Growth in Taylorsville goes against the trend
Mon, 10/05/2009 - 15:48
The Utah Unified Lab Facility is one of many new developments in Taylorsville. Photo courtesy Utah.gov.
By Kelly Lux
Real Estate News Utah Editor
The city of Taylorsville was lauded for its commitment to growth and development during these tough economic times at its second annual Economic Development Forum.
“Leaders (in Taylorsville) are committed to getting things done and working with business owners,” said Jeff Nelson, president and CEO of Taylorsville’s Nelson Laboratories, during his presentation at the forum.
Taylorsville Mayor Russ Wall “bragged on” Taylorsville, pointing out its strong points, including its location in Salt Lake County, its population at 62,000, its unemployment figures with an anticipated increase of 6,000 employees and its diversification of employers, including Convergys, Wal-Mart and Salt Lake Community College. Taylorsville is nearing a benchmark of one job per household, showing the city’s health in creating jobs, Wall said.
“We have had the pleasure and opportunity of going against the trend,” Wall said. “We have had record quarters in construction, commercial construction as well as residential.”
Those buildings which have helped Taylorsville to set construction records include Center Pointe Plaza, Gold Medallion Corporate Offices, America First Credit Union, Legacy Village and Great Harvest Bread, Wall said.
Nelson Laboratories was also recognized at the event for its role in economic growth in Taylorsville. Headquartered in Taylorsville, Nelson Labs has 2,200 companies in 53 countries around the world, Nelson said.
“From our little space here in Taylorsville, we are able to access the world,” Nelson said. “I think that is something great about the state of Utah and great about Taylorsville, is you can have headquarters here and really reach out and be quite successful internationally.”
While expanding internationally, Nelson Labs is also growing its presence in Utah by increasing it 62,000-square-foot facility in Taylorsville by 50,000 square feet. The expansion will add additional floor space for administration offices and laboratories, Nelson said.
“We are really excited about this expansion. We see a great future in Taylorsville,” Nelson said. “We have been big fans of Taylorsville and have had such a great experience in putting this building together and working with city planners and all the city administration.”
Sorenson Communications is also expanding its presence in Taylorsville with the construction of a new building measuring more than 75,000 square feet, said Pat Nola, president and CEO of Sorenson Communications. The facility is in addition to Sorenson’s 110,000-square-foot building and will house nearly 230 of its 750 Utah employees. Operations in the building will include VRS, IP Relay and support.
“We had tremendous support from the city of Taylorsville,” Nola said. “We built that building with breaking ground and with architectural designs in under a year, which is pretty incredible.”
In addition to other local business expansions, ICU Medical, which is located at 4455 Atherton Drive, is making plans to expand its Utah facility as it grows its business worldwide. Jeff Colvin, supply chain manager for ICU Medical, said ICU is preparing to invest $10 million into its facility for infrastructure and capital investments; a move that Colvin said will offer a great opportunity for growth in Taylorsville.
The Utah Department of Health is currently constructing a 60,000-square foot building on more than 15 acres in Taylorsville, said David Mendenhall, senior lab manager for the State of Utah Unified Labs. The building will house the Unified Lab Facility, which encompasses agricultural laboratories, crime laboratories and the medical examiner’s office.
The entire facility will be built in four phases, a process which has been slowed because of the state of the economy, Mendenhall said. Design and construction are being done through collaborative efforts of VCBO Architects, SmithGroup and Big-D Construction. Completion of the first phase is planned for the end of 2009. Occupants will move into the facility in early 2010, Mendenhall said.
The Taylorsville Redevelopment Agency is also working to further development and economic growth in Taylorsville.
By defining and improving areas with blight, unsafe, outdated or dilapidated building conditions, adverse physical factors or high vacancy, Taylorsville hopes to be able to revitalize its community. Approval has already been given to improve 5400 South on Bangerter Highway, said Lynn Handy, board chairman for the Redevelopment Agency. Other areas along Redwood Road, including 4100 South, 4700 South and 5000 South, are under consideration for improvements, he said.
“These are all areas that have many fine businesses, and many fine homes, and other structures,” Handy said. “But also interspersed in there are some that are older, dilapidated, maybe vacant, and maybe not suitable for what we want for our fine city.”
Handy invited Taylorsville residents and business owners to participate in redevelopment by becoming more involved in the municipal process. He suggested interested parties attend planning and budget hearings and meetings to share their opinions.
“We are wanting to move forward economically in our city,” Handy said. “We are trying to move forward through this economic storm. We want to prepare for a better city of Taylorsville and do it in a way that is economical and forward-thinking and join you, the private enterprise, in moving to the future of our great city and state.”
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