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Wednesday, November 4, 2026

Utah, on the record.

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Orem development tracker

Hillcrest Elementary property purchase

City purchase of the roughly 9.33-acre former Hillcrest Elementary site from Alpine School District for $5,605,000, authorized Sept. 1, 2020 over the mayor's objection. The school district approved the sale Oct. 13; the Redevelopment Agency agreed Dec. 8 to transfer $1,292,485 toward it. Landmark Design is preparing park concepts, and residents have asked that all nine acres stay park space.

Approved

Type
Public project
Location
About 650 East 1400 South
Size
9.33 acres
  1. Dec 8, 2020City Council: Consent agenda: Hillcrest RDA transfer, Bridal Veil Falls resolution and appointments
  2. Dec 8, 2020City Council: FY2020-21 budget amendment
  3. Oct 27, 2020City Council: Hillcrest Elementary property purchase update (work session)
  4. Sep 1, 2020City Council: Purchase of former Hillcrest Elementary School property

In brief

Hillcrest Elementary property purchase appears on 3 recorded agendas, from the City Council meeting of September 1, 2020 to the City Council meeting of December 8, 2020.

On record, it was approved 3 times.

The most recent decision was approved (6-0) at the City Council meeting of December 8, 2020.

Follow the money and project delivery

Hillcrest Elementary property purchase

Approved

  1. Council action

    Approved: Consent agenda: Hillcrest RDA transfer, Bridal Veil Falls resolution and appointments · Approved minutes Record → · Dec. 8, 2020

  2. Money in the record

    payment: $1.29 million — Transfer from RDA project area 85-03-A to the city toward purchase of the Hillcrest Elementary property Record → · Dec. 8, 2020

  3. Signed agreement and payments

    Execution and project-level disbursements are not verified by this tracker. They require separate records; meeting approval alone does not establish either.

  4. Work and operating costs

    Check the linked records for completion and recurring operating costs; this tracker does not verify them. Record →

Every hearing and vote

  1. December 8, 2020 · City Council

    Consent agenda: Hillcrest RDA transfer, Bridal Veil Falls resolution and appointments

    Approved · 7-0 with the mayor

    The council approved a resolution consenting to the Redevelopment Agency transferring $1,292,485 from project area 85-03-A to the city for the Hillcrest Elementary property purchase; a resolution supporting preservation of Bridal Veil Falls with a conservation easement, urged by the city's Natural Resources Stewardship Committee; the 2021 meeting schedule; Council Member Jeff Lambson as Mayor Pro Tem for January through June; and board and commission appointments.

    Moved by Mayor Richard Brunst, seconded by Council Member David Spencer. Vote: Unanimous, 6-0 among council members; Mayor Brunst also voted yes

  2. December 8, 2020 · City Council

    FY2020-21 budget amendment

    Approved · 7-0 with the mayor

    Finance Manager Brandon Nelson listed adjustments for grants and donations, interest on unspent 2019 general obligation bond funds, money for the Hillcrest Elementary purchase, insurance recoveries for two Fire Department vehicles, and use of surplus Water Reclamation Fund money to rebuild the Carterville and Springwater lift stations. No one spoke.

    Moved by Mayor Richard Brunst, seconded by Council Member Brent Sumner. Vote: Unanimous, 6-0 among council members; Mayor Brunst also voted yes

  3. October 27, 2020 · City Council

    Hillcrest Elementary property purchase update (work session)

    Discussed

    City Manager Jamie Davidson said the Alpine School District board unanimously approved a sale of the 9.33 acres at about 650 East 1400 South to the city at $5,605,000 on Oct. 13, including two cell tower leases. Funding would come from Redevelopment Agency money, park impact fees and RDA reimbursements to the General Fund. Landmark Design would prepare park concepts for about 9 acres, and an interested party wants to buy half the land and building. Council Member Terry Peterson called the site a rare chance for a destination park. Final approval was expected Dec. 8.

  4. September 1, 2020 · City Council

    Purchase of former Hillcrest Elementary School property

    Approved · 6-1 with the mayor

    Mayor Richard Brunst said the 9.33-acre site was appraised at about $5.6 million; the school district's appraisal valued the building at $3 million while the city's assigned it no value. Utah law limits uses of the land, and any future resale proceeds would be split with the district. The mayor outlined options: buy all of it, or buy only the 1.61-acre park and nearby homes' land for a park of about 2.5 acres. He favored a park but opposed buying the whole site, citing asbestos, building age (1954 with a 2003 addition) and liability. Council Members Terry Peterson, Brent Sumner and Jeff Lambson said southeast residents deserve a full park and green space; Peterson read a resident's letter supporting a park. Council Member Debby Lauret saw potential in the gym for youth basketball. City Manager Jamie Davidson said the city may cancel if due diligence results are unacceptable and the purchase would use park impact fees (about $1.8 million) plus Redevelopment Agency money (a loan from RDA 85-03B and funds from RDA 85-03A), possibly repaid by leasing or selling part of the site; parts of the Hillcrest neighborhood qualify for CDBG money.

    • Area: about 9.33 acres; park portion 1.61 acres

    Moved by Council Member Tom Macdonald, seconded by Council Member Terry Peterson. Vote: 6-1 including the mayor; Mayor Richard Brunst voted no. All six council members voted yes.