May 2025 | Vol. 35 Iss. 5
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Murray
Townhomes approved See 4800 South and Van Winkle will see 64 townhomes built Page 6 Inside...
Mentorship program
Parkside Elementary’s new approach to neurodivergent learners Page 18
Murray’s downtown decision finally arrives By Shaun Delliskave | s.delliskave@mycityjournals.com Murray and developer commit $70M to Block One.
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n a closely watched and at times contentious meeting April 1, the Murray City Redevelopment Agency (RDA) voted to approve a development agreement with Rockworth Companies for the long-debated redevelopment of a portion of the city’s downtown known as Block One. The vote passed 4-1, with Board Member Pam Cotter casting the lone dissenting vote. The agreement outlines plans for a mixed-use development at the southwest corner of 4800 South and State Street. The project, spearheaded by Rockworth Companies, will bring 150 residential units, approximately 50,000 square feet of commercial and office space, and three new buildings to the heart of Murray’s downtown. The development includes a combination of retail storefronts, restaurants and public green space, all centered around a new public plaza. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, following completion of feasibility studies and finalization of ancillary agreements. Murray City’s RDA focuses on revitalizing underutilized or blighted areas to promote economic development, community improvement and urban renewal. Governed by the Murray City Council, Mayor, and city planning director, which serves as its board of directors, it has authority over the city’s redevelopment project areas. Public comments during the meeting revealed a community divided, with some residents voicing deep concern over transparency and the scale of residential components, while
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Rendering looking northwest at Murray’s projected new development for downtown. (Photo courtesy of Murray City)
others applauded the city’s efforts to rejuvenate a long-neglected part of town. One resident, Janice Strobell, questioned the city’s financial clarity and past promises regarding public property. “Are we willing to demolish a three-story classic revival building—the Harker—and replace it with only a two-story building that is just trying to look
historic?” she asked. “At the Edlen (public consensus group) open house when Brett Hales was a city council member, he directly told me that no way was the city going to give away prime downtown property to a developer…. What has changed?” Strobell and others pressed for details on the absence of purchase prices for city-owned
property and raised concerns about the cost of relocating underground gas lines and building subterranean parking. “The west side of State Street, our historic downtown, is an embarrassment. The only purpose it serves is to notify people that are traveling south on State Street that they have entered Murray City because it looks like hell,” Former City Councilman and Community and Economic Development Director Phil Markham said. “Contrary to being a secret deal, there has been more discussion, more information gathering on this project than I think almost any project the city has undertaken.” The city and RDA are contributing a combination of land and financial resources to make the project viable. The RDA will provide 2.34 acres of land, recently appraised at $3.69 million, and commit $3 million toward the underground parking structure, which will also include 32 dedicated stalls for city use. An additional $1.5 million has been earmarked—but not guaranteed—for gas line relocation, contingent upon whether utility company Enbridge chooses to conduct the work themselves. Rockworth Companies, for their part, Continued page 5