Apartment plans rile Holladay residents

HOLLADAY — City officials are touting progress on the Village Center project, but many in the community are upset about plans for apartments and a five-story clock tower in the "European village."

Seven months ago, road construction started on the project at the intersection of 2300 East, Murray-Holladay Road and Holladay Boulevard. The confusing and dangerous five-way intersection is now gone, replaced by new roads and wide sidewalks.

Once complete, the project will include a walking plaza and three-story buildings with small shops below apartments. Condominiums will be built as a buffer between the commercial area and nearby homes.

At a Holladay Planning Commission meeting earlier this month, a conceptual site plan for the buildings was unanimously approved despite a roomful of neighborhood protesters.

"Why should Holladay residents suffer the negative consequences of a developer's business decision?" asked Mark Richards, who lives nearby. "Why should we residents be quiet and 'take our medicine' when better alternatives exist?"

Richards and many others are upset that the project will include apartments. They are also opposed to Holladay selling land to developer Cowboy Partners at a loss.

Holladay Village has been in the plans for almost a decade, but opposition to the most recent designs were riled up during the mayoral campaign between incumbent Dennis Webb and City Councilman Barry Topham.

"I think this transformation is not going to be something that Holladay residents appreciate, especially the ones that have been here awhile," Topham said.

Topham also said he believes the "luxury" residences will fall short of projections.

In response, city officials say Webb's win by 20 percentage points is a clear mandate to move forward with the project.

Topham disagrees, saying he lost because of political endorsements. In walking the city while campaigning, people were "unknowledgeable" and "aghast" about Holladay Village plans, he said.

Cowboy Partners agent Dan Lofgren answered concerns about the apartments before the Planning Commission.

"The idea that rental is new to the mix is not really historically accurate," Lofgren said. "The reason that rental makes the most sense is it ensures that issues with businesses and parking can be well-managed."

But some residents were not appeased.

"I think we can aim higher," said Ron White. "I think we can step up."

This past week, construction workers carefully laid red bricks into the crosswalk at the intersection of Murray-Holladay Road and Holladay Boulevard. Once finished, crews will cease work for the winter, Holladay city manager Randy Fitts said.

Cowboy Partners hopes to start construction in the spring if it can get through remaining city approvals in time. There are also issues to be worked out regarding one road and the design of the public plaza, Fitts said.

To see the conceptual plan and illustrations of Holladay Village, visit cityofholladay.com.

e-mail: rpalmer@desnews.com