UTA kicked off its first transit oriented development today at a groundbreaking attended by United States Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx. The East Village development is located adjacent to the 10000 South TRAX station and is being built as a partnership between UTA and Hamilton Partners. The development sits on land purchased for UTA’s first TRAX line with help from the Federal Transit Administration’s New Starts program.
Secretary Foxx was joined at the ground breaking event by Utah Governor Gary Herbert, Utah State Senate President Wayne Niederhauser, Sandy City Mayor Tom Dolan, UTA President/CEO Michael Allegra and other civic and community leaders.
“The building of transit oriented development is just one way the Wasatch Front can prepare for future growth,” said UTA President Michael Allegra. “The combination of residential, retail and commercial properties with transit helps air quality, population growth and generally makes life better for those that live here. This is a new trend for our community and a catalyst for change.”
This mixed use development begins with groundbreaking of the $46 million Phase I, which includes a 271 unit apartment complex. It will have a density of 50 units per acre with a parking stall ratio of 1.4 stalls per unit. Four additional phases are planned which will total over 1.4 million square feet of development.
The FTA, in compliance with their joint development guidelines, encourages this use of transit infrastructure to increase ridership and generate revenue for transit agencies. The East Village will be an excellent example for the conversion of transit facilities for mixed use transit oriented development.
This is “a catalytic event that creates a sense of place,” said Secretary Foxx. “You are proving that transportation punches above its weight.”
This site was one of six sites selected as a U.S. Housing and Urban Development Catalytic Site for planning studies as part of the creation of a new downtown in this suburban city at the south end of the Salt Lake Valley. Downtown Sandy is envisioned as a thriving mixed-use urban center. The TRAX light rail station at The East Village will be linked through the area to a nearby FrontRunner Commuter rail stop via a downtown circulator.
The East Village is expected to be completed in late 2015. Pre-leasing is scheduled for Fall 2015. For more information about The East Village, and to see 3D renderings of the multifamily units, visit www.tevliving.com.