The abandoned Signetics building at the top of the Orem Hill on 800 East is getting more than its share of attention lately as bidders vie to buy it.
Mayor Stella Welsh and Sen. LeRay McAllister, R-Orem, said a great deal of lobbying is going on and they expect some conclusions within the next few weeks.McAllister said he is reluctant to divulge detail because the entities involved can still make a variety of decisions.
Welsh said she's aware of at least two proposals for the building - one involving Brigham Young University, the Utah National Guard and Utah Valley State College and another that would put a Fred Meyer Super Store on the site.
"In order for the Fred Meyer store to go in there, it would have to be master-planned and rezoned," said the mayor. "I hate to get the neighbors all stirred up until we know more about it, and we haven't seen them (Fred Meyer) come in. I really don't expect them in before December if they do."
Mayor Welsh said heavy lobbying is being conducted on both sides of the possibilities.
But in order to move ahead with anything involving the college, she said the Utah Legislature would need to meet again as well as the Board of Regents, who turned down UVSC's proposal to use the building earlier this year.
Welsh said she's also heard the rumors about a need for cleanup of the Signetics site but said the city understands an environmental impact study has been completed without problem.
Other informed sources said "sold is a big word" and no money has changed hands, so anything is still possible.
Fred Meyer officials closed a store farther west on 1300 South in January 1993, citing "loss of profits" and blaming saturation of the market as the biggest reason for the store's demise.