![Fans in the stands watched the first inning of the St. Paul Saints final game at Midway Stadium on Thursday night. ] CARLOS GONZALEZ cgonzalez@startribune.com - August 28, 2014, St. Paul, Minn., Midway Stadium, St. Paul Saints baseball vs. Winnipeg - Final Saints game at Midway Stadium](https://arc.stimg.co/startribunemedia/N2JULTHT3XHPXFFB4XWLELYN6U.jpg?&w=1080)
While the Saints' new ballpark continues to rise in downtown St. Paul, plans for their old home at Midway Stadium got a significant boost Tuesday from the state.
The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) announced $4.16 million in pollution cleanup or investigative grants to 10 redevelopment sites across the state, including $1.25 million to remediate the old ballpark site near Snelling Avenue in St. Paul.
The 12.9-acre site, once a dump, is co-owned by the St. Paul Port Authority and United Properties. They plan to build a light-industrial building where nearly 200 people can be employed. The redevelopment is expected to increase the tax base by $814,331.
The Port Authority and other grant sources will match the cleanup costs, according to a DEED news release.
The Port Authority acquired the Midway Stadium site in 2012 in a land swap with the city of St. Paul, which didn't have the needed funds to buy the Lowertown site for the new ballpark. The Port Authority bought the downtown site for $1.85 million, then gave it to the city in exchange for the Midway site.
Another St. Paul developer also received $200,000 to clean up pollution at a site along W. 7th Street near the Xcel Energy Center, where a new hotel, housing and street-level commercial space are planned. The redevelopment is expected to add 50 jobs and increase the tax base by $818,317.
Other sites receiving cleanup grants Tuesday, along with plans for redevelopment: Howe Fertilizer, Brooklyn Center, dock facility, $610,000; 602 Residences, Minneapolis, condos and underground parking, $292,000; New Horizon Academy, Minneapolis, daycare center, $243,000; Brad's Auto Salvage, Blue Earth County, shop and office building, $233,000; Washington and Chicago redevelopment, Minneapolis, apartment building with commercial space, $227,000; city of Mankato, children's museum, $98,000; and Garceau Hardware, Vadnais Heights, senior housing complex, $18,000.
