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City 'swinging for the fences' in hopes of getting Major League team to Salt Lake



SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) — While Salt Lake City is looking at options to either keep, renovate, or completely redevelop the area encompassing Smith’s Ballpark.

Salt Lake City’s leaders met Tuesday night with the Larry H. Miller Co. to discuss and approve what’s called the Fairpark District Zone. This comes on the heels of the city’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Board of Directors meeting on Tuesday to discuss three scenarios, each of which would transform the Smith’s Ballpark property.

The Fairpark District Zone, done in partnership with the Larry H. Miller Co. will encompass 93 acres to turn the area into a “power district” in the area of 1500 West North Temple, near the Utah State Fairpark.

The approval of the Fairpark District Zone will also allow for buildings over 400 feet and feature a Major League Ballpark as the cornerstone. There is not a Major League Baseball expansion coming to the Valley just yet, an organization is hopeful for a future with pro baseball.

“I’d ask you to think about what your favorite cities are, and I bet you many of them are populated with three or four professional teams. For a lot of people that is the ticket to downtown, that’s why they come here,” Dee Brewer executive director of the Downtown Alliance said to ABC4.com.

The Larry H. Miller Co. says the plan is to build upon the vibrancy of the North Temple corridor.

However, the Fairpark District Zone is not the only place a professional baseball team can go. The city is also looking at options to keep Smith’s Ballpark in the picture, with or without sports.

Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency (RDA) Board of Directors met Tuesday discussing the future of the Smith’s Ballpark property.

The city looked at three options:

  • Preserve
  • Adaptive reuse
  • Complete re-build

Council member Darin Mano said he was excited about the second option, an adaptive reuse.

“I was excited to see the community was drawn to similar options for similar reasons,” Mano said during the meeting. Mendenhall was quoted earlier in the day this is a chance to breathe new life.

“This is a once-in-a-century opportunity to breathe new life into one of Salt Lake City’s most family-centric spaces while staying true to the heart of the Ballpark neighborhood,” Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said in a press release.

Mendenhall also said that residents have been involved in these discussions to ensure their voices are heard.

Here’s a breakdown of what the three options look like:

Option 1: Preserve

The option of preserving Smith’s Ballpark keeps the ballpark as the gem of the ballpark neighborhood, according to the city.

“The design envisions an active, integrated neighborhood anchored by the renovated stadium, that could support space for things such as a farmers market, festivals on West Temple, and local retail spaces. A regulation soccer field is also included, expanding the site’s versatility,” the city said in a press release on Tuesday.

This would also hinge on long-term plans for a tenant at Smith’s Ballpark beyond the spring of 2025. The University of Utah Utes baseball team signed on to lease the ballpark through their regular season during the spring. After the upcoming spring, the ballpark is set to be without a primary tenant.

Option 2: Adapt

This option changes the use of Smith’s Ballpark and transforms the venue into a year-round arts and culture hub. The goal of adaptation, according to the city, would be to further integrate the ballpark into the neighborhood.

“The western segment of the stadium is preserved and retrofitted as a venue for performances and community events. A multi-purpose green space invites gatherings and festivals, while natural walkways and art installations create a welcoming social atmosphere,” the city said.

This frees up the city to not worry about having a tenant on the property but have the opportunity to host other things incorporating the neighborhood.

Option 3: Rebuild

Without a long-term tenant, the third option would be to tear down Smith’s Ballpark, which in some form or another has hosted baseball since the 1930s. West Temple and 1300 South have been Salt Lake City’s “baseball corner” for over 80 years, ABC4’s Craig Wirth noted earlier this year.

The option to rebuild the area would include ecology and nature as the focus. The city would daylight three of the creeks in the area, which is the process of removing obstructions from the creek. Park spaces would be interspersed throughout the area.

“Civic, commercial, and residential uses are seamlessly integrated with nature, creating an inviting and serene urban environment. Tree-lined streets, bike paths, and pocket parks offer opportunities for recreation,” the city said in the press release.

Lauren Parisi, a project manager for the redevelopment agency, says that each potential solution showcases how thoughtful design can both honor and advance the city.

“Community feedback has been the backbone of this project. Each of these scenarios showcases how thoughtful design can honor the neighborhood’s history while reimagining the Ballpark as a cornerstone of Salt Lake City’s future,” she said.

What’s next?

On the Smith’s Ballpark front, next steps include Perkins&Will, the architectural firm overseeing the project, refining all the options discussed based on feedback from community members and city leadership.

A final recommendation is expected in early 2025, followed by a Request For Proposals (RFP) process. The RFP process invites developers to show how they would complete phase one of the project.



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