SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - County officials want Salt Lake City to scrap limits on building heights at the downtown convention center to allow a large, tall hotel to be built on the property.
The proposed change comes as Salt Lake County is negotiating terms with a real estate developer to build a convention hotel with about 1,000 rooms. In addition to possible tax credits, the county has thrown in two parcels of county-owned land at the Salt Palace Convention Center that could be used for the hotel.
If the county and developer agree on terms of a project, the developer can apply for at least $75 million in tax credits offered to entice builders for the needed hotel rooms.
Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams told The Salt Lake Tribune (https://bit.ly/25jOFir) that the zoning change would give the county more flexibility while negotiating with developer DDRM Cos. of Sandy, Utah.
“If we can answer questions about what the city and county are willing to do on zoning and (hotel) siting, then we’re in a better position to drive a hard bargain on behalf of the taxpayer,” McAdams said.
At a hearing Tuesday, the Salt Lake City council will consider a proposal to change zoning rules at the convention center to allow a building of unlimited height to be built. Buildings are currently capped at 75 feet, roughly equivalent to a six-story building.
Alyson Heyrend, a spokeswoman for McAdams, said the mayor envisions the hotel being about 25 to 30 stories tall.
Utah officials pushing for the long-awaited Salt Lake City hotel argue it would provide needed rooms for Utah’s convention business, including a lucrative biannual outdoor gear show.
The state has offered up to $70 million in tax credits for a deal, and the county has said it is willing to boost that offer with more tax credits and the county-owned land.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, https://www.sltrib.com
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