It's my understanding that the deal with HOBT was "lost" not because of anything the city did. The city has been amazing (thanks to all of the wonderful folks who encouraged them to be).
The deal was apparently lost because the current owner, Selwin Ortega, somehow locked in a tight Dec. 23rd closing date for the deal. If the date wasn't met, the deal would not go through. My understanding is that the MCDA put extra staff on the project to try and make it happen but there was going to be no way to get the financing details worked out in time. So, rather than slog away at it and still have it fall through, HOBT decided to walk away. I've heard that HOBT still wants to get the building someday but that they've accepted that it probably isn't now. If anyone has any thoughts about how to get Mr. Ortega to rethink selling the space, I'm sure the folks at HOBT would love to hear it. So, as far as I know, the space will become a meat repackaging facility--not exactly my idea of a good substitution for an Arts Center, but I'm biased. I'm on the board of Galumph Interactive Theater, one of the small theater companies who were to lease space there. I'm told that HOBT is already having trouble with rats coming through the walls from that space and that they've just spent a bunch of money to install ratproofing. I can only imagine that it will get worse if the meat repackaging place goes in. (Or maybe better if health codes are enforced.) Sue Ponsford Bryant Neighborhood (home) Powderhorn (the theater co. I'm on the board of) __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Mail Plus - Powerful. Affordable. Sign up now. http://mailplus.yahoo.com _______________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Unsubscribe, Digest, and more: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
