Breaking: 2 possible homeless center sites in Draper announced by city, county mayors

Salt Lake County Jail Bond To Fund Criminal And Social Justice Reforms
Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. Photo Courtesy: Salt Lake County

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah, March 28, 2017 (Gephardt Daily) — Draper officials have stepped forward to offer their city as a possible location for one or both of two homeless resource centers scheduled to be built in Salt Lake County.

Draper Mayor Troy Walker and Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams announced the agreement on Tuesday afternoon, listing the two new locations up for consideration.

One possible site is at 14600 South on the east side of Interstate 15. McAdams said officials also were looking into building on part of the land where the prison is currently located.

Because of the two Draper sites now being considered along with the five previously announced locations, a site evaluation committee meeting that was scheduled to meet 3 p.m. Tuesday afternoon will delay its meeting to 9 a.m. Thursday.

That’s the day the committee’s recommendation must be finalized in order to take advantage of $10 million in state funding, which was approved with that deadline attached.

“Today, Mayor Troy Walker and members of our Draper City Council stepped up and proved their leadership,” said House Speaker Greg Hughes in a prepared statement.

“As a resident and representative of Draper City, and with the two locations in Salt Lake City being within walking distance of my business, I am willing to accept whatever locations are selected and remain committed (to) solving (the homelessness) crisis.”

The Draper locations will be considered along with locations previously announced, of which two are in South Salt Lake and three are in West Valley City.

In both those cities, residents and city officials have said they don’t want to host either or both of the two new homeless resource centers, citing the cost of additional law enforcement officers, among other factors.

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