Hard as it may be to envision the project's proposal to remake close to 100 acres in the city once dominated by smelter chimneys and steel operations, Snarr insists it is more than just a pipe dream.
"All it takes is cooperation, getting people to buy into your vision," Snarr says about revitalizing large chunks of Murray. "But vision without hard work is just daydreaming."
No stranger to hard work, Snarr has helped drive redevelopment along State Street since taking office 7 1/2 years ago. In the blocks between 4500 South and 5000 South, for instance, city revenues have blossomed from $50,000 to $1.2 million due to positive changes in the area, Snarr says.
Last October, Intermountain Health Care broke ground for a 100-acre medical complex at State Street and 5100 South. When construction wraps up in 2007, the facility is expected to employ 4,000 workers.
Snarr also promoted extensive development at 5200 South and State Street, which now sports a thriving Costco distinguished by a mural depicting Murray's historic roots. Several trendy restaurants and large retailers have opened across the street from Costco.
Fireclay, proposed for 97 acres from State Street to Union Pacific's rail lines and between 4200 South and 4500 South, offers more of the same. Plans for the project are beginning to take shape.
"The (Fireclay) budget and timeline are still sketchy," says City Councilman Jim Brass, who chairs the city's Redevelopment Agency board that will meet Tuesday to discuss the preliminary budget.
City planners also are drafting a transit-oriented development (TOD) ordinance and hope to reroute streets within the project to include a block-sized, pedestrian-friendly roundabout surrounded by small shops, eateries and office space.
Brass says the TOD design guidelines provide more flexibility.
"We're aiming for a Sugar House feel - a community with most of your needs within walking distance," he explains.
Prime acreage along State Street will offer space for big-box stores, but city officials plan to limit their size.
"A Super Wal-Mart would not fit, but larger grocery stores would," Brass says.
City leaders recognize the Deseret Industries Thrift Store at 4500 South and Main Street as a significant asset to the area.
"They're a big draw," Brass says. "They have ideas of what they want to do with their property that would be quite nice. They want to stay where they are and put in a new store."
On about 20 acres of contaminated land between the Union Pacific and TRAX lines, Snarr pictures a world-class professional soccer stadium for the Real Salt Lake franchise.
Undaunted by stiff competition for the stadium from Salt Lake City and Sandy, Snarr touts Murray's site as a winner because of its close proximity to State Street, light rail and Interstates 15 and 215.
And once the new hospital opens, "you can transport an injured player to a world-class medical facility and get him back in time to play the second half," Snarr grins.
Soil remediation costs at the site could be significantly reduced by burying the worst contaminants underneath an asphalt parking area to service the proposed stadium.
"It would cost just over $1.2 million to bury it once and for all, or $4.7 million to clear it away," Snarr says.
City officials, however, realize Murray's chances to attract the prized stadium are slim because the city can't cough up any cash incentives. A developer has shown an interest in building affordable high-density housing on the same site and might qualify for low-income tax credits to reduce costs.
Fireclay will require a secondary access from the west, which would mean digging 30 feet below existing railroad tracks to put in the necessary connecting road. That task would cost an estimated $4 million.
"No developer has wanted to take that on," Brass says. Hence, the need for an RDA, which could fund the roads and infrastructure upgrades from tax increment generated by new development on the land over 15 to 25 years.
"We have the opportunity to build something unique here," Brass adds. "With all the controversy over RDAs, if we're successful, people can point to it and say, 'This is what RDAs should do.' "
cmckitrick@sltrib.com
Fireclay RDA timeline
* 97-acre area received blight designation Jan. 2005
* Draft Fireclay Redevelopment Plan, prepared by Wikstrom Economic and Planning Consultants, presented to RDA board June 2005
* Preliminary budget to be discussed by RDA board Tuesday, 4 p.m., City Council Chambers, 5025 S. State St.
* Taxing Entity Committee to discuss Fireclay budget Aug. 9
* Public hearing on the Fireclay Redevelopment Plan to be scheduled at a future date
