2 future Real neighbors plan to stay put
But Devlin's Child Development Center at 9310 S. State is getting a 25,000-seat stadium for a neighbor within the next two years.
A real estate agent for Real Salt Lake called Devlin a week ago to ask whether he might consider selling the three-quarters of an acre that has held a day-care center for at least 20 years.
"I have no desire. I have no inclination. I'm not entertaining an offer," Devlin said. "Business is going well."
Real Salt Lake has put 22 acres behind Devlin's property under contract for a soccer stadium, practice fields, restaurants and shops. But the team has quietly been approaching property owners along State Street to see if they would be willing to add their land to the project.
The day-care center sits behind a Bank of Utah branch that's less than 5 years old. Although the owners of property around the branch have talked to NAI, the real estate company handling Real Salt Lake's property transactions for the stadium, Bank of Utah has had no contact, said Doug DeFries, the bank's chief financial officer.
"We haven't heard a thing," DeFries said. But even if approached, the bank doesn't plan on moving. "We like the location. It has built up to be a very nice branch there."
"I have clients who have been here for years," he said. "I have employees who have been here for several years. It's not like it's a dying business or a business that's going away. It's a viable entity."
The stadium won't be a bad neighbor, Devlin and DeFries said, but construction might be a problem. Both businesses already sit on a stretch of State Street with a median, which forces all traffic to approach from the north. U-turns and cross-cutting has been a problem for customers in the past, and the business owners hope that any road improvements would eliminate the barrier.
On the other hand, fan reaction was mixed Wednesday.
"I'm disappointed," said Bonnie Issa, Salt Lake City. "I think it all comes to politics, instead of where was the best venue. I think Salt Lake would've been the best venue. It was a bit sneaky how they ended up paying for it," she said, alluding to the $80-million bond originally proposed for a parking structure next to the Sandy Expo Center.
"I think it's great, said Sandy resident Rob Landgren. "Why have everything downtown?"
Allison Murdock, Orem, who said she is moving to South Jordan, said she is "kind of bummed. I would've liked to have seen it downtown. I think our downtown needs a little help. We'll still go to every game."
Nate Pond of Provo said he is "excited. It's a lot closer. I don't have to look at football stadium lines every home game . . . It will be a lot more convenient."
Contributing: Dan Rasmussen E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com
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