Can development, idling diesel trains coexist?

In a glacial river valley west of downtown Minneapolis, a long-neglected banana-shaped parcel of land is suddenly at the center of potentially competing interests.

The city now uses the 25 acres along Interstate 394 to crush concrete, recycle asphalt and store things ranging from extra garbage carts to streetlight poles.

A master plan for the surrounding Bassett Creek area envisions offices and some housing for the parcel, known as Linden Yards from its past railroad use. Although construction is likely to be years away, developer Ryan Companies is working on crafting a proposal, with strong backing from the adjacent Harrison neighborhood.

But the eastern third of the yards also is being eyed by Hennepin County as a possible site on which to eventually park commuter trains between runs.

Although Ryan says that could help its development plans, Harrison activists are voicing fears that the rail use could trim the number of jobs and housing units, and the neighborhood needs both; 37 percent of its population was below the poverty level in 1999.

"We have some grave concerns about heavy rail layover," said Vicki Moore, a Harrison resident who has played an active role in redevelopment plans. "You can't keep continuing to dump stuff in north Minneapolis."

The county has actively promoted and planned for a variety of rail lines that are expected to converge near Target Field, although it won't construct or own them. Preliminary studies for the county have identified either Linden Yards or nearby Cedar Yards as the best sites for commuter or inter-city trains to layover.

The neighborhood calculates that using it for trains instead of including it in Ryan's development could cost 1,800 to 2,800 jobs. That alarms neighborhood leaders, even though consultants suggest that the rail yard could be topped with a level or two of parking and then offices or housing above that.

Neighborhood staffer Larry Hiscock said residents fear it's too speculative to draw plans for rail yards without knowing whether development above is physically or financially feasible and on what timetable. They want the feasibility of such stacked development over idling diesels studied first.

So Ryan and the city have sought from the Metropolitan Council a $100,000 grant for such a study. The same broad flat glacial plain that made the area attractive as a route for early railroads contains boggy soil that increases the challenges for constructing buildings.

County officials say that if a rail yard is built, it would make sense to build in extra support for potential development overhead. How quickly such a rail yard would be needed depends on how fast proposed rail service to Chicago and Duluth, and additional commuter trains similar to the Northstar line, materialize.

The rail yard would cost an estimated $11 million and could reach $30 million if maintenance facilities are added, according to a preliminary study.

Making a decision on whether to place the rail yard in Linden Yards is important, because it would reduce uncertainty when Ryan tries to line up potential corporate tenants for its development. Collins said that Ryan is probably several years from being able to break ground because of uncertainty over rail facilities and general market conditions. The County Board is scheduled to get an update on transit plans Nov. 18.