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Axios Salt Lake City
Redevelopment agency nears decision on USA Climbing lease
By Kim Bojórquez,
2024-06-14
The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City is nearing a decision on whether to allow USA Climbing to relocate its headquarters and build a national training facility in the Rio Grande District.
Why it matters: The project has the potential to revive the dilapidated district.
"This is an opportunity to start the beginning of a new era for that west part of downtown," Salt Lake City Council member Alejandro Puy, who represents the area and chairs the RDA, tells Axios.
Puy anticipates the presence of USA Climbing, the national governing body for competition climbing, will attract more developers and businesses to the neighborhood.
U.S. Ski & Snowboard and U.S. Speedskating are also headquartered in the Salt Lake Valley.
Driving the news: At a public meeting this week, the redevelopment agency discussed a proposed 99-year ground lease for USA Climbing to build new facilities near 310 South and 500 West.
Under the ground lease, USA Climbing will own the building, but the land will remain under RDA ownership.
State of play: The organization has operated from Salt Lake City's Granary District while it looks for a new site to build permanent facilities.
Project goals entail hosting large-scale climbing competitions and providing indoor climbing to community members, Ashley Ogden, RDA senior project manager, noted at the meeting.
The primary structure containing climbing walls would take up 45,000 square feet and stand between 65 to 75 feet tall.
The former (and nearby) Salt Lake Mattress & Manufacturing Company building would be used for office space, as well as food, drink and retail.
What they're saying: "It's a big deal for our city and our state to highlight the sport," Puy said.
Context: Shortly after USA Climbing moved to Utah from Colorado in 2018, the organization announced its intent to build a national training facility for athletes, Ogden said.
State lawmakers last year allotted $15 million to support USA Climbing's proposed new facilities.
What's next: The RDA vote could happen as soon as next month, according to Puy.
If approved, the RDA and USA Climbing will negotiate to finalize a ground lease and development agreement.
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