Murray has plans - RSL stadium or not

(by Erin Stewart desnews.com 3-9-05)

MURRAY — Murray officials are still placing their bets on a soccer stadium finding a home within city bounds.

Although recent legislation prohibits the city from using redevelopment agency money to buy land for the stadium, the city's RDA board may shell out plenty of public money to build infrastructure around the proposed stadium site.

"Our intent was never to use RDA money for the soccer stadium, but if they want to build in that location, we'll welcome it," said Jim Brass, chairman of the city's RDA board.

Board members got their first peek Tuesday at two different plans for the 100-acre RDA area at 4500 South and State Street — one with the Real Salt Lake arena and one without the major league playing field.

The stadium version of the plan puts the arena at the corner of 4500 South and Main Street, just east of the city's TRAX stop. The plan calls for an underpass tunneling 30 feet below the TRAX line, as well as an underground parking structure to supply roughly 1,000 spots for the stadium.

The underpass alone could cost at least $4 million, said Karen Wikstrom, a planning consultant for Murray. The city would also have to use a large chunk of RDA funding to extend the city's water and sewer lines to the proposed site.

"It's an interesting plan. It has significant infrastructure costs involved," said Alice Steiner, a consultant for the Utah Transit Authority.

The second plan removes the stadium, replacing it with an extension of Cottonwood Street and office space. The extension also has a hefty price tag of about $40 million.

But city leaders weren't ready to remove the stadium entirely, as they volleyed the idea of fitting the soccer stadium between the city's TRAX lines in the second scenario while still allowing for the Cottonwood extension.

Both plans would put big-box retailers along State Street and infuse the area with retail and high-density residential.

Whether or not Real Salt Lake sets up shop in Murray, Brass said the city has always intended to use RDA funds to rejuvenate the site and bring more retail to the rundown area. Without public money, the area would stand little chance of ever being developed, he said.

"We're going to do the roads regardless of whether soccer is there or not," he said. "If we all continue to hold our breath until we get soccer, we may not move on."

But Brass said he's aware the city's inability to offer free land or RDA funds directly to the $60 million stadium may prompt Real Salt Lake officials to look elsewhere. Real Salt Lake leaders are counting on about $30 million in public funds to build the stadium.

"It would be a good location for them, we have a lot more room to offer," Brass said. "But if someone offers them money, that's probably where they'll go."

Dean Howes, CEO of Real Salt Lake, said the team is keeping its options open, but is still looking at the Murray site. The Salt Lake City proposal, which relied heavily on RDA funds, may now be too expensive for the company to undertake.

"Our desire is to build a team in Salt Lake and to have a home for that team," he said. "Most of the politicians are not necessarily against public funding, it's just which mechanisms to use."