Salt Lake City's Redevelopment Agency is expected to help clear the way tonight for the LDS Church to purchase the state-owned Devereaux House near the Triad Center downtown.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints purchased a large portion of the Triad Center last year with plans to open an extension of Brigham Young University there along with relocating the LDS Business College, now housed at 400 East and South Temple. The state has received an offer from the church to purchase the mansion.

Salt Lake City's RDA has an interest in the property because it helped facilitate reconstruction of the mansion after a fire nearly destroyed it in 1979, shortly after it was purchased by the state Legislature. To clear the title exceptions and facilitate the sale, RDA board members are expected to adopt a resolution "approving the termination of the lease/lease-back agreement" between the state and the RDA, "terminating the agency's interest in a sublease, maintenance and management agreement" between the RDA, the state and Devereaux Partners Ltd.

The item is listed on the RDA's formal agenda for tonight's meeting at the Salt Lake City-County Building.

LDS Church spokesman Dale Bills said the church became landlord to the Devereaux House with the Triad purchase last year, including approximately 3 acres of land and improvements on the site. "Under the terms of this long-term ground lease, revenue to the state is virtually nil. Consequently, government officials have determined to sell the state's residual interest to the church," Bills said.

Because the transaction has yet to be completed, the sale price has not been disclosed, according to F. Keith Stepan, director of the state Division of Facilities Construction and Management.

Stepan said no other buyers have been considered for the property because the church has the option to continue leasing the property for another 50-plus years. "That's why you can't take any options. We have no ability to sell it because it's under lease. What's actually taking place is an offer to transfer the title completely to them."

He said past mansion overseers have had difficulty trying to keep it leased, and it has often been vacant. "The configuration of the house doesn't make it usable for a lot of things. The only restrictions we've placed on it are that the architectural character of the historic place has to stay the same."

On March 1, 1971, the Devereaux House was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, meaning modifications and usage are also subject to restrictions.

Bills said the church's long-term plans for the property "have not been determined. At present, a third-party contractor operates a reception and catering business in the building."