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.

Good post. I was wondering about this. Couldn't the state legislature pass a bill to earmark it as a heritage site? Of course, it would have to be some way profitable. Some of the previous posts as well as your own have made some excellent points with regard to it's possible future.

It would be an absolute shame if, god forbid, it was torn down in the future by a new private owner. I don't think I could handle that for some reason.

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.

[Edited 5/20/16 16:55pm]

maplesyrupnjam said:

Good post. I was wondering about this. Couldn't the state legislature pass a bill to earmark it as a heritage site? Of course, it would have to be some way profitable.

Heritage or historic status generally comes with fairly severe restrictions on future modifications and use.

Separately, I don't believe it should receive special tax benefits. Prince owned all his masters and all his publishing and performance rights. It means that workers and working homeowners should have to pay more in taxes so that a likely billion-dollar estate can get a pass. Nope.

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.

I like this too!! Minneapolis and the entire state of MN loved him, I think they'll do whatever they can to have a place to remember and honor him. This would be a beautiful way to do that.

larakay said:

sonshine said:

I'm from MN and would love to see these kinds of things happen but the state of MN prob can't say or do much about it since it's under the control of Bremer trust. Somehow I don't get the sense they care about legacies or preserving Prince's memory. Hope I'm wrong about that.

Their known actions so far are:
a) ensure that valid heirs can be determined via DNA testing

b) secure Paisley Park and

c) secure and preserve the memorials left by grieving fans.

Personally I'm not seeing a lack of care at this point.

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.

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

I agree with this, unfortunately I don't see Paisley remaining open for too long- a few years, tops. As I recall, when he built it Prince said he did NOT want it to be like Graceland. Cheesy, overrun with tourists, mementos of awards and clothes all over the place, people wandering around looking at "stuff" etc.

And honestly as much as we all love Prince- let's be real he doesn't have the commercial appeal to keep a massive estate like that running for years. Taxes, utilities, maintenance, paying staff, etc. Graceland gets over 500,000 visitors a year with things like Elvis Week, tourist packages etc. It would take a Herculean effort by all of Prince's siblings etc. to coordinate the commercialization of Paisley Park and Prince himself- Elvis is a commodity these days, It's a moneymaker for the Elvis estate. I don't think they would want that, nor would Prince. What would we buy Love Symbol Keychains? And it's in a residential area, very secluded.

Prince lived there and recorded music there. I think at the most we may get a "final fan concert" or two, some celebrities like Oprah may pony up some money while the estate is being hammered out. But outside of keeping the recording studio and sound stages operational, it's eventually going to have to be torn down or bought by some billionaire who just wants to say "I bought Prince's house"

Eileen said:

sonshine said:

I'm from MN and would love to see these kinds of things happen but the state of MN prob can't say or do much about it since it's under the control of Bremer trust. Somehow I don't get the sense they care about legacies or preserving Prince's memory. Hope I'm wrong about that.

Their known actions so far are:
a) ensure that valid heirs can be determined via DNA testing

b) secure Paisley Park and

c) secure and preserve the memorials left by grieving fans.

Personally I'm not seeing a lack of care at this point.

Eileen, I appreciate your thoughtful responses on the Org. Bremer Trust is doing a thorough job thus far. Peace.

bilbolives said:

Eileen said:

Their known actions so far are:
a) ensure that valid heirs can be determined via DNA testing

b) secure Paisley Park and

c) secure and preserve the memorials left by grieving fans.

Personally I'm not seeing a lack of care at this point.

Eileen, I appreciate your thoughtful responses on the Org. Bremer Trust is doing a thorough job thus far. Peace.

That's very kind. I've been quietly relieved at your taking on news updates, they've been helpful. Best to you.

Another addition to the list should be:

d) proposed and lobbied for the PRINCE Act

Although I disapprove of the bill, Bremer again was doing their job to maximize estate value. And as a citizen concerned about shared culture, govt overreach, corporate power, and free speech, it's my job to oppose it.

beautifulone7 said:

unfortunately I don't see Paisley remaining open for too long- a few years, tops. As I recall, when he built it Prince said he did NOT want it to be like Graceland. Cheesy, overrun with tourists, mementos of awards and clothes all over the place, people wandering around looking at "stuff" etc.

It's a moneymaker for the Elvis estate. I don't think they would want that, nor would Prince. What would we buy Love Symbol Keychains? And it's in a residential area, very secluded.

Prince might have said that, however it would not have made sense. Prince was building a recording, filming, and performance studio in partnership with a major label. Graceland was a person's home, built as a home, bought as a home, and intended only to ever be a home. Since "The Revolution" are listed on the Graceland Celebrity Visitors log, Prince probably knew that too.

BTW, your description applies to every private home tour I've ever been on, whether the owner was an entertainer or former president. They are spaces of another time and people are looking at stuff.

