[Mpls] $10 million for the Shubert comes after the Senate's disco-ball

[Chris Johnson]

>>From the Taxpayers League E-Update on January 7, 2005.....
> 
> "But what a steal at $6800/foot to move the Shubert two blocks
> 
> Back in 1999 the city of Minneapolis moved the Shubert Theatre a few hundred
> feet from its original location to make room for the Block E development. At
> a cost of $4.7 million it ranks as the costliest building move in history.
> Five years later the rotting hulk of the Shubert is still there. The $34
> million renovation of the Shubert was supposed to be completed by now, but
> the opening date has been pushed back to 2006 or 2007 - contingent on $10
> million in bonding the city hopes to get from the state this legislative
> session.

While I'm certainly opposed to sticking taxpayers with boondoggles, I'm sure 
they happen nearly every day across this nation of ours.

The Taxpayers League statement is just another example of their over-heated 
and false rhetoric.

To wit: "At a cost of $4.7 million it ranks as the costliest building move in 
history."

A mere few minutes of searching found examples which cost more -- lots more.

For example, the Shanghai Concert Hall was moved about 218 feet south-east for 
a cost of $18.1 million, or about $83,000 a foot.  The Shubert looks downright 
cheap in comparison.  And that's not the only building the city of Shanghai 
has moved in the past decade.

Closer to home, the San Diego Padres baseball team has a new stadium, and part 
of the over-all project was moving the 100 by 100 Showley Brothers Candy 
Factory 280 feet east for a cost of $5 million, or about $17,800 a foot.  The 
Shubert still looks cheaper by half.

I'm inclined to believe anything the Taxpayers League says is complete bunk. 
They've not yet demonstrated any ability to get their facts right.


Chris Johnson
Fulton