Provo council approves Towne Centre redevelopment that will displace a mobile home park

The Provo City Council voted 5-1 Tuesday night to approve the redevelopment of the Provo Towne Centre mall and the neighboring Shady Acres mobile home park, KUER reported. ^[1]

Under the plan from the owner, Brixton Capital, the mall's anchors, Target, JCPenney and Cinemark, would stay while other parts of the building and parking lot come down to make room for an open-concept development with a 2-acre outdoor gathering space. The mobile homes would be replaced by 77 townhomes for sale, which buyers would have to live in rather than rent, and five buildings with 1,300 apartments. ^[1] The council's Oct. 20 meeting packet lists 77 for-sale townhomes and 1,300 apartments in five buildings, and its minutes record the developer confirming 18 months' notice and $10,000 in relocation assistance per household. ^[2]

The development agreement requires Brixton to give each Shady Acres household 18 months to leave and $10,000 in relocation assistance. Kay Larsen, who has lived in the park for 30 years, told KUER that moving her double-wide to Price or Chester would cost about $20,000. Brixton representative Justin Long said the offer goes well beyond what the company must provide, since residents are on essentially month-to-month leases. Several council members said the money falls short but that they had negotiated more than the developer owed, and they want to explore giving residents first refusal on the project's affordable housing. ^[1]

The area would become a Housing and Transit Reinvestment Zone, which lets the city use tax revenue on development costs near transit stations. The agreement requires 12% of the housing to be affordable to households earning 80% or less of the area median income, and 3% for those earning 60% or less. ^[1]

Council Member Jeff Whitlock, who voted yes, said doing nothing risked a blighted area and that the developer could walk away. Council Member Becky Bogdin, who represents the district and cast the lone no vote, said she worries the plan will not work and that density belongs in the center of the city. Council Member Katrice MacKay said she hopes the project will bring more restaurants and retail to Provo. ^[1]