Second transit link in the works near Fireclay
Redevelopment » Murray leaders want former smelter site to be an environmentally-friendly draw.
By Jennifer W. Sanchez
The Salt Lake Tribune
Murray» It used to be a contaminated smelter site, but Murray leaders want it to become one of the state's best areas to live, work and shop. And nearby public transportation factors into the plan.
The Fireclay Redevelopment Project is made up of almost 100 acres on the north side of the city along Big Cottonwood Creek. It borders Salt Lake County, which is working on its own revitalization project in the area.
And a FrontRunner commuter rail station is under construction near the Murray North TRAX station at Fireclay Ave., 4400 South 71 West, which was built 10 years ago.
Mayor Dan Snarr said more people want to be environmentally friendly by living in a transit-oriented development where they can walk around and be close to public transportation.
"I hope it puts us on the map," he said. "I think this is what the future holds."
The project site in 2005 was valued at $20 million. When the area is eventually completed, city officials expect its worth to increase to roughly $200 million.
Tim Tingey, Murray community and economic development director, said the city wants to promote a residential and commercial area to capitalize on the TRAX stop. The land, mostly aging buildings and fields, was underutilized, he said.
"We're excited about the area and its potential," he said.
The city adopted the project's plan in 2005. Most of the area was cleaned up years ago, but there was still work to be done and it was a challenge to get developers who were willing to do it, Snarr said.
Hamlet Homes, a developer, spent about $1.5 million to clean up 16 acres. The company will eventually be reimbursed, Snarr said.
In all, Hamlet Homes bought and plans to develop 30 acres -- about a third of the area -- which will include some buildings with housing above the stores, 41 condos and 191 townhouses, Tingey said.
Only one residential-commercial building, which is a part of Birkhill at Fireclay, is completed so far and includes condos starting at $170,000.
Birkhill at Fireclay, 4276 S. Main St., won a 2009 Governor's Quality Growth Award from Envision Utah, a nonprofit group that promotes quality growth.
A second developer, Fireclay Investment Partners, plans to buy 26 acres and build about 670 residential units and commercial space.
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