Magna breaks ground for revitalization project

MAGNA — This community's downtown, which has suffered a long decline, is set for a face lift.

Salt Lake County Acting Mayor Alan Dayton and other dignitaries broke ground Monday on an $800,000 revitalization project that will upgrade the utilities and appearance of Main Street from 8800 West to 9200 West.

"It's kind of pained my heart over the years to see this area neglected a little bit," said Salt Lake County Councilman Michael Jensen, a Magna resident. "This really is going to give the boost to downtown Magna that we've needed for a long time."

The first phase of the construction will include stormwater drainage and underground utility improvements. The second phase, which will begin next spring, will include new curbs, gutters, sidewalks, streetlights and a unified "streetscape" intended to beautify the area and improve safety.

The improvements will include "bulb outs" of the sidewalk into the street in certain areas, narrowing the street for traffic calming and pedestrian safety as well as providing space for decorative street lights and greenery.

"We are counting on these improvements to provide a setting that reflects the county's commitment to Magna's values, history, and the vibrant future for business activity," Dayton said.

Officials hope to improve the area's downtown appearance and atmosphere to improve festivals, holiday celebrations and other local events already held there.

They also hope to attract new businesses to the moribund area. Most of the storefronts surrounding the groundbreaking ceremony at Magna's Senior Citizen Center are boarded up or closed.

Instead of the usual gold-shovel groundbreaking, the county's Public Works Department got right down to business, with a backhoe lifting up asphalt and digging down to underground utilities.

The project is being funded with community development block grants, the county's Redevelopment Authority and county public works.

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