SANDY — Salt Lake County leaders say visitors to the South Towne Expo Center should be greeted by something more grand than a deserted gas station and car wash.
For that to happen, however, the county will have to navigate a land deal that includes a higher asking price than it wants to pay — and a competing bidder. During a closed session Tuesday afternoon, the Salt Lake County Council voted against purchasing the land, instead urging Expo Center officials and Mayor Nancy Workman's staff to continue negotiating with the property owners.
Ideally, the county would like to purchase the former Maverik convenience store and the car wash, separately owned properties being marketed by the same Realtor. If the county could purchase the land, said Leslie Reberg, director of the community services department, it would use it for a marquee sign and entry point for the expo center.
"We view this as a building block for the whole South Towne area," Reberg told the council. "This piece is crucial."
The delayed negotiations could present a problem for the county because of a competing bid that could put a bar-and-grill at the prime corner location. The prices of the two bids have not been made public.
Along with preventing the construction of a marquee at the corner, Deputy Mayor Alan Dayton said that a bar-and-grill could be especially bad for the Expo Center because it could cut into the profits generated from beer sales during conventions and trade shows.
If the county were to purchase land, it would not be used for parking, as many had expected, Dayton said. The county is currently using a temporary parking lot across State Street for overflow.
Salt Lake County has wanted to buy the corner properties, as well as other surrounding properties, since it opened the Expo Center two years ago. Because of profits that exceeded expectations, the county now has the money to pursue it, said David Marshall, chief administrative officer for the county.
"It affects the whole site," Marshall said. "We want it to be the gateway to our development."
Having an attractive gateway would significantly boost attempts to lure new trade shows to the Expo Center, especially those that would come from outside of Utah, Marshall said.
"If you're looking outside of the area for show, aesthetic value is very important," he said.
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