Entertainment

Prince's Paisley Park museum can open permanently, says Minnesota council

Prince's Paisley Park recording studio and home will begin operating as a permanent museum this week, following a Minnesota city council rezoning vote.

Study still required to address concerns about pedestrian safety, traffic and parking

Prince, who died in April, 'thought all this through,' the late music icon's older sister Norrine Nelson said of turning his home studio complex into a museum. (Chris Pizzello/Invision/Associated Press)

Prince's Paisley Park recording studio and home will begin operating as a permanent museum this week, following a Minnesota city council rezoning vote.

The Chanhassen City Council signed off on the rezoning request Monday, but also will require a traffic study to address concerns from council members and residents about pedestrian safety, traffic and parking, the Star Tribune reported.

The atrium of Prince's Paisley Park home and studio is seen in this undated photo. (Paisley Park/NPG Records/Associated Press)

Earlier this month, the council tabled the request by the trust company overseeing the late superstar's estate, a move that nearly delayed the museum's Oct. 6 opening before a temporary operating permit was granted.

The museum's website said tours will begin again Friday.

Prince's museum is going to outlive us all.- Joel Weinshanker, Graceland Holdings

Mayor Denny Laufenburger told the newspaper that he was pleased with the city council's decision, calling it a "big benefit for the community."

But St. Paul resident Shelia Claytor, who was one of 30 people to attend Monday's meeting, said everything was "a rush job."

Filled with keyboards and guitars, Prince's recording Studio A at Paisley Park has the iconic musician's handwritten notes still sitting in the control room. (Paisley Park/NPG Records/Associated Press)

The museum, which displays Prince's guitars, Purple Rain motorcycle and his ashes in a decorative urn, is expected to draw 600,000 people a year.

"Prince's museum is going to outlive us all," said Joel Weinshanker with Graceland Holdings, which is overseeing the museum.

Prince died April 21 of an accidental overdose at Paisley Park, a 65,000-square-foot complex outside of the Twin Cities area.