1contessa said:

I don't know how I feel about Paisley Park right now, it just looks so huge, empty, and sad. The only thing I see it as now, is the place where Prince died, and honestly, who could go in there and not be reminded of that, especially if they see the elevator.......ugh, I just wouldn't want to see that.

agreed

It still seems so surreal, I'm just hoping for the best. We gotta know what happened to him

nursev said:

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRINCE_ESTATE_QA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

The Associated Press has posted about the latest information about the Bremer trust, the search for a will, and related concerns.

GirlBrother said:

A good round-up of the ongoing claimants to the estate, at present: http://www.thedailybeast....-loot.html

JESUS....its like a bad movie. I hope this kid is his son so all this nonsense will stop.

nursev said:

http://www.startribune.com/prince-s-death-search-for-long-lost-relatives-turns-to-small-louisiana-town/378726791/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting May 10th on the search for other potential relatives.

http://www.startribune.com/colorado-inmate-claims-prince-is-his-father-seeks-dna-test/378823301/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting May 10th about a Colorado inmate claiming to be the son of Prince.

I'm thankful to the Chanhassen and MPLS community Law Enforcement or Autopsy representatives for postponing release of his death certificate so that the family can find the WILL first before WB gets their GREEDY hands on his estate! I'm thankful this not only happened at Paisley Park but also that this community respected him and his family. If he was in LA, WB would already be in control of his estate, robbing the family!

http://www.startribune.com/filmmaker-prince-may-have-had-a-will-after-all/379031911/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that a filmmaker researching Prince has spoken to people who "insist Prince did have a will after all..."

nursev said:

1contessa said:

I don't know how I feel about Paisley Park right now, it just looks so huge, empty, and sad. The only thing I see it as now, is the place where Prince died, and honestly, who could go in there and not be reminded of that, especially if they see the elevator.......ugh, I just wouldn't want to see that.

agreed

yes ...

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRINCE_ESTATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

The Associated Press is reporting that an attorney is putting forward the possibility that Prince's deceased half-brother's grandson could be an heir.

http://www.startribune.com/prince-death-update-possible-heirs-may-have-to-pay/379686021/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Bremer Trust is asking the judge to make those claiming to be heirs to pay for blood and genetic testing.

[Edited 5/16/16 17:57pm]

I think I read somewhere that Paisley Park costs around $2.5 Million a month to run ... I guess the heirs and estate better decide what they're doing with it quickly!

.

Whatever the true cost, it's going to be high, and a massive drain on resources without any income.

Is it even open now for other recording artists to use?

PicassoFace said:

I can see it being a museum for the short term, but to remain a museum, there would have to be some sort of money-making aspect for the complex. I'm assuming there's no mortgage and the building and land are free and clear, but it's a 40,000+ square-foot building. Property taxes, utilities, and maintenance will be costly, and I can't imagine there would be enough foot traffic as a museum alone to merit keeping it open a decade from now. I mean, I'm as die-hard a Prince fan as they come, but I live in Florida. I'll try to venture out there if I can ever make it up to Minneapolis, but it's not like I'm going to make regular visits.

I'd love to see the studios and other areas kept in tact the way Prince left them. The sound stage area has a lot of potential for commercial production work and other things. If it doesn't generate revenue and becomes a money pit for whoever takes it over, I can see it beeing put up for sale eventually, and I know we'd all hate to see that happen.

[Edited 4/25/16 19:13pm]

They will probably charge fans an admission fee to the future museum. That could help pay the cost. Isn't that what Graceland does? It's a big building. There are many good things that can be done with it. The studio space can be rented out, concerts or shows can be rented out. I remember Prince talking about the Vault and that he wouldn't be releasing the music in there but someday, someone would release it.

PurpleColossus said:

If it turns out that Prince has stated in his will that he wanted it to be a museum then I'm all for it. Otherwise...I don't know.

no will has been found, so I read that Sheila E said she talked with the family and they didn't have a problem with her helping out with it.

I can see why the family want to go the route of a museum. I'm not sure how that would work though. At the moment there is a lot of media attention on Prince. What about down the line? 3 years from now, will there be droves of fans visiting? I can't imagine Mpls is a tourist hotspot though - outside of those people who have followed Prince's career.

I think it'd be a shame if it stopped operating as a recording studio. Prince was always keen to help other musicians. I think there is more of a future for Pasley Park as a working recording studio.

They could charge through the nose if A-list artists wanted to record there. Which could be used to fund sessions for local musicians. They could still easily accomodate fans who wanted to tour the complex.

I feel like Paisley Park could be regarded in the same way Abbey Road is.

james said:

I think I read somewhere that Paisley Park costs around $2.5 Million a month to run ... I guess the heirs and estate better decide what they're doing with it quickly!

I think that number refers to the time 20+ years ago when had a massive operation (e.g., Paisley Park Records) operating out of PP, with a huge staff all over and 24/7 engineers on duty. In recent years, it was down to a very skeletal staff/operation, with Kirk basically running the place.

musicfan77 said:

PurpleColossus said:

If it turns out that Prince has stated in his will that he wanted it to be a museum then I'm all for it. Otherwise...I don't know.

no will has been found, so I read that Sheila E said she talked with the family and they didn't have a problem with her helping out with it.

Yet..... No Will has been found...YET... A Will could still be found.....

Come on, Prince. You had to have done a Will. PLEASE. Oh, PLEASE. Where is it?!?

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRINCE_ESTATE?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

The Associated Press is reporting about 2 people claim to be heirs through one of Prince's half brothers.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_PRINCE_PATERNITY_QA?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

The Associated Press has written a recap of those claiming to be heirs and the use of probability to establish DNA linkages with Prince, if any.

http://www.startribune.com/two-possible-heirs-file-claim-in-prince-estate/380037071/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has also reported on the two people claiming to be heirs via Prince's deceased half-brother.

RiotPaisley said:

I've posted this elsewhere but... Make it a tourist museum, open in the summer. MPLS is a cool city. You'd be surprised how big it is and how vibrant downtown is. I know I was. During the school year, make it a music, digital arts, film, and computer programming /IT Sciences school. Make it accessible to kids who have a less solid foundation. Open the studios and encourage big names to record there offering state of the art equipment in a place that is relaxing and free from distraction. Put solar panels on it to reduce electricity costs and even generate profit by putting power to the grid. Purple Electricity. Throw dance parties, concerts every couple months so fans can get together and celebrate his life. The state of MN could pull some strings to assist with taxes. This is a historical landmark and should be preserved.

Great post, with really good suggestions!

I was out there a few nights ago and someone had jumped the fence earlier in the day and tried to get in the building. There were maybe half a dozen patrolmen. One of them talked to me and he didn't even seem to know who Prince was. He asked me if I knew "the guy". I said "of course" because why not. I asked if they were working for the county or if they were private security. He said they were private security.

Long story short, Bremer's doing good work protecting the estate/property. They've banned all public events, which isn't a popular decision but the public cannot be trusted right now.

[Edited 5/20/16 5:26am]

I hope Paisley Park will not only a be a museum or place where Prince fans can go to to remember Prince. I Hope in the future it will also a place for new musicians to take the opportunity to come to and record new music. Then it is not only a place to look back but also a place to look foreward.