ST PAUL, Minnesota — At the corner of University and Snelling, a fitting bird is finally taking flight.
"I was driving over here and I had assumed that some sort of building was going up and then it wasn't a building and it was like, maybe a bird?" said Mikey Colins of St. Paul.
A massive loon sculpture by artist Andy Scott is being reassembled outside Allianz Field. The sculpture arrived to St. Paul from Los Angeles in 90 pieces. When complete, the 25-ton sculpture will span 89.5 ft. and stand 32.5 ft. high.
Called "The Calling," some are hopeful it's part of an answer to a long-awaited redevelopment for the Midway neighborhood.
"I work in a store that was displaced by the stadium," said Colins, who works for Pearle Vision. The store relocated in the neighborhood but since then, Colins said, "It's been a net negative over time and I think that is pretty similar with other businesses in the area because it sounds like that was a mall and other stuff going on. Then after COVID, I think a lot of things shut down here. So I hear from people in the area who've been here longer than I that they're hoping for some revitalization in the area."
The United Village project is focused on developing the area surrounding the stadium — led by Dr. Bill McGuire, owner of Minnesota United FC. However, MNUFC is not involved in the development project.
"If folks are familiar with where Allianz Field is, it's the super block that surrounds Allianz Field between 94, Snelling Ave., University Ave. and Pascal to the east," explained Mike Hahm, a project advisor to the United Village team.
In June, a fully inclusive playground opened on the site. Now, the loon sculpture will be part of a sculpture plaza.
Hahm said if all goes according to plan, construction on the office building, hotel and restaurant pavilion will be underway by next fall.
Allianz Field opened in 2019. Since then, the United Village project has scaled back from its original vision. Some business owners have expressed frustration over the pace of the project.
"We're frustrated, too. We wish we were further along but we were responding to the same change in conditions that resulted from the pandemic, and our communities dealing with the murder of George Floyd and what followed, and how both of those things affected the economic conditions," Hahm said.
But Hahm said looking at the present, "This is happening now. We're not talking about something that is hypothetical or something that can happen."
Midway Used and Rare Books declined an interview but pointed to the signs outside their store. One sign in the window says, "St. Paul gives millions of tax dollars for stadiums and statues, but nothing to help the Snelling-Midway neighborhood."
Colins said he thinks people here are looking for more community and said, "I have my fingers crossed though... I'm ready for what the future holds for the area."
Hahm said he hopes between the playground and the sculpture, it gives people visual reminders of what's to come.
He said, "It's a great opportunity for this community, both on this site and for the impact that it can have for everything that surrounds it. This community deserves it."
The loon sculpture is expected to be complete by the end of this week or beginning of next week.