Support 'The Heights'
Residents for the Cottonwood Heights Town Center
Support the Cottonwood Heights Town Center
We are residents of Cottonwood Heights who support the proposed Town Center, called "The Heights". The Heights will be a place for our community to gather, celebrate and connect. It will offer local dining, unique shopping, open space, mountain views, and amenities that strengthen our community and create a stronger city identity.
Spread the word by displaying a 'Vote YES' sign in your front yard.
Experience The Heights - Designed by Residents
Town Center Information
A Town Center Designed by Cottonwood Heights Residents
Mayor Weichers and the Cottonwood Heights City City Council scheduled several public input meetings and requested Cottonwood Heights residents to share what they would like in a town Center. The City Council listed to the residents and now intends to develop the Town Center according to the desires expressed by the residents during those meetings. Those ideas are shared below:
Gathering Place
The purpose of the Town Center is to create a cool, beautiful and inviting gathering place for the residents of Cottonwood Heights. The town center will define and become the face of Cottonwood Heights. It is the place where major events in Cottonwood Heights will be held.
Name is "The Heights"
The proposed name for the Cottonwood Heights Town Center is "The Heights" drawing on the location and vibe of the city and reflecting the elevated mountains, views and nature that surrounds us. In fact, a major design concept of the Town Center is to minimize the height of and design the buildings in The Heights in a creative way that preserves the viewsheds of the area so that all residents can come and enjoy the beautiful views at any time.
A Source of Pride
The town Center is envisioned to be something that the residents are proud of and makes them thrilled that the city invested the resources to build it.
Desirable For All Age Groups
It will include places where people of all ages want to go. There will be places to gather and hang out for children, young families, singles, grandparents and seniors.
Template for the Future
The look and feel of the Town Center will likely become the standard that development of public spaces will follow. This includes beautiful and interesting architecture. Structured parking facilities will provide convenient and close parking in place of unsightly asphalt parking lots.
Safe Streetscapes and Walking Paths
Pedestrian safety will take a high priority. The Town Center will be walkable and bikeable. There will be wide landscaped walking paths that meander throughout the property that support a healthy lifestyle that includes walking. Vehicular traffic patterns will be designed with human safety taking precedent. The steetscapes will be attractively landscaped with living plants and flowers.
Fun Shops and Restaurants
There will be many restaurants to provide a unique variety of eating options to Cottonwood Heights. Artisan shops, social clubs, pastry and dessert shops, senior programming and a boutique grocery store have all been requested.
Outdoor Dining
Exceptional dining experiences have been designed to facilitate sidewalk dining facing the street and also facing the gathering space. Buildings have been designed to enable rooftop dining that provides incredible views of the majestic mountains between the canyons as well as views of the valley, views of downtown SLC and the spectacular sunsets over the Oquirrh mounts and the Great Salt Lake.
Exciting Events
Regularly scheduled events such as large farmers market on Saturdays, a major Christmas market from Thanksgiving through Christmas, as well as arts festivals and other fun events will create a fun vibe that keeps residents interested and wanting to come back over and over again.
Minimal Housing
There will be minimal housing on the property. Some housing may be on the level above the shops.
Performance Area
The Heights will provide a performance stage and area that includes infrastructure to support all types of events that require electricity, water and sound.
Strengthening Our City's Financial Position
General Obligation Bond
The City is proposing a $30 million General Obligation bond to provide up funding for the town Center. Residents will have the opportunity to vote on the bond during the November 5th elections.
The City will work closely with a to be selected development partner to provide the market-driven elements for the project including a desirable mix of retail businesses, local restaurants, and some housing. These are critical pieces that make the town center vibrant and active and represent more than $100 million of investment in our city.
A public-private partnership has several benefits:
- Puts the city in the driver’s seat in terms of the project vision and design.
- Allows the city to retain ownership of the land and lease it back to developers - creating an new long-term revenue stream for the Cottonwood Heights City general fund that is expected to exceed more than $1.5 million each and every year into the foreseeable future.
- Helps defer or delay property tax increases likely needed in the future by generating new revenue from land leases, sales tax, and property tax created by the project.
- Gives the city more control over issues like density, aesthetics, and building heights.
The expected monthly cost of the bond to the average Cottonwood Heights home owner will be about the price of a typical lunch meal at a fast food restaurant - about $12.
Invest in the City's Financial Future
Vote YES. Approve the bond to assure a financially stronger city
If voters approve the bond, property taxes for the average homeowner (based on the average home value in Cottonwood Heights of $770,100) will increase by $11-$12 a month. The average term of the bond is 30 years.
Money from the bond will be used exclusively to 1) fund the public elements of the projects; and 2) pay off the existing loan the city has on the property. This has several positive financial implications for the city:
- Paying off the existing loan used to purchase the property, the city will save approximately $1.1 million annually in general fund expenditures.
- By retaining ownership of the property, the city could generate new revenue in the form of land leases with the development partner. Conservative estimates show approximately $2 million a year in lease revenue once the project is completed.
- A new town center will likely generate greater sales tax and property taxes from the site. This new money goes into the general fund and reduces the need for future tax increases.
- These financial benefits help the city defer or delay a property tax increase projected to be needed by 2026 – while also providing a community amenity.
Bond Provides Financial Strength into the Future
'The Heights' Town Center Image Gallery
View of 'The Heights' looking at the corner of 2300 E and Ft. Union Blvd. The open space is for gathering and hanging out. Notice the buildings have places for roof top dining and for sidewalk dining The amphi theater is for small performances. The area at the top can be closed off for farmers markets, and other events.
View of the mountains between Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons looking up at 'The Heights'.
Another view locing at the terraces of 'The Heights'.
South East Corner of 2300 E & Ft. Union Blvd
Help spread the word on the Cottonwood Heights Town Center!
Your donation can help make Cottonwood Heights an even more beautiful and fun place to live.