The Utah Transit Authority is using its new powers to spur development around train stations by proposing a massive residential and retail hub in West Jordan and a community college expansion near apartments in South Salt Lake. The Legislature this year authorized UTA to participate in projects to spur ridership by offering public lands around up to five stations for partnerships with private developers. Once complete, the land will become the property of the partnership and subject to local property taxes. Rather than a subsidy, UTA Board Chairman Greg Hughes, who also is a Republican state lawmaker, said, the projects are investments that will repay the public expense and then some.
The idea is to move people nearer the stations so they might give up one of the family cars and ride more often. The agency announced its first two ventures at a board meeting. One envisions 1,400 residential units — apartments, senior housing and, when the real estate market recovers, condominiums — with retail stores, offices and 849 parking garage stalls around the 3500 West, 9000 South station in West Jordan, along the Mid-Jordan TRAX line currently under construction. The other includes 88 apartments and a Salt Lake Community College office and classroom building at the existing Meadowbrook Station at 3900 South in South Salt Lake.
The West Jordan project, subject to that city’s zoning and approval, involves 36 acres of vacant UTA property valued at $6.5 million. Boulder Ventures, a California developer that created the Jordan Landing retail center, will put up $1.6 million and seek investors and financing for a project that could, in phases, total $200 million. The Salt Lake Tribune
