U. officials are seeking to create an inviting pedestrian experience at this 8-acre parking lot west of Rice-Eccles Stadium by replacing it with a large mixed-use development, bringing together public transit, shops, restaurants, offices, parking and apartments at the southwestern corner of the campus.

"The desire is to create an exciting and vibrant experience for our university community as well as the patrons who come for educational purposes and special events," said Mike Perez, the U.'s facilities chief.

The U. has released a "request for qualifications" to solicit proposals from developers, indicating the scope and goals of the project. The document calls for a minimum of 80,000 square feet of commercial space, 40,000 square feet of office space, 150 town houses or condominiums and structured parking to replace most of the 960 spaces currently on the site.

Although the "Universe Project" is in a conceptual stage, it goes before the Salt Lake City Planning Commission on Wednesday evening. Not everybody fawns over the proposal, including one city councilman who is concerned about its size.

"I'm very excited about a properly scaled development there," said Luke Garrott, who represents the neighborhood. "But I think they're being overly ambitious."

Garrott, an assistant professor lecturer of political science at the U., worries that a new row of retail and restaurants may siphon foot traffic from the commercial core at 200 South and 1300 East. And he notes whatever is built must respect the district's historic character.

U. officials, however, say the project's chief aims are to benefit the entire area, both on and off campus, remain compatible with the existing neighborhood, and bolster the prospects of existing businesses.

"We see it as a gateway to campus and a gateway to the city. It goes both ways. It will build a stronger connection between the university and the neighborhood communities," Perez said. "The enhanced commercialization adds critical mass and the TRAX station creates an anchor that will bring more people into this district."

The University Campus Store could be relocated to the project as an anchor tenant, and the office space would likely house university departments that engage the larger community, such as continuing education, as well as admissions and other "front office" functions.

Perez is currently leading the revision of the U.'s master plan, which will guide new construction on campus for the next two decades. A major planning goal includes invigorating the campus' pedestrian culture, which requires alleviating the need for automobiles by increasing integration with public transportation. The Universe Project fits with those aims, board of trustees Chairman Randy Dryer said.

"It's a way to make an inviting and aesthetic entryway and be a place that would foster a sense of university community," Dryer said. "A good sense of community is particularly important on our campus that has a primarily commuter student population. We want students to spend time not just inside the classroom, but outside the classroom with students from other backgrounds and with professors. With TRAX right there, maybe they'll come to class an hour earlier and spend time there."

The Stadium station is the busiest of the four TRAX stops on campus, accounting for 40 percent of ridership on campus. The next stop up the line at South Campus, which planners are also eyeing as a possible mixed-use site, accounts for another 30 percent of campus ridership.

"TRAX is an exciting opportunity that we want to leverage and promote," Perez said.

The site sits along the busy 500 South artery. In addition to the 45,000-seat stadium, neighbors include two high-rise apartment buildings, a cemetery and, across University Avenue from the TRAX station, a neighborhood made up of older owner-occupied and rental homes. The U. hopes to choose a developer by Aug. 1.

A market study commissioned by the U. indicates the spending power of the surrounding area can easily support additional commercial activity. Officials pointed to other universities that have successfully embarked on mixed-use developments with outside partners, such as the recently completed South Campus Gateway at Ohio State University in Columbus.

This $150 million project redeveloped 7.5 acres of a blighted commercial district, building 225,000 square feet of commercial space with 35 tenants, 184 apartments and 88,000 square feet of office space.

Since its opening, South Campus Gateway has won design and community development awards and is credited with revitalizing a distressed part of Columbus.

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* DEREK JENSEN contributed to this report.