University wants to transform parking lot into new development

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Richard Piatt reportingThe University of Utah is proposing a big change to its campus. It would be the development of the area west of Rice-Eccles Stadium, which is now a parking lot.

The university is looking at the area as more than a thousand parking spaces. It sees it as a gateway to the university that has potential for stores, offices and apartments.

The University of Utah's first major TRAX stop, the gateway to campus, is a parking lot. Other than Rice-Eccles Stadium, it's a bit of a hike to anything else. So, the idea of a retail-residential combination on the spot has some people excited.

"It'll bring more community to the ‘U.' There's a lot of: they go to class, and then just everybody's separate. I think it will be good for everybody," said Chase Christensen, freshman at the University of Utah.

University wants to transform parking lot into new development

The university is planning for the future. The goal is a more pedestrian-friendly campus and neighborhood nearby. Creating a vibrant multi-use complex could be the first step, and the university owns the property.

As a courtesy, the Salt Lake City Planning Commission will get a briefing on Wednesday on what could be coming.

The so-called "Universe Project" would take up most of the current parking lot space. Among the concerns in the neighborhood is that it blend well with the area and compliment "restaurant row" on nearby 1300 East.

"We can do better in development than a service parking lot there. But if this development is done right, I think it will be a great boon, asset to the community," Salt Lake City Councilman Luke Garrot said.

The university is planning to create a parking structure to replace the spots that will disappear with the project. But for those who use the lot now, parking already is an everyday headache. "It's hard enough to find a parking place in this parking lot. People just driving around and waiting, just waiting for any cars to come out," freshman Lindsay Sheffield said.

This project is still being thought about and designed right now, but the University of Utah plans to go forward with it as soon as possible.

E-mail: rpiatt@ksl.com