March 2026 | Vol. 36 Iss. 3
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Murray
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Keith Anderson
Country hitmaker coming to Murray March 27 Page 18
Special Section
Highlighting local influential women
Page 19
Mayor Hales highlights downtown growth, housing boom in State of the City By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com Hale’s speech focuses on development and increased housing.
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t this year’s State of the City address, Mayor Brett Hales delivered a wide-ranging message centered on growth, fiscal stewardship and longterm redevelopment, outlining how Murray is positioning itself for a busier, denser and more economically active future. Held in the Murray Theater on Jan. 27, the State of City speech was done with more theatrical flair than previous speeches, including free snacks and drink cups to those who attended. While the mayor opened with reflections on community compassion, the heart of his speech focused on development milestones and the financial strength supporting them. “Murray is growing and being guided with eyes for the future,” Hales said.
Business Growth at Record Levels
Hales highlighted strong economic indicators, beginning with business licensing numbers that point to sustained commercial confidence. “In 2025, we issued 3,856 business licenses, the highest total in recent years,” he said. “Six hundred and ninety of those were new. Business is showing continued confidence in Murray as a place to invest and grow.” He added that nearly 93% of surveyed businesses reported that Murray meets or exceeds expectations as a place to do business, with many planning expansions or relocations within city limits over the next two years.
Housing Expansion Accelerates
Residential development is also climbing. Hales reported that 817 housing unit permits were issued in 2025, marking a significant increase over the prior year. In addition, more than 300 new housing units were entitled through the planning process. “Housing is a top priority,” Hales said. The
new units include “townhomes, condos and multifamily housing,” aimed at providing options for a range of residents. To help current residents stay in their homes, the city invested $400,000 through NeighborWorks Salt Lake for down payment assistance and home improvement programs. “That has been a major blessing to our residents,” Hales said.
Downtown Zoning Shift and Land Acquisition
A key planning milestone came with Murray’s adoption of a form-based code for downtown — a zoning approach that emphasizes building design and walkability rather than just land use. “This allows us to focus on the design and layout of buildings rather than just land use,” Hales said, “helping make sure our future downtown is attractive, walkable and consistent with the community’s vision.” The city also made what Hales called a “strategic decision” to purchase three properties just east of the theater district along 100 East. The land will first serve as additional parking, with long-term redevelopment potential. “That will become parking and that’s what we needed for this theater,” he said, noting that the acquisitions were completed cooperatively with existing businesses.
The Murray Armory’s Early Financial Success
Another redevelopment success story is the former National Guard Armory, now a renovated community event center. “It opened in June of 2025, and it’s already hosted 104 total rentals,” Hales said. “Generating close to $200,000 with pending events.” The venue, which he described as “a beautiful and affordable community gathering place,” has quickly become a revenue-producing civic asset Continued on page 4
Mayor Brett Hales presented his State of the City speech in the Murray Theater. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)