But, as soon as fall 2011, a private developer could be staging big Broadway hits like "The Lion King" and "Wicked" in Sandy.
On Tuesday, Sandy's assistant chief administrative officer Scott Bond told the City Council that Sandy no longer plans to buy the 2,700-seat playhouse plotted as part of the $600 million-plus Proscenium project near 10000 South and Interstate 15.
But the show goes on, said developer Scott McQuarrie, a principal of Orem-based Proscenium Development Inc.: The $55 million theater will still be built.
Sandy plans to support the entire, mixed-use project by channeling roughly $40 million to $60 million of new property taxes expected to be hatched by the development toward infrastructure and parking. The Proscenium site sits within an existing redevelopment area.
"If it works well for the city that's good for us," McQuarrie said after the meeting, noting he still plans to lease the Broadway-style theater to a third-party operator. "We'll keep rolling along."
The policy shift occurred after some members of the City Council last month questioned whether the city should get into the theater business - and potentially risk the city's general funds if the venture struggled.
Plans for the 2.3 million-square-foot Proscenium call for three, 30- to 40-story towers, to be built in three phases, with the first phase and tower opening in fall 2011. The development would boast offices, two hotels, upscale condos, restaurants and additional art amenities, including a black-box theater and performing arts school.
Salt Lake City also is pursuing a bigger-than-Broadway theater to be built at 135 S. Main St. - but it's likely the Salt Lake area market only will be able to support one such theater.
The capital's $81.5 million project would rely on redevelopment funds, too, by capturing the sales taxes expected to be spawned by the development of the $1.5 million City Creek Center downtown.
Sandy Mayor Tom Dolan emphasized the suburb's theater will be a private enterprise.
"We're not asking for monies from the county or the state or anywhere else," he said at Tuesday's meeting. "It's one thing to build a theater - but to operate and own it is a very different thing. [McQuarrie is] willing to do that."
