Wasatch County is close to letting Talisker employees move into a company-owned condominium building at Black Rock Ridge near Stock Building Supply.
The property was purchased in 2009 to satisfy an agreement made with Park City to build more worker housing. But it was Wasatch County that would grant the certificate of occupancy needed before anyone could move in.
Wasatch County Manager said his office, Park City and Talisker are very close to reaching a deal whereby the license will be granted.
What has been happening in the year and a half since the issue was raised? Talisker has been finishing their portion of the development.
“There were some issues with unfinished infrastructure. It appears that is now finished roads, sidewalks, curbs and gutters,” Davis explained. “The problem they got caught in is they just bought the condo, not the development. But the development was incomplete.”
Wasatch County wanted to see that first phase of the development completed before they allowed occupancy. Although the land is bank-owned, the bank did not have an interest in improving its property, he said.
“We just wanted it done. If they wanted to get occupancy, they needed to get it complete. It was not really their obligation, but the bank wasn’t going to do it. They were stuck in the middle,” Davis said.
With the exterior of the condominium building complete and some landscaping put in, both Davis and Talisker’s Chief Marketing Officer Linda Warren predict an agreement to permit occupancy is close.
The work Talisker has done may also help the bank sell the development, Davis added. An engineer has been calling his office to obtain details on what still needs to be done because the bank has a potential buyer. He isn’t privy to those details, but he said it’s possible the rest of phase one may be completed under a new firm.
The other complete portion of Black Rock Ridge is 16 town homes across Brown’s Canyon Road from the condominium building. Talisker purchased the 10 unsold units and is actively selling them at market rate, said homeowner association president Don Martin.
Back in 2009, some members of the association were upset their development might become home to workforce housing. Martin said Talisker and the association are both moving forward from a difficult situation.
When the original developers, Iroquois Partners, walked away, they left an unfinished project. Talisker and the association are working together to finish it, he said. Prior to Talisker joining the homeowner association, it was a “significant stretch” to maintain the neighborhood’s infrastructure.
“From the homeowner association’s point of view, Talisker has been very good to deal with. They pay their dues. One of their vice presidents is on the board; he comes to meetings and participates. Last year when we were struggling with landscaping they came out and did it and made it look very nice. They’ve been very good corporate citizens on the town home side,” Martin said.
Most importantly, a critical mass of people has bought into the project to begin developing a sense of community, he added.
Warren said Talisker wants Black Rock Ridge to be successful even if it isn’t the master developer. So far, it has a positive working relationship with both Wasatch County and the neighbors.
When the physical improvements are all complete later this summer, Talisker will request the certificate of occupancy. Most residents will be company employees, but units will also be made available to others, she said.
The next big thing to happen in the neighborhood is a park, Davis said.
The county has begun calling the bonds on the developments around Jordanelle Reservoir. With one of those bonds, the county will create a park across S.R. 248 and near Stock Building Supply.
As other bonds are called, work on remaining developments will progress as well, he said.
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