MILLCREEK: MAJOR CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS ARE CHANGING THE FACE OF UTAH'S NEWEST CITY

In the spring of 2021, the city of Millcreek in Salt Lake County broke ground on a new city center it calls Millcreek Common, that opened a year ago. Phase 1 of the project includes a plaza that includes an ice ribbon and splash pad, retail locations and the site of the new Millcreek City Hall.

During a recent walking tour of the project, Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini and the Millcreek City Council joined a group from the Utah chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors and answered questions about the large construction project. Characterizing the site as an “adventure destination that has become the artistic focal point of this vastly growing Utah outdoor masterpiece,” city officials responded in a question-and-answer session:

1. What does your checklist consist of when building a city center?

It was really important for us as we planned a new city center for Utah’s newest city that it be a true mix of uses. If we end up with merely an apartment village, we’ve failed. If we end up with just an office park, we’ve failed. If we end up with just a shopping center, we’ve failed. This is why we are trying so hard to bring residential, office, restaurants, shops, open space, civic use and recreation into creating a well-rounded Millcreek city center.

2. When it comes to relationships and vision, how do you seek and find the likeminded?

In our economic development goals, we try to create win-win-wins. As cliché as that may sound, we truly look for ways to be proactive to help property owners come out ahead, developers be rewarded for their risks and the community overall to benefit from the project. If you can look for ways to grow the pie, it makes it easier for everyone to get a slice they can be happy with.

3. What sets your city apart?

Millcreek is a Goldilocks city — we are big enough to do huge projects and bring in big grants (we are a city of 65,000) and yet we are small enough to be decisive and nimble to keep projects moving (only 51 employees). Because we span from Olympus Cove to the Jordan River, we are a city with financially solid residents who look for ways to give back to the community, and we are city with refugees and immigrants that contribute fresh vitality. We are one of the oldest communities in the Salt Lake Valley (settled in 1848), but we are also one of the newest cities (incorporated 2016) in the state and can take a fresh look at placemaking.

4. What do you see interesting for the future of Millcreek?

The effort to build a city center doesn’t happen overnight. We appreciated EPG/Terracon landscape architects and Hogan Construction for their work on the award-winning Millcreek Common, which opened up last spring. Now, we are working with MHTN architects and Okland Construction on a 21st century city hall that will open this fall. This building will include a ground-floor public market, a floor for Millcreek’s police precinct, floors for a community forum and city offices, a gorgeous sixth-floor community room with banquet space for 200 and stunning plaza and mountain views. And for good measure the state’s largest outdoor climbing wall on the outside.

But this is just the beginning. Mixed-use projects are entitled and will break ground this year through partners like Cottonwood Residential, Boyer, PEG, Northstar and Soar Development. Over 1,600 residential units and 200,000 square feet of commercial space are on the way. Phase 2 of Millcreek Common, still in planning stages, will include acres of public open space, a skating alley, a pavilion and grass seating for outdoor events and an 18-hole miniature golf course.

5. How would you describe the synergy in Millcreek?

(Answered by Mike Winder, Millcreek city manager) I’ve worked in city and state government. I’ve worked in the private sector with start-ups and experienced companies. But in my career, I have never seen the exciting synergy of local government and entrepreneurial spirit like I have seen at Millcreek. We have elected officials who are bold and visionary. We have city staff that works hard to be problem-solvers instead of bureaucrats. It is really an exciting time to be part of one of Utah’s emerging city centers in one of Utah’s finest cities.

Article courtesy of the Utah chapter of Associated Builders and Contractors.