Metropolitan Airports Commission To Buy Four Homes Near Runway at Minneapolis Airport

Aug. 16, 2005
The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) board today agreed to fund the purchase of four of eight homes in the area of Richfield that will be most impacted by noise when new Runway 17/35 opens in October.

MINNEAPOLIS & ST. PAUL, Minn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 15, 2005--The Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) board today agreed to fund the purchase of four of eight homes in the area of Richfield that will be most impacted by noise when new Runway 17/35 opens in October. The city of Richfield will complete the acquisition process for the MAC and will purchase the other four homes, all of which are located on 17th Ave. So., just south of 66th Street.

Normally, the MAC provides sound insulation for homes such as these, which fall in the 65 DNL (day-night level) noise contour, an area recognized by the Federal Aviation Administration as noise impacted and eligible for mitigation. However, the MAC does consider acquiring the homes instead at communities' request.

The city of Richfield plans to redevelop the area where the homes are located and has requested that the MAC participate in the city's acquisition program rather than insulating the homes. The eight homes are the only Richfield residences to be added to the 65 DNL contour established under the MAC's 2007 Part 150 program. The MAC insulated 660 Richfield residences within the 65 DNL contour through the previous Part 150 program.

"By participating in the acquisition program, we enable homeowners to relocate to areas less impacted by airport noise and further Richfield's efforts to develop more compatible uses for these properties," said Kari Berman, commissioner for MAC District C, which includes the cities of Richfield, Bloomington and Edina. "The alternative would be to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars insulating homes in an area the city wants to redevelop for commercial use. Clearly, acquisition represents a better use of public funds in this case."

The MAC estimates it will spend about $1 million, in total, acquiring the properties. Since 1992, the MAC has spent more than $300 million on noise mitigation activities in communities around Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport.

CONTACT: Metropolitan Airports Commission Patrick Hogan, 612-726-5335 KEYWORD: MINNESOTAINDUSTRY KEYWORD: REAL ESTATE BUILDING/CONSTRUCTION AIRLINES TRANSPORTATION MERGERS/ACQSOURCE: Metropolitan Airports Commission