The St. Paul City Council is preparing for some key votes relating to Allianz Field, the future home of Minnesota United FC.
Allianz Field is to be constructed in St. Paul’s Midway neighborhood, where it is being envisioned as the anchor of a larger redevelopment plan. United FC is privately financing the stadium at a cost of $200 million, but the city council last year approved funds for expenses relating to the project, including $16.1 million for infrastructure upgrades and $2 million for environmental cleanup.
The plans for the surrounding area call for a variety of infrastructure improvements, as well as the construction of a new green space. Dubbed the Great Lawn, the green space will be a privately-maintained public area located outside of the stadium. The Great Lawn will be part of the agenda on Wednesday, when the city council considers whether to move forward with plans for the space. More from The Pioneer Press:
The council also will be asked to approve a proposed .63-acre green space that will be installed south of the McDonald’s and Perkins restaurants between a future extension of Spruce Tree Drive and a future extension of Shields Avenue.
The city will contribute $250,000 to cover the base finish, or standard public infrastructure, to support the “Great Lawn,” including irrigation, turf, trees and benches or other street furniture.
Minnesota United is expected to put an estimated $140,000 toward additional land improvements. The team will operate and maintain the space for the city, making the Great Lawn one of the city’s first official “POPS,” or privately-operated public spaces.
Among the other items to be considered, the city council is expected to weigh in on the lot lines in a final plat. That vote is required before a building permit can be obtained to build the stadium above ground. United FC has slated Allianz Field for a 2019 opening, and will spend 2018 at the University of Minnesota’s TCF Bank Stadium.
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