit the maximum number of people who can reside in each
apartment. On or around the ground floor of the apartment building, a
series of mailboxes are typically kept in a location accessible to the
public and, thus, to the letter-carrier too. Every unit typically gets
its own mailbox with individual keys to it. Some very large apartment
buildings with a full-time staff may take mail from the mailman and
provide mail-sorting service. Near the mailboxes or some other location
accessible by outsiders, there may be a buzzer (equivalent to a
doorbell) for each individual unit. In smaller apartment buildings such
as two- or three-flats, or even four-flats, garbage is often disposed of
in trash containers similar to those used at houses. In larger
buildings, garbage is often collected in a common trash bin or dumpster.
For cleanliness or minimizing noise, many lessors will place
restrictions on tenants regarding keeping pets in an apartment.
In some parts of the world, the word apartment is used generally to
refer to a new purpose-built self-contained residential unit in a
building, whereas the word flat means a converted self-contained unit in
an older building. An industrial, warehouse, or commercial space
converted to an apartment is commonly called a loft.
When part of a house is converted for the ostensible use of a landlord's
family member, the unit may be known as an in-law apartment or granny
flat, though these (sometimes illegally) created units are often
occupied by ordinary renters rather than family members. In Canada these
suites are commonly located in the basements of houses and are therefore
normally called basement suites.
Staying in privately owned apartments rather than in a hotel is quickly
becoming popular with travelers.