Linden Ave & the Basilica

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 2:58 PM CST

There's been a bit of confusion about the proximity of the proposed Linden Ave. stadium location and the Basilica (I'm told the Pioneer Press said it was 300 feet away). I was in the area today, so thought I would share some photos that might give people a bit more understanding.

First is taken from the corner of Linden Ave. W. and 16th St. N.

Sorry for the bad back-lighting, but I couldn't do much about the time of day. If you can make it out, in the foreground is a parking lot, then you can see the an elevated bit of 394. On other other side of that is another parking lot, another street, a Kipp academy, and then the Basilica (which you can see in the background).

Here's the view looking the other way:

This one is from Laurel Ave. and 16th looking north. The Kipp academy and the Basilica are actually behind us, to the south of here. The stadium would be on the other side of the elevated stretch of 394 you can see in the background.

Anyway, the bottom line to me is that adding a stadium here might complicate parking for Sunday church services, but it wouldn't be encroaching on the Basilica in from an aesthetic or structural point of view. It's a good, solid city block plus a multi-lane freeway away.

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

Tweet Comment 25 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

The 300 feet thing is

from the Basilica property line to the New stadium property line. Not from building to building.

"Democracy is a device that ensures we shall be governed no better than we deserve."
George Bernard Shaw

"In those days the best painkiller was ice; it wasn't addictive and it was particularly effective if you poured some whiskey over it."
George Burns
Follow @justanothervike

by just another viking on Jan 18, 2012 3:31 PM CST reply actions

I heard the Basilica is worried

about potential damage to their building due to construction vibrations and such. I guess they went through that with the freeway construction in the past. Is there any validity to that rumor? Is that a valid concern?

I know they have gone through a vast facilities overhaul funded in part by their annual block party. How much is due to the age of the building or how much is due to surrounding construction is not something I have any real knowledge.

Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.

by Odin on Jan 18, 2012 3:36 PM CST reply actions

Interesting point....

Construction possibly damaging the church.
Not worth the risk OR DELAYs if an act of God gets in the way.

A head exam is in order for the minn legislature!!

Vikings in 2012 will be a Wonder-ful year. Seriously!!
I also love the game of golf. My favorite golf GPS app is OptimalClub.
It is hands down the BEST golf aid you'll ever have for club distances
under current elevation and weather conditions. Stop guessing & score low!

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jan 18, 2012 5:15 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

They built two freeways around it

In much closer proximity. And a parking ramp right across the street. Seems ime a fictional concern to me.

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 6:09 PM CST up reply actions

My friend who did not have a source for this rumor sent a link ... finally.

http://www.catholicculture.org/news/headlines/index.cfm?storyid=12958

A biased source, but probably a source that would know better than most.

Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.

by Odin on Jan 18, 2012 6:42 PM CST up reply actions

Interesting Article

Business owner says Linden Avenue site a bad place for Vikings stadium

☠★☪Creator of http:/vikescity.info/ and dedicated DN reader.

by UnBannedVikingholic on Jan 18, 2012 5:20 PM CST reply actions

One business

With 104 employees would have to move. Seems pretty minor.

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 6:10 PM CST up reply actions

Not if you are the owner

or one of the employees. There is also a youth group that would be dislocated. I do not know if there is more.

Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.

by Odin on Jan 18, 2012 6:34 PM CST up reply actions

Xcel and the city own the rest

Apparently.

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 6:50 PM CST up reply actions

Another point is how the use of

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jan 18, 2012 5:31 PM CST via mobile reply actions

Crap... Posted too soon

Another thought is to put it real world perspective…

300 feet is 100 yards away.

100 yards is a pitching wedge or a sand wedge of a golf shot.

The use of big numbers to make it further away is a gimmick. How does 3600 inches sound?!?

This all makes mn govt look like idiots, particularly to buy time for their ‘secret’ project plan that will come out of a magic hat.

The public is neither amused or fooled.

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jan 18, 2012 5:37 PM CST via mobile up reply actions

Huh?

He point s that 300 feet or 100 yards is a bullshit number only used to make it seem much closer that it is.

It’s about two full city blocks away. Does that sound closer than 300 feet to you?

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 6:12 PM CST up reply actions

Proximity to basilica

Ever notice they’re not mentioning the church any more but by street name? Deception.

2 full city blocks is reachable by a driver (1 wood). A tailgate experience means there’s going to be drinking. No escaping it. Does it belong downtown? That’s a good question!!

