By Adam Allington, KWMU
St. Louis, MO – Despite a breakdown in negotiations with the project's main tenant, Centene Corporation, newly appointed St. Louis Cardinals Team President Bill Dewitt III says that the Ball Park Village development will go forward.
Without mentioning specifics, everyone involved in the Centene negotiations has said that deal will happen, or not, sometime over the next two weeks.
Speaking at his first press conference as Team President, Bill Dewitt III downplayed the significance of Centene in the overall scope of the project.
"Well the Centene project is incremental to what we had previously agreed to deliver with the city," said Dewitt.
"So, all of the things that we're excited about with Ballpark Village, remain exciting about Ball Park Village regardless."
Dewitt said even with the delay, they have been able to advance both tenancy and planning on the project.
He said they have modified their original plans to accommodate Centene's parking and office needs.
The city has pledged Centene $78 million in tax abatements to encourage the move.
The team had hoped to have the first phase of construction complete by the 2009 All Star game in St. Louis.