Minneapolis holds out hope that Vikings stay downtown

Civic boosters, architects and developers in Minneapolis still hope the Minnesota Vikings will stay downtown, despite the Ramsey County board's approval to purchase land in Arden Hills for a new stadium.

The group 2020 Partners unveiled site plans for two Minneapolis locations on Tuesday evening. One site along Linden Avenue near the Basilica would include an art garden and hotels. Another proposal would be built near the farmers market site in Minneapolis, and concept art shows the market and stadium operating side by side. The group says a proposal for the Metrodome site will be released later.

The public should have more say in the Vikings' plans, said developer Chuck Leer.

"The perception of what's happening is that the public isn't calling the shots," Leer said. "I think it's important that with us, the public, putting in most of the resources — and we're the ones who are going to make this investment — that it should be shaped and in a form that serves our public purposes."

However, the Vikings have not responded to either proposal, Leer said.

Architect Mic Johnson said getting the Vikings to take another look at Minneapolis is a long shot.

Johnson's idea for the site along Linden Ave. would include an art garden and public spaces that would serve as a front door to the city.

"They're doing their Arden Hills proposal, working through that, being very diligent about that," Johnson said. "We've just been working on this to say 'What if it was downtown, what options would there be for the Vikings."

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