Plans to raze and replace the old Bennett Paint and Glass Building are temporarily on hold, at least until developers get redevelopment agency monies.
The building, at 2100 South and 300 West, has been an eyesore to the high-traffic area since the company went out of business in July 1988, said Richard Winters, a Bennett family representative.He said the Bennetts would love to see the property cleaned up and reincarnated, but there's nothing they can do with the gutted, deteriorating site on Utopia Avenue, even though public records list them as title-holders.
"The Bennett organization is gone. There's nothing left," Winters said. "The only thing left is that piece of property. We couldn't lease it or give it away. We couldn't do anything with it."
But two years ago, Libra Warehouse and Storage, a Salt Lake- based company, purchased the bank note on the property, which consists of the once-innovative glass tower, an open warehouse and three other storage facilities. They made plans to demolish the existing structures and replace them with a three-story hotel, a five- or six-story office tower, a restaurant and miscellaneous retail stores.
The project, called Interstate 2100, was proposed to the South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce in October but has yet to go forward.
Libra says it needs redevelopment agency money to proceed with the project.
"Everybody wants to see (the site) changed. The area has really suffered," said Paul Jensen, Libra vice president and the project's spokesman. "It's in an excellent location. No one has more enthusiasm for getting that area cleaned up than we do. We want to do a credible job of restoring it, and we're committed to doing that, but we need help. We don't have the ability to move forward without them stepping in."
According to Jonnalyne Walker, executive director of the city redevelopment agency, Libra has been less than anxious to submit the documents the agency needs to move forward with funding - namely the intended use and development plans.
"We're waiting for that additional information. We've given them several (opportunities) and have not received any of that information," Walker said. "We're kind of waiting for them. It's been more than 90 days since they made their request."
There is no statute of limitations to annul the initial request for funds, but Walker said the RDA will not proceed with any of the necessary legal notices or public hearings until Libra responds with the needed information. She added that a 60-day blight survey had been completed by an independent consultant, at a cost of $3,800 to the agency.
Barlow Nielsen Associates, the property management and real estate services group, is spearheading the Interstate 2100 development. According to Glenn McKay, project developer, the performance information should be submitted before the end of the year.
"This is a projected $16 million to $17 million project. When we go to the city, we want to make sure we have everything we need and everything they need," McKay said.