Minneapolis Issues Folks,
I feel the people on Nicollet Island and all Minneapolis and Minnesota
residents should have concerns about the DeLaSalle Stadium proposal.
DeLaSalle bought the land with ~$1M of state money in 1986 under restrictive
covenants establishing a regional park. DeLaSalle now has proposed building a
stadium and they have not attempted to pay back the money to the state for the
regional park. DeLaSalle is applying to breach a covenant made to the state.
It is true that there appears to be political support for building a stadium
and other sports facilities. The usual approval process has been inverted to
give approval before citizen hearings and other planning steps. One reason for
inappropriately pushing the proposal now is because more conservation-minded
candidates may be elected to the Park Board.
The current tennis courts may be moved or removed and replaced by a stadium and
exercise facilities. The work may also raise the land level creating
tunnel-like effect for park users and restrict them accessing the land
DeLaSalle views as their property. The stadium will have bleachers for 700
people. No plans for dealing with cars if so many attend and that will be a
problem for people that live on the Island. DeLaSalle probably intends to fence
in "their" space but will let Park Board use the "public" park in the summer.
It is likely that the stadium will have artificial turf playing surface near
what is the current park area. The island may further lose a meadow with a
walking path, and the artificial turf will do little to help reduce storm water
run-off. All fields in the city should be natural grass. Home owners have to
pay more to if their property does not have impervious surfaces, and so should
private and public institutions like DeLaSalle.
This project should be scrutinized because of the serious land use issues and
the lack of planning for transportation. How many people would want to come
home on a Friday or Saturday evening to hundreds of more vehicles in their
neighborhood? Possible taking parking spots away from them and their family and
friends?
DeLaSalle has a right to develop a stadium, but this does not seem like an
appropriate place to build such a project.
Ken Bradley
Kenny Neighborhood
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