The future of Abravanel Hall in the entertainment district has not yet been decided, the county says

SALT LAKE CITY — The future of Maurice Abravanel Hall has not yet been determined, but the Utah Symphony is included in “a potential sports, entertainment, cultural and convention district,” Salt Lake County leaders say as they discuss the future of the downtown outside of Delta Downtown heats up.

Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson issued a lengthy statement Tuesday confirming that her office has been involved in talks with the Utah Symphony and Smith Entertainment Group about an entertainment district outside the Delta Center. Smith Entertainment Group, owner of the Utah Jazz and the state’s new National Hockey League franchise, requested two blocks east of the arena to build the district through a process created by the Utah Legislature earlier this year.

“While much public attention has focused on a new sports arena as part of the proposed downtown revitalization, all parties are aligned in confirming that fine arts and culture will continue to have a strong and vital presence downtown of the city,” said Wilson. “The vision for a revitalization project is in the early stages and no decisions regarding the future of Abravanel Hall have been made.”

Wilson added that the county and the Utah Symphony were already working on a “comprehensive master plan” to address the renovation needs of the 45-year-old concert hall, and she believes the new district could “accelerate” those plans.

His statement was released just before a Salt Lake City Council meeting, where officials from Smith Entertainment Group will provide more details about the company’s proposal for downtown Salt Lake City under SB272, the bill creating a “zone revitalization” in the city center around Delta Center.

Smith Entertainment Group submitted its application to partner with the city on a zone on April 4, about two weeks before it acquired the Arizona Coyotes in a deal that moved the NHL franchise to Utah. But details of the document were kept confidential until Salt Lake City responded to public records requests on Friday.

The company has requested a 99-year lease extension with the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency to remain on the block that houses the Delta Center, according to the seven-page application. It also requested a similar lease with Salt Lake County for two blocks east of the arena, which would require a remodel of the Salt Palace Convention Center.

Smith also called on the Salt Lake City Council to approve the full 30-year 0.5% sales and use tax increase that SB272 also authorizes, while asking it to collect “the full value” it generates. . Legislative fiscal analysts say Salt Lake City’s tax increase could generate $54 million annually. The application outlines other requests for public funding and rezoning to establish redevelopment near the arena.

But it also raised concerns about buildings like Abravanel Hall, located two blocks east of the Delta Center. An online petition asking the county and state to protect the site had garnered nearly 20,000 signatures as of Tuesday afternoon.

The plan also called into question the future of what remains of Salt Lake City’s historic Japantown, which was partially dismantled to make way for the Salt Palace Convention Center. His future is also expected to be addressed during Tuesday’s meeting.

The City Council must also convene a public hearing on the matter, which will be held on May 21st.

This story will be updated.