Demolition at the site of the proposed Park City arts and culture district began last week. The city will be hosting a community roundtable and public hearing on the project this week.
City council authorized demolition at the five-acre parcel at the corner of Kearns Boulevard and Bonanza Drive earlier this month and construction crews began tearing down the existing structures last week.
Although the ambitious project has not yet been given final approval, the city does own the land and says even if the arts and culture district is not constructed, a vacant lot would make the property easier to sell to a future buyer if that became necessary.
The district is billed as a place for local creatives to live and work with various studio spaces, affordable housing, event spaces, a food court, and expanded public transit all part of the current plans. The Kimball Arts Center and Sundance Institute are also expected to construct new headquarters at the site.
The expected costs have topped the $100 million mark -- that includes the $19.5 million the city paid to purchase the land in 2017.
The rising costs associated with the project have given several city councilors pause over the past few months and a community roundtable event and public hearing on the project will be hosted by the city this week.
On Monday, Park City Mayor Andy Beerman will be joined by former Mayor Jack Thomas for the roundtable event, which will be hosted virtually starting at 6pm. Thomas was instrumental in the initial planning for the district before leaving office in early 2018.
On Wednesday, March 31st, the city council will hold an extensive public hearing to take the community’s temperature on the project, its costs, and how the city plans to pay for it. The public hearing will also be held virtually.
A link to information on how to participate in both events can be found here.