Report clears path for downtown St. Paul ballpark; new renderings released

The site of a new minor league baseball stadium planned for downtown St. Paul's Lowertown area has passed an environmental assessment, clearing a path for construction, the Pioneer Press reports.

The Environmental Assessment Worksheet concluded a more-intensive environmental impact statement would not be necessary. It also reports that the 7,500 parking spots in Lowertown are plenty to handle gameday crowds as well as residents, visitors and shoppers, KSTP reports.

The $54 million, 7,000-seat ballpark would be home to the St. Paul Saints, near Fifth and Broadway streets, where the vacant Gillette/Diamond Products building sits. Demolition is now expected to begin this summer, the Pioneer Press reports.

Officials hope the new ballpark would be ready for the 2015 season. Here's more info about the plan.

Meanwhile, city officials Tuesday released new artist renderings of what the stadium would look like set in downtown (above), including a night view (below):

Here's where it would sit downtown (click for larger view):