The city now has an option to buy dilapidated Brigham Young Academy, and a majority of residents want Provo to do just that, according to a Dan Jones & Associates poll.
Fifty-nine percent of the residents surveyed strongly or somewhat favor city ownership of the old buildings, which according to a 5-year-old appraisal are worth $800,000 to $1 million.Even with apparent public support, Mayor-elect George Stewart isn't keen about spending money on Brigham Young Academy. He said it's not high on his priority list of improvement projects, as are road and sidewalk repair and a fire station for southwest Provo.
Only one-fourth of the 400 people Jones questioned Oct. 25-27 strongly or somewhat opposed the city's plans. Sixteen percent had no opinion. The poll has a 5 percent margin of error.
"What's encouraging to me is that 59 percent are in favor of the city getting control of the buildings," said City Council Chairman Dennis Hall.
Control is the only the thing the city wants at this time. It has no intention to renovate the century-old academy.
"It's not the city's responsibilityto develop Academy Square," Stewart said. City officials want to
turn that chore over to private investors. The Brigham Young Academy Foundation's plan to turn the buildings into a dinosaur museum is among the most promising. Restoration costs are unknown.
Stewart said city officials are also talking to other organizations with ideas on how to restore and use the buildings.
"It's the city's responsibility to see that something gets done," Stew-art said.
In August, the council allocated $200,000 to buy the option, conduct feasibility studies, winterize the buildings and do a new appraisal. A one-year option will cost $100,000, and the money would be applied toward the purchase price should the city decide to buy the block at 550 N. University Ave.
Stewart said he'd like to see Provo sell it or turn it over to a private organization to raise restoration funds before the option expires.
Hall said buying the square could hinge on the outcome of the feasibility studies. The city would hold public hearings before making a decision. Impassioned pleas from older Provo residents and former academy students prompted the council to take out the option.
Interestingly, the poll showed that people over the age of 56 were less in favor of buying the academy than were younger people. Fifty-four percent strongly or somewhat favored city ownership and 32 percent were opposed.
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Deseret News Poll
Do you favor or oppose Provo city's efforts to buy Brigham Young Academy for $80,000?
Strong favor 26%
Somewhat favor 33%
Somewhat Oppose 10%
Strongly Oppose 15%
Don't Know 16%
Poll conducted Oct. 25-27, Margin of error plus or minus 5 percent on interviews of 400 adults from Provo. conducted by Dan Jones & Associates