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Show monday, October 31, 1977 official at the state capitol complained it boils down to a Fairgrounds continued from page said. Their proposal smells of urban renewal. The Palace proposes the state purchase the 20 acres directly west of the convention center, raze the buildings, and build new state fairgrounds. The Salt Palace would lease state fair facilities for big conventions and rent the Salt Palace during fair expositions. Proponents of the new fairground say the Salt Palace needs an additional 100,000 of space to square-fee- t said. compete nationwide with other convention facilities. The added space would cost the Salt Palace $3 million, and its strategy is based on the state's need for an added 200,000 square feet should it choose a downtown fair location. The county would receive a double bonus from a downtown fair site, county attorney John Avery claims. First, the Salt Palace would receive additional convention space paid for by the state. Secondly, the countys center for the performing arts, on West Temple across the street from the Salt Palace, is expected to run a yearly deficit of $225,000, which could be greatly reduced by added patronage brought on by convention expansion and the state fair. terribly political thing. Nonetheless, the Salt 1 "Were considering uses for the alternative fairgrounds - during the off- season as well. Minson said the average fairground in the nation runs between 200 and 300 acres, far above Utahs facilities. But other states have added revenues from horse tracks and betting which wouldnt be feasible in Utah," the engineer added. He said the downtown location of 20 acres is much too small, but no one wants to step on the toes of the Salt Palace. Palace sparked the $5,000 state study of possibile changes in the fair. And the Salt Palace has been successful in postponing a decision on the 1.1 acres Bigda wants to buy for the $2.3 million highrise. Mike Chitwood of the Redevelopment Agency said the politics behind proposal are, at best, fusing. Chitwood also said the The state has recently retained Minson and Halan-de- r to research the cost and feasibility of renovating the present fairgrounds. 64 acres on North Temple. The study will include a draft of ideal fairgrounds, comprised by the firm after visiting successful fairgrounds across the nation. Were making a sutdy that could eventually become the model for our fairgrounds. Robert Minson Before the ZCMI Mall opened last year, the company's business came mostly from the designer trade Christiansen said. But higher foot traffic also boosted the furniture store's walk-i- n business and Christiansen's en 300 minority residents who would be displaced should the the state fair move to downtown. Also in jeopardy are two churches and five historic landmarks on the property west of the Salt Palace, he said. The study should be completed in late November, and the legislature's Business, Labor and Economic Development Committee is scheduled to review its findings the third week of December. OUTSTANDING INDUSTRIAL FACILITY Ideal for Shops, Manufacturing, Distribution & Offices 847 West 17th South, Salt Lake City But Bigda's deadline for presenting Housing and Urban Development with evidence of a land acquisition is Dec. 1. He has already h a extenreceived sion for submitting the evidence and proposal. HUD has also awarded Multi-Ethni- c a grant for the project. The Salt Palaces decision to look into the state fairgrounds issue has jeoparc dized the whold project, Bigda claimed. One city official said of the Salt Palace proposal, You never know what the undercurrent is when someone makes an outlandish An proposal like that. Multi-Ethini- He doesn't go without some trepidation, however. Had we been able to work out a deal with Crossroads which would have allowed us to stay in our own building and become part of the mall we would have done it. But they needed the horizontal space, Christiansen laments. The firm has worked out a lease what we had on the floor but all the new fall lines that were ordered long ago, he said. feasible. s, by. years in business at its 66 So. says he doesn't know. Weve not only got to sell n, new construction at the state fair by making the grounds available for fine arts exibi-tionstabling horses, a year round indoor flea market, and even family reunions and picnics, Minson explained. As well as his project, Bidga is concerned with the problem, Minson said, was finding land adjacent to the present fair location. Law prohibits fair facilities outside of the city, and large tracts of land within the city are difficult to come joyed its biggest year ever last center, vice president and manager Malcolm Christiansen has opted to join a major furniture manufacturing firm as a sales representative rather than open up a shop in another part of town. How soon, Christiansen unreasonable. "The city just spent $450,000 in repaving 200 West. It certainly wouldnt consider condemning the land for a fair site," Chitwood Richard Dunn, explained. Utah state researcher, said the problem with a downtown location didn't end with the fair space. Our major concern is parking and traffic in dowm-towThe Dunn said. downtown site would be very expensive and probably not A major Christiansen Furniture throw in the towel after 43 Main location as soon as all its inventory is cleared. Displaced by the $65 million Crossroads Plaza shopping We could finance the is Land hard to find Plant space: 33,000 sq. ft., single story Office space: 2,000 sq. ft., single story Site: 1.85 acres, zoned Industrial M-1- A SALE PRICE $350,000 year. OFFERED EXCLUSIVELY BY Six blocks to freeway access Gas forced air heat Offices air conditioned Electric power 600 amp. Consturction of 7 drive-i- n steel (1956) and concrete block (1962, 1968) overhead doors 6 overhead cranes to 3 ton capacity Ceiling heights 12 ft. to 25 ft. Act now. For full information Call Tracy Realty Co. c Mf TRACY REALTY COMPANY 177 East 1st South (801)531-90- 0 NEW STANDARDS in the Audio Visual Field ELM0 16 CL A A 16mm SOUND PROJECTOR RONEO-VICKER- S L-2-00 SPIRIT DUPLICATOR agreement with Crossroads, he added. The store measures 50 by 120 feet. Christiansen's grand- father founded the business in 1897 in Richfield, Utah, but since 1934 it has operated at 66 So. Main. His mother, Reiva, now 81, is president of the firm although she has retired. It's nice to go out of business when you're doing well and not because you have to, he added. BEEHIVE AUDIO VISUAL PHOTOGRAPHIC CORP. Supplying Your Audio Vnuol ond Photogrophic Needs 60 EAST SO. TEMPLE SALT LAKE CITY. UTAH H pea; top' BEEHIVE INTRODUCES C Once inventory is gone, so is Christiansens will fair concept FOR SALE OR LEASE two-mont- Model fairgrounds the con- downtown 84110 PHONE 531-147- 4 |