Landowners dig in on Twins stadium site price

As a mediator tried to end a dispute over the sale price, a new demand for $65 million deepened the impasse.

By Mike Kaszuba, Star Tribune

Last update: September 27, 2007 - 11:51 PM

With a mediation hearing to try to settle the Minnesota Twins stadium land dispute scheduled for today, the owners of the downtown Minneapolis property have filed court papers indicating they still want to be paid at least $65 million for the parcel.

The move by the landowners, led by Land Partners II, a limited liability partnership, signaled that after months of negotiating, the issue may be far from resolved. The $65 million figure was included in a formal appeal filed this week by the landowners, which challenged a $23.8 million award by a condemnation panel in August.

Since last year, Hennepin County, which is providing major funding for the stadium through a countywide sales tax, has been trying to reach a price settlement with the landowners after acquiring title to the property by filing for condemnation.

Since the condemnation panel announced its decision in August, however, there has been little sign of movement by the county or the landowners. In an attempt to avoid a pending November trial, a mediator is scheduled to meet with both sides today to try to break the impasse.

Though the landowners had asked for $65 million in June, their latest move was somewhat surprising because, following the panel's award, they had countered by making a $33.18 million settlement offer. County officials then countered with a $19.3 million offer, plus "incidental fees and costs," a package that County Attorney Mike Freeman said amounted to about $22 million.

"I was astonished to see that they appealed and brought up the $65 million figure on the eve of mediation," said Randy Johnson, the county board chairman. "It's kind of like a cold fist in the face."

Aron Kahn, a spokesman for the landowners, said the renewed $65 million offer was justified. "They're simply putting forth the number that their appraisers felt was reasonable," he said. "They hope a compromise can be reached."

While the dispute continues, construction on the 40,000-seat stadium is progressing and officials said they will meet a 2010 completion date. But the land sale impasse nonetheless has large implications for the project. County officials have maintained that if more public money is spent on acquiring the land, less will be available for the roads, bridges and other infrastructure needed surrounding the stadium.

Mike Kaszuba • 612-673-4388

Mike Kaszuba • mkaszuba@startribune.com

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