So most city leaders were more than a little disappointed recently when they learned that the first new store in front of the stadium could be - wait for it - a Midas auto shop.
"I can't believe, for the life of me, that [RSL owner] Dave Checketts wants a Midas muffler shop fronting his property on State Street," said City Councilman Stephen Smith, who called even the notion of it a "slap" to Sandy.
"Nothing against Midas, but that's not consistent with a high-end development."
Gear down, Sandy, responds RSL.
Even if Midas does move in, team spokesman Eric Gelfand explained, it won't affect the grander schemes for a fancy schmancy project.
The property that is being considered for a Midas by a potential buyer is an "orphan" from the rest of RSL's land near 9400 South and State Street, he said. It used to house a tire store and is hemmed in by holdouts, including Jim's Diner and two banks that aren't selling to RSL. So the soccer team has decided to cut the orphan loose.
A deal is close to done with an investor, who might be open to something other than an auto shop, according to Sandy's assistant community-development director, Nick Duerksen.
"Once [the buyer] got an idea of what was being envisioned," he said, "he was willing to work with us."
But Smith wants to get the vision for the stadium megablock in writing - so he and his council colleagues have directed the Planning Commission to draft new zoning for the area.
"I'm not going to take anybody's word for it," he said. "The mere fact that we got to this point is a concern to me."
Pour me a drink
- and make it at The Gateway
With Salt Lake City's mayoral election roughly two weeks out, the rhetoric is getting sharper between Dave Buhler and Ralph Becker.
Take the debate on KUER's RadioWest. Skewered by Buhler for not trying to liberalize liquor laws as the Utah House minority leader, Becker blasted back.
"My opponent has been on the City Council eight years and has been resisting change [on alcohol laws]," he said.
Buhler, whose billboards say the "doer" is the only candidate to make rules on booze more reasonable, had a quick defense.
"I'll take some blame for not being pro-active on it," he said. "But I've also said I will not be resistent."
The combatants also swapped jabs over The Gateway, which Becker says "sucks the life" from downtown's core.
"I was very surprised by that," Buhler mused during the radio forum. "I wondered if Ralph has ever been to The Gateway on a Friday or Saturday evening."
Becker says the city mishandled the decision to build the shopping center, which he calls "a bit artificial."
Curious then, that the campaign picked The Depot - in the heart of Gateway - for a Friday fundraiser dubbed "Busking for Becker." Two bands were booked for the event, which was preceded by volunteers dialing for Becker dollars in an effort to raise $50,000.
For his part, Buhler also is no stranger to Gateway. His office, where he works as an executive for Utah's higher-education system, is perched between the concert venue and restaurant row.
Opinion, referendum
- what's the difference?
When Davis County voters weigh in Nov. 6 on Opinion Question 1, their ballots will send a message to county commissioners, but will have no effect beyond that.
The question: "Shall Davis County, Utah, be authorized to impose 0.25 percent sales and use tax for corridor preservation, congestion mitigation, or to expand capacity for regionally significant transportation facilities? Check yes or no."
"We want to know the opinion of the county on this issue," says Commissioner Louenda Downs.
A "yes" majority could lead the commission to enact the new tax - or not - says Gerry Hess, the commission's policy attorney.
It differs from a ballot referendum, which has the force of law.
There you have it. When you vote yes in Davis County on Opinion Question 1, the result is nonbinding. But when you vote yes on the statewide Referendum 1 - which would allow tax-funded vouchers for private school scholarships - a majority vote would flip the switch, making it state law.
Enjoy expressing yourself Nov. 6.
Taxpayers on Turley's team
Provo Municipal Councilman Steve Turley now has the backing of the Utah Taxpayers Association.
The association announced that Turley earned its "Friend of the Taxpayer Award" for his opposition to the iProvo fiber-optic network, which the city has given $2 million to keep it going. The association also cited Turley's efforts to "eliminate unnecessary budget surpluses."
While Turley said the honor should be shared with the rest of the council, he lists it as an endorsement alongside those he's received from the Utah Valley Homebuilders Association, the Utah County Association of Realtors and the city's professional firefighters union.
Turley's Nov. 6 opponent, retired Fire Chief Coy D. Porter, has received support from Mayor Lewis Billings, Municipal Council Vice Chairwoman Cindy Richards and Marian Monahan, Utah County Republican chairwoman.
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