Dairy Queen not yet deemed official historic landmark by city
Apr. 16—Answer Man,
Isn't the Dairy Queen on North Broadway Avenue considered a historical building?
With it for sale, won't people looking to develop the property have problems with Rochester's Heritage Preservation Commission?
Just Wondering
Wondering,
The site that has provided the community with countless Dilly Bars and soft-serve cones is on
Rochester's list of approximately 100 potential historic landmarks,
but it has yet to be reviewed for landmark status.
Being on the list means the Heritage Preservation Commission would need to review any application for significant changes to the exterior, which would obviously include demolition.
However, a sale doesn't mean a wrecking ball is in the future.
The
proposed $1.4 million listing
comes with the rights to keep serving Blizzards and banana splits from the 600-square-foot shop at 538 N. Broadway, as well as the ability to expand the franchise into other parts of the city.
With the growth of housing along North Broadway and planned improvements in nearby Silver Lake Park, continuing the site's nearly seven-decade history might not be seen as a bad investment, especially with recent city renovations to make the area more walkable.
The Heritage Preservation Commission would likely only become involved if a buyer had other plans.
If demolition is proposed, the commission would be asked to determine whether the site should be considered a city landmark based on an established set of criteria, which include the building's design, its status as part of the city's development and specific ties to key city residents or events, as well as other factors.
A case could be made by many people that it's an important piece of their personal histories and an iconic symbol along the Broadway landscape. After all, summertime ice cream tends to pull at the heartstrings.
On the other hand, some people would likely argue that it's a dated building and past its prime.
If a commission review is sought, more research would likely be conducted before a decision is made, and Rochester residents would have the opportunity to weigh in.
While meeting one of the review criteria could lead to a path toward landmark status, that isn't always the case. A new owner could argue that the potential seasonal revenue from the established franchise doesn't cover the cost of maintaining the building, and a successful argument could trump landmark designation.
Depending on the goals of a future owner, it could put a new twist on the top of the corner's long-established ice cream cone history.
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