U regents approve demolition of grain elevators
The University of Minnesota Board of Regents authorized the demolition of a group of grain elevators east of the Twin Cities campus Friday, possibly to be redeveloped for a sports facility.
The university bought the property one year ago with the intent to demolish it for future development.
As the Athlete's Village project has moved forward, the university is looking for places to rebuild some sports facilities, including a recreational sports bubble.
But the university also received comments from around 100 people who are questioning the U's move, saying the structures should be saved. The elevator complex with 32 silos was built in 1901 and designed by C.A.P. Turner, who designed the Aerial Lift Bridge in Duluth.
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The Electric Steel Elevator property, on the 600 block of 25th Avenue Southeast, was deemed eligible for the National Register of Historic Places because of its design and role in the grain industry. But the elevators were never put on the register.
Despite the lack of official designation, some told the regents they oppose demolition.
"It takes away from a sense of place for the area. It creates another complex of sports stadiums and parking lots and that's anywhere. That's anywhere," said Neil Kent, a second-year graduate student at the U's school of architecture. "To get rid of such an iconic landmark of what Minneapolis is, it just seems like you're erasing it. In 50 years you're gonna look back and say what were we doing?"
But administrators said while the buildings have history, there's not much that can be done to redevelop the buildings.
University President Eric Kaler also said the buildings are a liability.
"I think the grain elevators are an attractive nuisance for vandalism, for potential harm to people," he said. "I think they need to be taken down and I think a better use of that space is to replace the space we're taking away from rec sports."
Administrators say they still plan to assess if any single parts of the elevator complex can be saved while redeveloping the land.