About 200 Holladay residents and merchants turned out Wednesday to voice concerns about what the city might have in mind for their homes and businesses. Many asked to opt out of the Holladay Village Center redevelopment plan, and vociferously questioned the validity of the blight findings, which determined that 96 percent of the 50 privately owned parcels exhibited at least three factors of blight.
Robert Hill, one of five owners of a medical clinic in the project area, strongly objected to his business being included in the area. He questioned the study's finding that the project area is unfit or unsafe to occupy. “In a clinic where we take care of patients, it's ridiculous that we be included in the project area,” Hill said. “I believe the summary is false.”
Residents of Holladay Villa B, condominium units included in the blighted area, signed a petition requesting their homes be excluded from the project area.
Gordon and Connie Hanks, owners of Holladay Pharmacy, were fearful of the city's actions. Both stated how they had invested $1.5 million in upgrades to their well-kept business at the heart of the proposed Village Center. For the Hanks, the business has been their livelihood for 35 years.
Gaylen Young, a resident of Holladay Villa, criticized the blight designation for affecting property values.
“We have several folks who are trying to sell their condos right now and no one is interested because of the blight situation,” Young said. “Also I strongly object to you considering this blight proposal from the study that's been done without other professional opinions.”
The study was conducted by Bob Springmeyer of Bonneville Research.
Randall Feil, special legal counsel to the RDA board, said there is no legal requirement for a second opinion on the existence of blight.
One resident suggested establishing a special improvement district to fund the needed infrastructure improvements - including rerouting the difficult intersection of 2300 East, Murray-Holladay Road and Holladay Boulevard - rather than using tax increment that flows from an RDA.
Kent Jorgenson, who owns a condominium in Holladay and also serves on the City Council in Ogden, voiced support for Holladay's efforts to establish an RDA, and expressed the hope that property owners be given the same consideration the law provides under the use of eminent domain - namely, fair compensation and relocation assistance.
Some residents urged that the vote be put off until the entire council could be present. Councilmember Sandy Thackeray was absent, as well as Mayor Dennis Webb.
Under current state law, the City Council, acting as the RDA board, must acknowledge by July 1 that the blight study has been completed, even though the findings might not be acceptable or accurate.
Feil also urged that any corrections to the blight study be made within 24 hours to meet the July 1 deadline.
The four City Council/RDA members present - Hugo Diederich, Lynn Pace, Steve Peterson and Grant Orton - voted in favor of accepting the blight study as complete, in order to comply with the mandated Friday deadline.
Further discussion and action on Holladay's Village Center redevelopment project was postponed to July 21 when all members of the council are expected to be present.
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
