Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams has selected a property in South Salt Lake to build a new homeless shelter. South Salt Lake Mayor Cheri Wood calls it a lethal blow to her city.
McAdams recommended a vacant lot at 3380 South 1000 West to the state’s Homeless Coordinating Committee, which will finalize the decision on April 10th. But McAdams said he won’t break ground until the state legislature comes forward with funding to ease negative impacts on cities that host shelters.
“We are angry and we will continue to be angry,” said South Salt Lake Mayor Cherie Wood. She told reporters Friday she’ll work to block the plan until those investments in her city are in place.
“This is a location on the Jordan River Parkway Trail. A trail used by mom’s with baby joggers, cyclists and kids every day,” Wood said. “It is home to single family residents who’ve lived in our community for decades. And it is adjacent to our new riverfront community that is essential to neighborhood stabilization that we’ve been working towards for years.”
McAdams said he’s calling for state and county investments in open space, public transit, roads and trails to help grow the city’s tax base.
“Being part of the urban core brings with it both responsibilities and opportunities,” he said. Adding South Salt Lake has taken on numerous responsibilities, including this shelter.
“It’s our part as the greater metro area, Salt Lake County and the state of Utah to also step forward to ensure that South Salt Lake continues to experience the opportunities that come with being part of our urban core, Mcadams said.
The property is owned by Utah Nonprofit Housing Corporation so McAdams said the city won’t be losing taxable property. The shelter will house up to 300 individuals and serve as a resource center, where residents can get health care and other services. Two other homeless facilities will be built in Salt Lake City.