It's also the primary asset of the Elvis estate, given that they do not have royalty rights to the vast majority of his recordings or movies. So indeed it is "a moneymaker" - it has to be.

I'm glad there is a Paisley Park and that it is something entirely different.

hifidelity67 said:

Bulldoze it n level It to the ground like It never existed. Hate to say it .. or it could exist forever like Mt Vernon. [Edited 5/23/16 20:11pm]

I think that this is what Prince would have done if he lived and had no more use for Paisley Park, because he did it to a couple of homes he lived in.

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

The Associated Press is reporting two people claiming to be heirs are objecting to having to undergo genetic and blood work to claim kinship.

http://www.startribune.com/prince-estate-claimants-object-to-undergoing-genetic-testing/380673011/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is also reporting on the objections to blood and genetic tests by two people claiming to be heirs. There have been 104 posted reader comments so far.

bilbolives said:

http://www.startribune.com/prince-estate-claimants-object-to-undergoing-genetic-testing/380673011/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is also reporting on the objections to blood and genetic tests by two people claiming to be heirs. There have been 104 posted reader comments so far.

This shows up what we're missing - there really should be a sticky focused just on the estate/probate/rights news.

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

The Associated Press has written a piece about how, should it turn out that the Colorado inmate's claim to be Prince's son be true, there have been precedents set by other celebrities.

Eileen said:

bilbolives said:

http://www.startribune.com/prince-estate-claimants-object-to-undergoing-genetic-testing/380673011/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is also reporting on the objections to blood and genetic tests by two people claiming to be heirs. There have been 104 posted reader comments so far.

This shows up what we're missing - there really should be a sticky focused just on the estate/probate/rights news.

I sent a request to the moderator on our behalf for a separate sticky, given that "Paisley Park's Future" (with the apostrophe) has comments mostly about the building rather than the larger issue of who controls Prince's legacy, especially if a will is not found.

I wonder how many fans still drive by there. And if so, what do they see.

hifidelity67 said:

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.

[Edited 5/20/16 16:55pm]

Can't it be a multi=purpose complex? Have a studio that charges fees for upkeep and services, while also having a youth program. Of course, scheduling would be difficult, but if the building can serve multiple purposes, that would stand as evidence of its continued need so that it is not torn down or sold.

3rdeyedude said:

I wonder how many fans still drive by there. And if so, what do they see.

I was at PP a few weeks ago - May 13th - and there were about a dozen people who came and went in the hour or so I was there. It was a bit cold for me (I live in Cali) so I didn't stay as long as I had originally planned.

All the momentos people have been leaving were still up on the fence and around the fence. There was plenty to see and it was really touching.

A museum or working museum is profitable. People would go tour Paisely Park just like people take a tour of The Mall Of America. Prince royalties from Prince music used in future movies and commercials will keep Paisley Park's lights on for years. Not to mention the vault material.

Paisley Park should be what Prince was all about, the music. Why not just keep it has a production studio, classes for the youth during the day, a museum, and a love4oneanother place to gather and dance the night and morning away. It could be and should be all of these things and more!

I dunno, Prince seemed to have a very deep concern with giving underpriveledged kids a better start in life -- I think he'd love Paisley Park becoming a school for musically gifted children.

If Tyka HAS moved into Paisley Park, does that meam she is sleeping in Prince's bed?

cazzie said:

Best case scenario for a lot of fans:

• Paisley Park might become some kind of music university
• the Vault material will see the day of light
• Earnings from his legacy go to charity and next of kin

Worst case scenario for a lot of fans:

• Paisley Park might be torn down
• the vault material might be destroyed
• Earnings goes to record labels

Time will tell what might happen in the near future

[Edited 4/25/16 11:01am] agreed.

i heard there might be plans for Costco to buy it and open a store there but that's just rumor i think but you never know

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

The Associated Press is reporting that a judge has granted Bremer Trust's protocol, which

"gives existing claimants until Friday to file sworn statements detailing their claims to have a genetic relationship with Prince that would make them heirs, since no will has surfaced."

http://www.startribune.com/bus-tours-and-more-tourism-industry-markets-prince-s-ties-to-minnesota/382024071/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune has written an article about people visiting Minneapolis to pay respects to Prince, tours in Minneapolis stopping at Prince-related locations, and conjecture regarding turning Paisley Park into a museum.

http://www.startribune.com/first-conflict-arises-in-prince-s-estate/382108581/

The Minneapolis Star Tribune is reporting that Bremer Trust is asking a judge to allow them to hire "high-test individuals with significant music industry experience" to maximize the estate's value. There's also mention that "an official celebration of Prince's life is in the works at Paisley Park for sometime this summer."

[Edited 6/7/16 21:49pm]