As former Kimball Art Center (KAC) board members and now independent community members, we respectfully write this letter in response to Jeremy Rubell’s Sept. 10 letter to the editor, “City prizes arts,” to correct the record.
Many people in Park City value art and our community’s arts nonprofits. In 2016, the mayor and City Council voted unanimously to purchase the 5-acre Bonanza parcel with the express purpose of building an Arts and Culture District, partnering with KAC and Sundance Institute.
To that end, the city hired consultants to conduct multiple studies of local arts assets and public opinion. These studies resulted in a plan for a multipurpose district to house and elevate many of the city’s arts assets, address housing and transit challenges, and create outdoor gathering spaces.
Importantly, the city understood that it could best ensure a district committed to the arts if it developed the parcel itself. Had the city moved forward with the district, it would have become a leader among Mountain West resort towns in its commitment to the arts.
To our continued dismay, the current Park City administration — including and most notably Councilor Rubell — squandered this opportunity. After the 2021 election, the City Council routinely stalled city commitments in the name of further study and ignored the vocal community’s calls to move forward. Designated as city liaison for the 5-acre Bonanza parcel, Councilor Rubell promised to “fix things in City Hall,” yet his actions often appeared to undermine progress toward a shared vision for the district.
We were present when he publicly questioned the value of KAC and the veracity of its representatives, and when the city imposed a series of financial requirements and burdens that made a new KAC building less and less feasible on the site.
For example, after KAC’s 50 years of service to this community, the city asked KAC to provide a written defense of why it should be considered a nonprofit supporting the public good — a previously unimaginable exercise.
We were surprised at the council’s mention that we would now need to provide an affordable-housing component, participate in parking expenses, pay undetermined HOA fees, and that we were not guaranteed to receive customary nonprofit breaks on the permit process.
When KAC was considering a land lease from the city, Councilor Rubell presented unsustainable terms at an unprecedented market rate.
Additionally, at the city’s request, KAC created a time-consuming and thoughtful multipage document to be included in the city’s request for proposal (RFP). Yet when we asked for a seat at the table during the developer selection process, the city denied us.
Ironically, the city treated KAC mostly as a burden and an afterthought rather than with the due consideration that the “anchor” of a project like this one should merit. These circumstances, many of which Councilor Rubell had a hand in generating, resulted in KAC’s pivot away from 84060.
Given KAC’s decision to build its new home in Kimball Junction, Councilor Rubell’s lack of support of our organization’s presence in the 5-acre Bonanza parcel is, unfortunately, a moot point.
However, we must not allow him to rewrite his history of obstruction of our cultural sector. Although KAC will no longer be an anchor of the Bonanza parcel, we still hope that the next City Council will revive a community-supported vision for that site: to create a vibrant, inclusive, live-work-play environment where nonprofits (such as the Arts Council), local artists, and incubator businesses can thrive.
This remains a rare opportunity for Park City to reaffirm its values and to lead by example, showing that investment in the arts is investment in community well-being.
Stefani Kimche
Co-Chair, Landmark Committee, 2023-25, Executive Committee, 2023-25, Board Member, 2016-25
Mell Gallahue
Co-Chair, Landmark Committee, 2023-25, Board Secretary, 2022–25, Board Member, 2019-25
Lisa Shine
Board Chair, 2021-23, Board Member, 2017-25
Annie Tucker
Board Chair, 2023-25, Board Member, 2020-25
Liesel Stevens
Co-Chair, Nominating & Governing Committee, 2023-25, Board Member, 2022-25
Maggie AbuHaidar
Board Chair, 2016-19; Board Member, 2014-23
Dan Lemaitre
Board Chair, 2019-21, Board Member, 2011-21
Jon Snavely
Executive Committee, 2015-19, Board Member, 2014-22
Matt Mullin
Board Chair, 2013-16, Board Member, 2007-19
Laurie Eastwood
Board Chair, 2008-2011, Chair, Landmark Committee, 2012-19, Board Member, 2007-19