Target Center renovation might not be so costly

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It might not be as expensive to renovate the Target Center as earlier projections suggested.

When officials announced plans last year to fix up the 22-year-old Minneapolis building, the price tag was $150 million. When a Target Center "implementation committee" was created this summer, the cost was estimated at $135 million.

Now city officials say the working cost is $100 million.

Jeremy Hanson Willis is the city's lead staffer on the project. He tells the Minneapolis Star Tribune city officials have been actively looking for ways to bring costs down.

For example, officials began asking whether it was absolutely necessary to spend $25 million to redo the building's outer "skin."

Renovation costs will be split between the city and private tenants such as the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press.