The fate of the historic, but rundown Academy Square build-ings will be decided by a 4th District Court judge, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
U.S. District Court Judge J. Thomas Greene denied a motion by the Utah Heritage Foundation to amend a lawsuit it filed against Provo last year. The Salt Lake-based foundation wanted to argue in federal court the validity of a preservation easement it claims to have on the buildings.Greene said his court order preventing demolition of the buildings will stay in place while the city and the foundation adjudicate all issues in state court. The city and foundation filed suits against each other in December in 4th District Court, but the foundation wanted those stayed and the matter argued in federal court.
The city wants the issues heard in state court because they likely will be resolved sooner, and by a judge more familiar with the fruitless 20-year effort to save the old buildings.
The city wants to tear down the four buildings and sell the property to Georgetown Development Co., which plans to build an office complex and motel on the site.