Nu Skin gets Provo Council's OK for downtown expansion

PROVO — No one was surprised when City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday night to vacate one block of 100 West in downtown Provo, paving the way for a proposed "privately owned public space," part of an expansion of Nu Skin's corporate campus.

The vote gives Nu Skin the green light to move ahead with a four- to six-story, 120,000-square-foot office building at the corner of Center Street and 100 West — across the street from its existing 10-story corporate headquarters.

The company also plans to build a multistory atrium over what is now 100 West, joining the two buildings — which is why the street is needed.

A few residents grumbled about potential changes to Provo's historic downtown, but most who commented Tuesday night at a public hearing about the proposal were wildly enthusiastic about the company's plan to invest $40 million and bring up to 400 employees into the downtown area.

"I'm 100 percent behind it," said Brent Ashworth, owner of B. Ashworth's bookstore, which will be displaced by the new building. "I can move my little business. It's high time (downtown Provo) got a shot in the arm or a boot in the pants or whatever."

"We need this development," said resident Tosh Metzger. "If we don't approve this, we deserve the dilapidated downtown we have already."

"I think it's important you do all you can to renovate Provo and make it a place where people want to come," said Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. "Downtown Provo has been struggling."

Council members agreed, moving the issue forward without much discussion.

The next step in the process will be to declare the property surplus and sell it to Nu Skin. Tuesday's vote was an indication of city support, allowing the company to move ahead with plans for the project.

"I'm amazed by the support of the project," said Gary Garrett, vice president of corporate affairs for Nu Skin.

Garrett told council members that Nu Skin has retained the architectural firm Bohlin Cywinski Jackson to design the building and the plaza. The firm has an international reputation and has designed buildings for Apple, Pixar Studios and Yale University. Utah-based Okland Construction will be general contractor for the project.

Architectural concept designs should be available within six to eight weeks, now that the initial hurdle has been cleared, Garrett said.

Several challenges remain, however. The cost of relocating several public and private utility lines under 100 West are figured into the project, but the project will provide some engineering challenges for the city.

Turning the block of 100 West over to Nu Skin also means shifting the proposed route for a yet-to-be-built bus rapid transit line to serve Provo and Orem. The city faces losing $4 million for design of the route if the project is delayed. Garrett said Nu Skin has met with UTA to work out issues to keep the funding intact.

e-mail: mhaddock@desnews.com