By Bill Hardesty | [email protected]

During the August RDA meeting, Randy Sant, economic development consultant working with the City of South Salt Lake RDA, provided updates on the SSL Economic Development Strategic Plan goals.

Acting as the RDA board of directors, the City Council established four economic development goals in 2015. The goals were reestablished in 2018.

Goal One – West 3300 South corridor

This area starts west of I-15 and moves west around 3300 South to the Jordan River, which is also the city limits.

The focus of the goal is to promote best land use and to remove blight. In terms of land use, blight is defined as an area falling into disrepair and decrepitude. Moving out salvage yards is an example of removing blight. An economic reinvestment area was created for the area.

“We have had a lot of progress on this goal,” Sant said.

Last summer, the Planning Commission approved a final plat allowing Maverik to build a convenience store with gas pumps on the southwest corner of 500 West and 300 South. The store is open and has truck pumps and a truck scale and wash. The Maverik store on 900 West and 3300 South is already coming down.

A neighborhood development plan is under development and should be released by the end of August. 

Sant is proposing to create three or four project areas rather than one large area. This will allow more flexibility in development.

The hope is to have flex warehouse space, office space, and additional retail space.

Goal Two – Downtown

The Downtown economic reinvestment area runs from I-15 to State Street between 2100 South and I-80.

“We have made great strides on this goal,” Sant said.

Within this area, WinCo was built along with The Crossing Apartments along the S-line. In addition, smaller developments such as the ASA Insurance building and the Chartway Federal Credit Union were built.

Under development in this area is South City, the tallest building in SSL. It also brings Class A office space to the area along with apartments.

The Time Square area on 300 West across from RC Willey is under consideration for future technology development.

The empty parcel south of the S-line is owned by Boyer Company. Once the HazMat cleanup is completed, future development is planned for the site.

For the next two years, the old Salt Lake Suzuki dealership on the west side of State Street and Truman Avenue will be used by Strong Motor Group as a used car dealership. This is possible by creating a Temporary Transitional Beneficial Use (TTBU) Overlay District passed by the City Council on July 22. The TTBU is designed to expire in two years or if the land is sold for development within the Downtown zone regulations.

Goal Three – Business Retention and Acquisition

A major step for this goal was completed last year when Sant was appointed as the business liaison with the Mayor’s office. Sant reported this appointment is successfully resolving business issues with the city.

Another effort in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce is to meet with business owners and ask them to complete a survey. The goal is to visit six businesses a month. The initiative started the week of Aug. 24.

Goal Four – State Street District 

Sant reported that because lack of funding, nothing has been done on this goal.

However, the city received a grant for new streetlights along State Street and UDOT put in large pedestrian signage at Gregson Avenue for Granite Park Junior High School students.