"Airport Land Use: Land to buffer Salt Lake City airport"

Saturday, October 20, 2007

Land to buffer Salt Lake airport
352-acre purchase will also allow for growth 
By Natalie Hale
The Deseret (UT) Morning News


The Salt Lake City Department of Airports has completed a contract to
purchase more than 300 acres of land west of the Salt Lake City
International Airport for an estimated $30 million.

So why the purchase?

Officials say the land would act as a buffer zone to keep development at a
distance.

The 352.47 acres will cost the Department of Airports "in the neighborhood
of $30 million dollars" according to Barbara Gann, airport spokesperson.

Gann said that the sale price isn't final and could be changed pending
future evaluations of the land.

The addition of the extended property would help prevent other property
developments from getting too close to the airport, leaving it room to grow
in the future.

"It's a proactive measure to protect the airport from encroachment and leave
room for some expansion," Gunn said. "

Gunn said there are no current plans to expand the airport.

The property sellers - Skypark International LC and Mountain Enterprises LLC
- are owned by three brothers from Sanpete Coun- ty: Wendell, Gene and Evan
Jacobson.

The Jacobsons manage and own more than 8,000 apartment units in 12 states
across the United States.

The property was purchased by the Jacobsons over 10 years ago from Frank and
Nadine Gillmore. They had been in discussions with several other potential
buyers including The Rockefeller Group, a Baltimore-based real estate firm,
and a California developer before they began negotiating for the past
several months with the Department of Airports.
Representatives of the property sellers could not be reached for comment
Friday night.

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