Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat told Sports Headliners the county will decide “within a month” whether to proceed with condemnation or pursue another site for the new Twins baseball stadium. The land owners of the eight acre proposed stadium site near Target Center will not tell the county how much money they want for the site, according to Opat.
The site has been appraised at about $13 million and the tax valuation is $8 million, Opat said. He and Hennepin County Board Chairman Randy Johnson say they are frustrated with efforts to obtain a specific price from the owners. Opat said the county never expected the land acquisition to be so “difficult” and it may make more sense to look for another site rather than invest time and money in condemnation proceedings.
Opat described the possibility of searching for a new site as “exciting.” He said possible sites could include the city impound lot and suburban locations such as Crystal and Eden Prairie.
The upside of a new location would be a larger site than the current location. Opat said HOK Sport, the project architectural firm, prefers to work with a 40, 50 or 100 acre site.
Opat made it clear the county will consider another stadium site and the facility doesn’t have to be located within the city limits of Minneapolis. Part of the stadium financing will come from dedicating .15% of the county sales tax to the project.
The ballpark is targeted to open in 2010. Not only is the stadium construction a major task, but so, too, is the adjacent infrastructure such as bridges, plazas and railroad tracks.
The site near Target Center has been hailed for its access to light rail and roads. The proposed stadium will offer a view of the downtown skyline and its adjacency to the city’s bars and restaurants are considered a plus for fans attending games.