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DeWitt: Ballpark Village still on track

St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III says planning for a Ballpark Village next to the new Busch Stadium is right on schedule despite past problems in landing tenants and a general freeze in the credit markets. St. Louis Cardinals President Bill DeWitt III says planning for a Ballpark Village next to the new Busch Stadium is right on schedule despite past problems in landing tenants and a general freeze in the credit markets. The Cards and partner Cordish Co. have made little headway in the planned mixed-use development envisioned for the site of the former Busch Stadium; originally it was to be a place with retail, housing and office space, but some of the projected tenants — like the Bowling Hall of Fame — have backed out or sought new homes elsewhere, though DeWitt says 80 percent of the space in the development is already leased. The current plan for the $320 million project is to see $100 million in tax-increment financing next spring and then commence with construction then. While it sounds like the Cards and Cordish have a workable game plan in place, the entire saga should serve as a warning for those who want to combine a new ballpark with associated development: It’s a lot, lot harder than you anticipate.