Big plans for Sandy center

SANDY — Ambitious plans for an indoor community arts center have been delayed because city leaders can't decide exactly what the facility should include or how large it should be.

The Sandy City Council, however, recently declared the performing arts and cultural facility as one of its top three priorities.

In two formal discussions, one during the council's annual retreat in the spring and another a few weeks ago, city leaders were unable to agree on myriad issues surrounding the planned facility. A year ago, they had hoped to have a groundbreaking date scheduled by now.

"The nature and scope are really what's at issue here," said city spokesman Ryan Mecham. "Some want it a little bit bigger. Some want it a little bit smaller.

"The bigger it is, obviously, the more money it costs."

The most recent plans called for the Sandy Community Arts Center to cost about $18 million. It would include a 700-seat main theater, a 250-seat children's theater, an art gallery, rehearsal space and separate music, dance and art studios.

But the downturn in the economy has the city pinching its pennies.

Eleven full-time positions within the city were eliminated to balance this year's budget, which is 2 percent smaller than the 2003-2004 budget.

"Our focus has been on maintaining basic services," Mecham said.

And no funding sources have been identified for the proposed facility. A major fund-raising effort would have to be mounted. That's why some city leaders are thinking the facility should be scaled back. Others believe waiting and building a larger center might be best.

"The council is very much concerned to stay within our resources," Mecham said. "They haven't set a time frame for their decision. The goal, of course, is eventually to get it done. . . . I think the focus is on (building) a community arts center. I think there is broad agreement on that goal.

"Exactly how many seats we're going to have, I don't know — how many classrooms, how much space — and neither does anybody else. Those are the devils in the detail that haven't been worked out."

The idea has been percolating for about seven years. At one point, the city thought it could begin construction of a $10 million facility in 2000 and finish it by 2001. But then the economy slowed and the city concentrated on other recreational needs, buying the River Oaks Golf Course and creating the 30-acre Lone Peak Park.

Last summer, the city ordered an update of the original feasibility study for the community center. That was completed last fall.

A site already has been chosen. The facility would be built on a 22-acre parcel west of the Sandy Amphitheater at 9400 South and 1300 East.

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