January 2019 | Vol. 6 Iss. 01
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ARTS CENTER PROGRESS, NEW VOLUNTEER committee highlight city’s 2018 By Carl Fauver | carlf@mycityjournals.com
W
ay back in December 2016 — long before he decided to challenge and defeat Utah lawmaker Mia Love, to claim her 4th Congressional District seat — Ben McAdams made an exciting announcement outside Taylorsville City Hall. The recently departed Salt Lake County mayor told a frigid audience of arts lovers and media members, the city and county had reached an agreement for the construction of a new $39 million amenity. Then the planning and waiting and designing and waiting and bid-letting and waiting and anticipation and waiting began. Without question, the excitement and anticipation of the Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center has been the dominate arts, entertainment and leisure story in Taylorsville for three years running. And finally, in 2019, residents driving along 5400 South, across the face of city hall, will be able to see heavy equipment and hard-hatted people bringing the project to reality. “It’s been a long wait but well worth it,” said Taylorsville Arts Council Treasurer Gordon Wolf. “It is going to be absolutely fantastic. The Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center will be the jewel of the west side. I can’t express how excited the arts council is.” Officials originally scheduled an Oct. 29 groundbreaking ceremony for the project, until some last-minute glitches forced a delay. As of press deadline, those same officials were hoping to carry out the ceremony during the holiday season. Salt Lake County officials are funding nearly all of the construction (and will operate the facility), while Taylorsville City officials donated the land and a smaller portion of the money. The 67,500-square-foot facility will feature a 440-seat main (or “proscenium”) theater, along with a so-called “black box” theater with seating configurations ranging from 50 to 225. The main theater will include a 38-foot-by-85-foot stage, along with an orchestra pit, technical support booths and balcony seating. Rehearsal and dressing rooms also promise to be spacious — possibly the nicest amenities Taylorsville Arts Council performers will have ever used. “I am so excited and so ready for this to happen,” Mayor Kristie Overson said. “We (city representatives) have been involved in every decision. So many hands have been on this project. With everyone working together and communicating well, I don’t think we have missed any important details. I can’t wait to see the first performance.” Barring more unforeseen delays, that first use of the new
More than two years after its announced construction, work was finally set to begin on this $39-million Mid-Valley Performing Arts Center, southeast of Taylorsville City Hall. (Salt Lake County)
center is still expected to occur in late 2020. Though continued progress on the arts center project has been the dominant Taylorsville entertainment and leisure story in recent years, it certainly was not the only one in 2018. New Cultural Diversity Committee created For the first time in several years, Taylorsville City became home to a brand new volunteer resident service committee in 2018. And one of its members believes the new Cultural Diversity Committee made Utah history in the process. “I’ve done a lot of research on this, and I believe Taylorsville is the first Salt Lake Valley city to establish a cultural diversity committee, designed to strengthen relations between the different people who live here,” said committee member Thomas Reams. “I’m a born-and-raised Utahn, but marrying into a different culture has been very rewarding. I’m excited to be involved.” Thomas Reams is treasurer of the American Venezuelan Association of Utah, while his wife, Maria Liliana, is the association’s vice president. They, along with AVAU President Carlos Moreno, were among the driving forces getting the new committee launched last spring. Shortly after the Taylorsville City Council voted to establish
the new committee, the Cultural Diversity group transformed its first official meeting into an open house. “Our goal is to try to bring our minority communities into contact with city government,” Moreno said. “I feel we can do so many good things to support local government. I love to serve and do not expect any payment. We simply want to help improve our community.” City Councilman Curt Cochran was named the council adviser to the committee. As one of its first acts of business, the new committee elected Moreno as its chair. “This is your committee,” Cochran said. “I’m just here to lend a helping hand. This needs to be a two-way street, where members of the committee learn more about government, and we learn more about the great diversity of people living in our city.” One of the first things the committee discussed was the possible creation of a brand-new Taylorsville community celebration. “Salt Lake has hosted its annual Living Traditions Festival for many years,” Moreno said. “And I believe Taylorsville is every bit as culturally diverse as Salt Lake, maybe more so.” As a sort of warmup to something they may do on their own in 2019, Cultural Diversity Commit- Continued on page 4...
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