Over the Fireclay Redevelopment project's 20-year life, increased land values are expected to generate about $39 million in new tax increment, of which $24.6 million would be used for new infrastructure, such as roads, sidewalks, utility lines.

l Of the $39 million, about $8 million would be used for affordable housing in Murray, including refurbishing some of the city's older homes.

l About $4.7 million would flow to the Murray School District and the remaining $2 million would cover project administrative costs.

l What's next: The taxing-entity committee will meet at 9 a.m. Aug. 16 to vote on the Fireclay budget. The Redevelopment Agency board plans to hold a public hearing Sept. 13 before adopting the plan, followed by a 45-day appeal period.

MURRAY - Plans for the city's 97-acre Fireclay redevelopment project are beginning to take shape, with $186 million projected for construction costs.

Those costs will be borne by at least one, but more likely several developers, who will be picked later this fall.

"I haven't met anyone of that caliber yet," said Murray's Economic Development Director Keith Snarr, when asked if a single developer had stepped forward to do the whole project.

The mixed-use redevelopment agency (RDA) project will remake the area between 4200 and 4500 South, from State Street to the Union Pacific rail lines, making it a walkable, regional attraction close to TRAX stations, and Interstates 15 and 215.

City planners envision a block-sized pedestrian-friendly roundabout west of State Street and south of Fireclay Avenue. Shops, restaurants and offices would be built inside the roundabout, while parking would be on the perimeter.

The site once housed a smelter. About 20 acres between the Union Pacific and TRAX lines are heavily contaminated. Extensive cleanup - with costs ranging from $1.2 million to $4.7 million - would be needed.

Mayor Dan Snarr believes this location would be ideal for the Salt Lake REAL soccer stadium, but Murray faces stiff competition from Salt Lake City and Sandy for the coveted attraction.

The project is in desperate need of secondary access from the west, which would be provided by extending Fireclay Avenue beneath the railroad tracks to 300 West. This piece of road work would cost about $6 million.

The project affects the amount of taxes Murray School District will collect. About $20 million in tax dollars would be generated that normally is earmarked for schools, but $15.5 of that would flow back into the project.

Also affected is the amount of taxes Salt Lake County will collect that emanate from the new project. Darrin Casper, Salt Lake County Council fiscal analyst, said that once the project is up and running, it will take about $800,000 a year - over 20 years - away from the county.

But both Casper and Murray School District Business Administrator Tim Leffel say those extra tax dollars would not materialize if the land is not redeveloped.

Murray City's Snarr described this reinvesting of potential increased taxes into the project as "priming the pump."

"One of the tests of [a redevelopment project] is if the development would occur on it's own," he said. "In this case, the answer is no."

Snarr expects later this year to receive owner-participation proposals and more detailed plans from interested developers.

"It's a blank slate right now and we don't have all the answers."

cmckitrick@sltrib.com