Salt Lake Council OKs funds for Leonardo

The Salt Lake City Council approved $750,000 in money from its Redevelopment Agency for The Leonardo on Tuesday.

The Leonardo was seeking the money for seismic renovations to the old city library on Library Square. The Leonardo — made up of several arts, culture and science-education organizations — has already raised $10 million in private money to release a $10 million voter-approved city bond.

Preferred architectural drawings for the renovation, however, came in at $23 million, and The Leonardo had asked the City Council for $1.5 million that the council did not approve in its general budget.

The RDA budget, however, draws on different money, and the city council — acting as the RDA board — approved the $750,000 as long as The Leonardo raises the rest of the $3 million needed for the renovation.

Mary Tull, The Leonardo's executive director, said that the group wants to get started on more advanced plans immediately and hopes to pay for the rest of the money by selling naming rights.