When government announces major development projects, it's usually pretty big news. Readers like to hear about the new hotels, manufacturing plants, shopping centers, golf courses and other projects that will change their lives.
I've written many stories about projects coming to town. Announcements always get more attention than ground breakings or grand openings because announcements are new; the rest is expected. In fact, I seldom cover ground breakings or grand openings.But I'm noticing a trend with many of these big announcements that has me thinking that maybe I should change my thinking. Seldom are these projects coming to fruition as announced. The examples are plentiful.
Micron Technology coming to Lehi was built up by government officials as the biggest news in years. The $3 billion plant was supposed to employ between 3,500 and 9,000 people with an average annual salary of about $30,000. Workers were scheduled to begin making computer chips at the plant by next month.
The company went like gang-busters for several months getting the buildings up, but not much else has happened. No work force is ready to start manufacturing, and only time will tell if the company's promises come true. Considering the months of hoopla surrounding Micron's coming to Utah, the empty buildings are a big disappointment.
Go south about 30 miles to find the other huge monument to unfulfilled promises. Fingerhut's 1.5-million-square-foot, $50 million facility near the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon was supposed to be the company's main Western distribution center and another job haven for Utah County residents. Plans called for more than 500 workers to be employed at the plant by July 1995, putting more than $10 million annually into the local economy.
Unless the security guards hired to watch over the vacant structure are being paid $10 million, the company is far short of its goals. Rumors abound as to why the facility is not up and running. It might be related to design problems. The building's roof has caved in a couple of times, unable to handle the weight of winter snow. We've heard for several months that operations will begin any day. We hope so.
Construction should be going on now on One Freedom Center, a 13-story office building in downtown Provo. Boyer Co. said it had never failed to complete a project it announced. That claim may no longer be valid. The main tenant for the project backed out and the company allowed its option on the property to expire. But hey, the sign is still there and Provo's got that going for it.
Want some more? I've got a big list.
One of my first stories as a reporter was about Orem signing on a California development company to build an 18-hole golf course and technology park to replace Cascade Fairways. After months of big news, it never happened. And the city is still talking about a golf course someday, somewhere.
Remember the big hotel and convention center that was planned for the mouth of Provo Canyon? It's been scratched. A huge shopping center and movie theater were announced for Pleasant Grove. They aren't there.
Many plans have been announced over the past decade for a Provo mall. The latest, the Provo fashion mall with Dillard's as the main tenant, was supposed to be open by fall 1997. Not going to happen. The mall might eventually happen but not within the next couple of years, and it won't be as big as first announced.
Provo received a $1 million federal grant two years ago for a performing arts center. It should be open by now. Instead, it's way down the city's priority list. There were once plans for a new golf course in South Fork of Provo Canyon. No golf course in South Fork for you.
There's a big announcement every two or three years on what's going to become of Academy Square. Stay tuned for another 10 years. You want more? How about hospitals? Several have been announced the past five years, one in Orem and one on the Provo diagonal. But no brick walls are going up.
Let's not forget the causeway that's going to hook up Provo with the other side of Utah Lake. By the time it gets built we'll all be riding around like the Jetsons and won't need it anymore. And where's that new commuter road in south Springville that was supposed to be completed by now?
I'm pretty confident that we are going to get an Olympic ice sheet. It just won't be at North Park like originally announced three years ago. And speaking of North Park, didn't I hear once that a 5,000-seat baseball stadium was going up there? Not any more. Not in my backyard. If you honestly think that you'll see the day baseball is played next to Seven Peaks Water Park, think again. If it happens, I'll volunteer to sing the national anthem on opening day.
Credit Thanksgiving Point, Provo Park Hotel, the David O. McKay Events Center and River-woods Business Park for getting something done around here. We also have a new Utah County Security Center. Who cares if there's no money to put it to use? Consider it a sign that crime-fighting efforts are working.
Look at the bright side: We've already got too many people moving here, and if all these projects had been completed life in Utah Valley would be unbearable. We'd just need more facilities to meet all the new needs. That's it. Government officials are taking their time completing these project to make sure inflation and population growth are kept in check. They didn't fool me. I know what they are up to.