New Survey Seeks Ideas For Prison Site Redevelopment
Sep 14, 2020, 9:06 PM | Updated: 9:09 pm
DRAPER, Utah – State and local leaders said creating a redevelopment plan for the prison site at the Point of the Mountain is one of the most important economic opportunities in Utah’s history.
“This is unprecedented,” said Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox, co-chair of the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority. “It’s not just a generational opportunity — it’s a multi-generational opportunity.”
Cox and other officials announced Monday that they’ve hired a planning expert known for sustainable developments and launched a survey to gather public input on the planning process for the 700 acres owned by the state.
“This is Utah’s land,” Cox went on to say about the project recently named The Point. “This site belongs to the people of Utah. Not to any one group. Not to any one developer.”
In addition to the state-owned land, the area is home to more than 20,000 acres of undeveloped land.
“It’s no secret that we are sitting at the epicenter of one of the most vibrant technology scenes in the entire world,” said Theresa Foxley, president of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah.
Foxley described how the land is in the heart of the Silicon Slopes tech corridor and straddles the two large labor pools from Salt Lake and Utah counties.
“This property right here can be a centerpiece and a showcase piece not just for the state of Utah but really for how development should be done globally,” Foxley said.
The current prison site should be available for redevelopment in mid-2022, when inmates will be moved to the state’s new correctional facility in Salt Lake City.
The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority said Steve Kellenberg will oversee the creation of the master plan for the site. In a press release, the land authority described Kellenberg as “a nationally renowned planning expert who has literally written the book on sustainable communities.”
Additionally, five working groups are providing input to the land authority.
“These are top-notch folks that are coming together, bringing their ideas to help us discipline our thinking and making sure we are doing what’s in the best interest of the public and the long-term interest of the state,” said Alan Matheson, the executive director of The Point.
Before the master planning process starts in January, the public is invited to share thoughts about how the land should be developed. To complete the survey, follow this link.
