Feb 23, 2007 7:41 pm US/Central
Landowners In Twins Ballpark Project: Not Greedy
by John Reger
(WCCO)
-
-
The county hopes to break ground on the stadium this summer. The ballpark is supposed to be ready in 2010.
MLB
The landowners in the Twins ballpark project don't like being portrayed as greedy.
The stadium plan is stalled right now over how much the land is worth, pitting Hennepin County against the group that owns the land. The landowners said the problem is that the County isn't keeping an agreement to have an arbitration board set the purchase price.
"We've never, ever said that you can have the property for a price you name," said Richard Pogin, a general partner of the landowner group.
He said from the start, the deal with government officials has been that if a fair value couldn't be agreed on, the property would be taken by eminent domain and a Hennepin County court would arbitrate
"They knew that going back to 2004," said Pogin, "it's the same as it is now, we have never ever changed that position."
Hennepin County Commissioner Mike Opat said the county never has had such an agreement.
Pogin said the County's offers have been too low, and the county's now holding up arbitration since the parties can't agree on a price. He said it's like anyone selling their house to the government, but they can't agree on a price.
"And you say to them, well I don't agree to it," said Pogin, "but I'll agree to some independent arbitration of what the value of my house is, to which the government says, 'No we won't agree to that,' and you for asking for an independent arbitration, you are greedy."
Pogin said he's responsible to his group's investors, and he'd be sued for mismanagement if he accepted less than fair market value.
"Nobody would do that," he said, "and if we even proposed it, we would be removed as general partners, that's crazy."
Opat said the county has tried to negotiate in good faith, but the landowners want more than $40 million. Opat said the land is currently valued for property taxes at $8 million.
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
