Artist Al Rounds, a longtime resident of Holladay, supported remaking the center of town by way of an RDA, which would allow the use of a tax increment to fund infrastructure needs. But he doubted if he could afford to continue to rent a studio in the area after the transformation takes place.

“I would love to see RDA change, but financially I can't see myself in that structure,” Rounds said.

He suggested the RDA board, which is made up of the City Council, get some kind of visual aid - a “look-see” that would convey the vision of what the Village Center could be.

City officials and residents were on the same page when it came to remaking the awkward intersection where 2300 East, Holladay Boulevard and Murray-Holladay Road come together.

Most agreed that big box and national chain retailers had no place in the Village Center.

“We all agree an overhaul is needed,” said Sharron Horsey, who chairs the Holladay Chamber of Commerce. “But it's disheartening to hear that Walgreen is being given consideration.”

Horsey likened the Village Center to Park City's Main Street and the Cottonwood Mall to Park City's Kimball Junction.

“These areas should complement each other,” Horsey said. “The city of Holladay should be actively working to create a safe, charming village center that promotes existing business. That's why we became a city.”

Horsey's comments were met with loud applause by the audience of about 150 people who flocked to Holladay Elementary to listen to the pre-planned speakers invited by Holladay Mayor Dennis Webb and RDA Chairman Steve Peterson.

Robyn Bagley, president of the Citizen Coalition for RDA Reform, encouraged the crowd to educate themselves on RDAs.

“There is no blight in Holladay. An RDA is being used to implement a master plan because you don't have the courage to go to your constituents to ask for a tax increase to fund it,” Bagley said.

Candace Tarkeshian, a Holladay resident, asked the RDA board to put it in writing that eminent domain would never be a part of this particular RDA project. She also passed out petitions to gather signatures from people who shared that sentiment.

Mike German, vice-president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, urged people to check out his organization's Web site, utahtaxpayer.org, to find out how RDAs sap taxes from other taxing entities, in particular school districts. He said that RDAs simply shift retail sales from one area to another but do not increase the whole pot, because Utah consumers only have so many dollars to spend.

No decisions were made at Thursday's meeting.