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WEST BOUNTIFUL (AP) -- While many welcome a new Costco warehouse in West Bountiful, some business owners say it symbolizes a greedy deal that has cost them big bucks.
To help bring Costco into the city, West Bountiful officials declared the area west of 500 West and between 400 North and 200 South a redevelopment agency project. City Manager Wendell Wild says the area was legitimately blighted.
But businesses that used to occupy the area disagree, saying they were thriving.
The owner of El Matador Restaurant says the city threatened to condemn his restaurant to get him to move. He says it's not right to kick people out of their businesses and give them only a third of the money they deserve just so they can bring in a Costco.
However, city officials say they tried to be fair with people. Wild says it's going to be a matter of opinion in regards to whether they should or shouldn't have done what they did. However, he believes it was an ideal situation for using R-D-A funds.
But the Utah Taxpayers Association says the Costco project is one of the top examples of R-D-A abuse in Utah.
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Information from: Deseret Morning News
(Copyright 2005 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
