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Show Btfl. Redevelopment: Report Coming By GARY R. BLODGETT BOUNTIFUL The city's Redevelopment Agency board of directors heard an update, but took no action, on studies being made to determine if Bountiful should have a downtown shopping mall. THE presentation was made by John Hampshire of Machan. Hampshire and Properties (MHP), the development firm approved by the RDA board to conduct an economic and feasibility study for the city. The study is separate from an area-wide survey recently conducted by Kenster and Company which included a telephone poll of 400 families living between be-tween North Salt Lake and Farmington. THE LATTER survey is completed, and a brief resume of the results was presented to the RDA board Wednesday night. However, a more extensive report including a complete analysis of the study and recommendations to the board is expected at the next RDA meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 2. The economic and feasibility study, being conducted con-ducted by (MHP) is not expected until after the first of the year, Mr. Hampshire told the RDA board. "BOTH REPORTS w ill be very complex and comprehensive," com-prehensive," said Mr. Hampshire. "And you must keep in mind that it will be impossible to determine the feasibility of a mall or any other proposed redevelopment rede-velopment until both reports are thoroughly analyzed." He said that there is a "strong interest" in several major anchor stores, noting that Sears has recently shown interest in locating in a Bountiful downtown mall. "WE'RE STILL plugging away with the anchor stores," he told RDA directors. "We can't have a mall or major downtown development of any kind without them." He said he did not see any surprises in the Kenster report that shows a majority of Bountiful residents support a mall. "BUT IT can be analyzed in many ways and there will be no concrete evidence one way or the other (about a downtown mall) until both reports are completed com-pleted and thoroughly studied," Mr. Hampshire emphasized. He noted that there should be more evidence to substantiate or refute a mall after the MHP study is completed, probably within the next 60 days. "SEARS HAS shown interest as a new tenant and there is continuing progress with other anchor stores, but th- attempt to secure major department stores for a mall or downtown development is always frustrating." he said. Mr. Hampshire then discussed with the board the possibility of financing through industrial revenue bonding (IRB). "SOME MAJORS say they need it to be considered consi-dered at this time." Mr. Hamshire told the board. He emphasized that most of the response regarding IRB financing is in regard to other projects, v hich are farther along than Bountiful's, rather than a downtown down-town mall in Bountiful. Mr. Hampshire explained that IRB funding is limited li-mited to $10 million per project, but that each major store (or phase) in the construction project could be considered separately. PLEASE TURN TO PAGE 2 |