EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MESSAGE
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Alan Matheson is executive director of The Point.
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You may have seen some of the recent news coverage regarding the major milestones we have achieved over the past several weeks. We toppled a decades-old guard tower to signal the start of demolition of the aging prison facilities. Hundreds of people joined us in person and thousands watched remotely. We will continue to work diligently to transform this closed, restricted space into an open, accessible community that all Utahns can enjoy.
Last week, the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority (Land Authority) adopted detailed plans for the first phase of development at The Point. Located at the heart of the site, the first phase encompasses approximately 100 acres, which is one sixth of the overall site. Plans include world-class retail and entertainment venues, a people-focused main street called “The Promenade” that offers walking, biking, and multiple transit options, and a place for The Point Innovation District efforts dubbed “Innovation Row.”
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Recording of the guard tower demolition.
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On November 29, the public was invited to watch the toppling of a decades-old guard tower that signaled the start of demolition of the old prison facilities. Hundreds weathered the cold to watch crews as they used a crane and wrecking ball to pull the structure to the ground.
As a relic, guard towers have been increasingly viewed as an outdated form of surveillance and are being removed at correctional facilities across the country. While most of the aging and outdated facilities will be taken down, the Land Authority will preserve important historical aspects of the old prison, including the chapel and the Johnson Bar locking system.
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Aerial view of The Point phase I development plans.
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At their regularly scheduled December board meeting, the Land Authority approved the Phase I development plans proposed by Innovation Point Partners, the conditionally selected development partner for The Point. Located at the heart of The Point, the first phase of development encompasses approximately 100 acres, which comprises one sixth of the overall site.
Development plans also include critical backbone infrastructure that will quite literally lay the groundwork for future development. Major infrastructure projects will extend Porter Rockwell Boulevard and planned transit service through the site, and construct most of the “River-to-Range” public open space and regional trail system. Plans include:
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Over 3,000 multi-family units, including affordable housing units, where every home is within two blocks of a park or trail
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220,000 sq. ft. of world-class retail, restaurants and grocery stores
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Entertainment venue that seats approximately 3,000 people for up to 200 events each year
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Over 2,000,000 sq. ft. of premier office space
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Approximately 14,000 local jobs created
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16 acres of parks, including a Central Park
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Five miles of sidewalks and trails, including the River-to-Range public open space and regional trail system
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100% drought-tolerant landscaping
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Water-use reductions resulting in the equivalent of 250 Olympic-sized swimming pools of water saved each year compared to baseline conditions
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The River to Range is a 1.4-mile paved regional trail that will connect the Jordan River Parkway Trail to the west with the foothills of Draper’s Corner Canyon to the east. For residents, employees, and visitors, the River to Range will encourage healthy living, provide recreational opportunities, offer an active way to commute to work, and establish a critical transit connection. As a linear park, the River to Range will also serve as a natural system for responsible rainwater management and the restoration of ecological habitats for native plants and animals.
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The Promenade will be a vibrant, people-focused development lined with places to shop and eat. It will include over 2 million square feet of premier office space, approximately 3,000 multi-family housing units, and 222,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and grocery stores. Local boutiques and national retailers will coexist to provide Utahns with an 18-hour gathering place for all to enjoy.
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The Taste of Place will be a go-to destination where Utahns can dine at a wide variety of indoor and outdoor restaurants. With a diverse selection of seasonal and rooftop dining, casual quick service, and sweet treats options, the Taste of Place will offer high-quality culinary experiences guaranteed to satisfy any palette.
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Central Park will provide a centralized gathering place that brings together urban living and outdoor recreation for Utahns and their families. The park will serve as an outdoorsy urban hub, boasting some of the best connections to the natural environment in the country. With a flexible design, Central Park will provide adaptable space to accommodate seasonally appropriate activities year-round.
Central Park will be intentionally located near one of The Point’s popular entertainment venues. Hosting up to 3,000 people at each of the planned 200 events annually, the venues will offer fun and diverse programming for all Utahns.
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Proximity facilitates opportunity. Innovation Row will support an innovation ecosystem that promotes human interactions, advances technological innovation, fosters a startup environment, and facilitates meaningful relationships among universities, businesses, and entrepreneurs. The Innovation District will be at the center of activity and combine the best minds from around the state, the country, and even the world. From incubation to implementation, it will be a place to collaborate on the next big ideas.
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Widely recognized as one of the most significant quality-of-life opportunities in Utah history, The Point consists of 600 acres of state-owned land that will foster cutting-edge technological innovation, support robust economic opportunity, offer diverse housing options, and provide extensive parks and trails for Utahns to enjoy.
The site is centrally located in the heart of Utah’s rapidly growing technology sector, and between Utah’s two most populous counties. It is well served by vital infrastructure and surrounded by more than 20,000 acres of undeveloped land in local area communities. It is easily accessible via high-capacity roadways and planned future transit service.
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