Anyone in the ‘proposed’ linden ave area would have to relocate. The story of disrupting an international business there (a job creator) would come at a price and my heart goes out to them. I’m sure they can leave but they have the right and option of being real stubborn and not do so, causing a roadblock of a legal headache.

Linden is only an ‘endorsement’. It is not a ‘done deal’ Big difference.

Why do i get the feeling this will get more messy and NFL league ultimatums being issued?

Honest answer? Next year’s scheduling has to be done one way or another. How does one buy tickets if there’s no known location this fall?

A simple answer a politician needs to answer ASAP. What they’ve done is more window dressing.

Only Arden Hills has provided a ‘vision’, which is powerful marketing planted many months ago. A vikings mecca. A vikings destination spot they can call their own. Such a spot is NOT a 20 year deal, but perhaps a 30-50+ year one. No doubt why the Minneapolis Sports Commission is all hot and bothered by this long term prospect. How do you close the revenue short fall for that time? The truth is… they can’t and wont admit it. MSC simply eFF’ed up big time and is becoming the pig getting squeezed.

It’s time for a new direction and a new landlord for the Vikings.

by VikesFanSince1967 on Jan 19, 2012 10:11 AM CST up reply actions

No, but I noticed that quite a few abandoned the street name

For the church, even though it isn’t really near the church. Why do you think that is?

I think you have the propaganda exactly backwards.

by amiller92 on Jan 19, 2012 10:30 AM CST up reply actions

the only place worse than this site

is the metrodome site…. if its the only option to keep the vikes here, then so be it.. but anything that is built in minneapolis is a waste of what could have been a unbelievable vikings mecca… in arden hills,,, or even shakopee for that fact…..

by Toes110 on Jan 18, 2012 6:02 PM CST reply actions

I'm not keen on this site

Because I think it’s too small. But the graphic Chris posted shows a nigger area than I thought (it seems they will scrap he City works facilty), so maybe it’s better than I thought.

But fake concerns about proximity to the Basilica are, well, just fake.

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 6:14 PM CST up reply actions

I hope you meant bigger.

In fact, I am sure you did.

Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.

by Odin on Jan 18, 2012 6:32 PM CST up reply actions

Holy crap!!

Yes, bigger. Sorry.

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 6:50 PM CST up reply actions

It's called a typo.

No problem. In my case it is usually a case of fat fingers.

Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.

by Odin on Jan 18, 2012 7:05 PM CST up reply actions

GASP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sorry, couldn’t help myself, though yes, a mistake, no worries!

Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is a war room!

by VikesFaninNM on Jan 18, 2012 9:55 PM CST up reply actions

While we've had our disagreements

Nice job on showing and revealing the 300 foot myth. Still very skeptical of anything downtown, but it appears the state moroms, um, leaders have decreed it to be such…….

So let it be written, so let it be done……..

However, if it’s going to be downtown, has anyone heard word on to what is available outside the stadium if it were built here? Parking, tailgating and the such? Is there more available then the Dome or is everyone pretty screwed again?

Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is a war room!

by VikesFaninNM on Jan 18, 2012 10:00 PM CST reply actions

My option

Screwed. There are large garages adjacent to Target Center, but that’s about it. I don’t see any tailgating.

If you are very nice to me I might let you park at my place.

by amiller92 on Jan 18, 2012 10:09 PM CST up reply actions

I guess that leaves me out. ;=o

Your fantasy football expert since Jerry Rice's rookie year.

by Odin on Jan 18, 2012 10:14 PM CST up reply actions

I read that the linden ave site is about 40 acres

The current great inflatable toilet site is under 30 acres so the linden ave site is a tad under twice as big but not a lot of space for tailgating. By comparison the a.h. site is like 240 acres and shokopee is like 140-160 acres. Botg of those sites would be far and away superior.

Will the Real Thor Please Stand Up ... ?

by the Real Thor on Jan 19, 2012 7:44 AM CST via Android app up reply actions

Back to Arden Hills for a second

Now, I may have read it and forgot but I haven’t run out and looked at the moment, but was the price of the land included in the Vikings total contribution, Ramsey County’s or the State? As far as the clean up of the surrounding area, I know that is the Fed’s responsibility with it being a Super Fund.

Gentlemen! You can't fight in here, this is a war room!

by VikesFaninNM on Jan 19, 2012 10:40 AM CST reply actions