Two square blocks between Park Avenue and Fifth Avenue formerly were occupied by the Star Tribune building and the main parking lot that employees enjoyed at a reasonable monthly rate.
The property was purchased to provide a more picturesque view from the new dome, with its heap load of glass in front. The theory sold in soliciting donations for the $22 million park was that the two blocks would be a splendid public gathering place.
First things first: The Edition Apartments were built and take up roughly one-third of the block abutting Fifth.
The Edition occupants appear to have the choice of a grand view of either the Hennepin County jail, temporary home to various rapscallions, or U.S. Bank Stadium, where the owners of the main tenant also have a family real estate business that was accused by a judge of "bad faith and evil motive'' in a dealing with partners.
Ah, heck … that was in New Jersey, so what do we care?
The Commons label for the park is what has intrigued me. Various definitions suggest that a commons is a shared resource managed by a community — and a resource that cannot be monopolized by one group of individuals.
My assumption would be that means the monopolizing should not occur with primary tenants of publicly financed football cathedrals.
The Vikings will have full control over the Commons on game days, the day before, the day after and on other special occasions. The Super Bowl is arriving in February, and we might be seeing a preview this weekend of what the Commons will look like for commoners in the two weeks before the championship game.