Hearing shows community split on St. Paul pro soccer stadium

Updated: 3:12 p.m. | Posted: 2:03 p.m.

The city of St. Paul kicked off the formal approval process on Friday for plans for a proposed Major League Soccer stadium in the Midway neighborhood.

The city's planning commission held a public hearing on the plan. Supporters cited the promise of long-awaited renewal at the corner of Snelling and University, while opponents raised the concern of more traffic.

Some questioned the viability of the project without a property tax break approved by the Legislature. It was part of the tax bill Gov. Mark Dayton declined to sign.

Minnesota United FC team owner Bill McGuire said his team is moving ahead on the stadium approval process even without a tax deal.

"And we are of the belief that that will ultimately get signed by the governor, but it was passed," said McGuire. "It was broadly supported to the point that it's almost not mentioned as an issue.

McGuire said the stadium is an ideal fit for the area and will help revitalize the neighborhood.

Yet opponents are calling for the city to go back to the drawing board. Tom Goldstein said he doesn't think a professional sports stadium is a good successor to a Cold War-era shopping center.

"We have a superblock in the form of a strip mall, that we're attempting to break up and to create a city and grid. We're completely foiling that plan by then imposing a large stadium that is greater than the superblock that we're attempting to break up," said Goldstein. "In addition, this proposed grid will be completely disrupted because almost a quarter of the site will be hogged by a stadium."

Danette Lincoln, who lives just across I-94 from the stadium site, says she and others fear the extra density would spill traffic, shoppers and fans onto their streets.

"Ever since the beginning, we've brought up the same issues, over and over again, parking and traffic, et cetera and that type of thing, and until today, there are still no resolutions regarding any of that," she said.

Others at the hearing cited their opposition to public subsidies for professional sports, the speed the project is moving compared to other stadium debates and doubts that fans would actually use the nearby public transit options.

The stadium plans have encountered plenty of hurdles already. They switched cities, from Minneapolis to St. Paul. They've run aground at the Capitol.

But they're moving ahead, McGuire told the planning commission.

"This site was chosen after lots of consideration, not just us, not just with the mayor, not just with other people, but looking around and seeing, where is the optimum confluence of the people that want to participate in something like this, what they'd like to see, and a way they can get there," he said.

Eric Molho, who lives near the site, thinks the stadium-area plans would be a big improvement. He's one of the chairs of the 21-member community advisory council that's been weighing the ideas since December.

"When fully realized, this vision has the potential to dramatically enhance the quality of life in the Midway, bringing new residents to the area, providing additional jobs and services in the neighborhood, adding much needed green space and generating increased tax revenue for the city," Molho said.

The city is weighing the master plan and could approve the redevelopment of the area near Snelling and University later this summer.