If the sale goes through, Midvale is set to become a hub for county public services. With a vote of 7-1, the Salt Lake County Council approved the authorization of a contract to purchase Overstock’s building at 799 Coliseum Way. The council approved $55 million to acquire the “peace symbol” building that will move the county’s government center from its current location at 2001 S. State Street.

“Salt Lake County Government Center is approaching 40 years old,” said the Salt Lake County Council and Mayor Jenny Wilson in a joint statement. “Over the past two years, we have reviewed costs for much-needed maintenance and renovations, as well as conducted an assessment specific to the size and current use of the Government Center. At this time, the estimated cost for maintenance and renovations is at least $225 million.”

Built in 2016, the Overstock building has 250,000 square feet of five-star office space with nearby access to I-15 and the Bingham Junction TRAX station. The County will purchase the property using funds allocated for the maintenance and renovation of the government center. 

Midvale Mayor Marcus Stevenson received a phone call from Wilson soon after the decision was made, letting him know they were moving forward with the acquisition. He knew the building was on a list of potential properties for the new government center, but was surprised when he heard the news. 

“We’re excited about having it used in this way,” Stevenson said. “With these large office buildings, since the pandemic, it’s been harder to keep those at full capacity and we want those to be at full capacity, especially during the day, so that those employees can support the businesses in the area. We’re excited to ensure that the building will continue to be used.”

The sale is not a done deal, but county leaders hope to close on the facility by the end of 2024, or early 2025. Renovations to the property will take additional time so it could be 18 months before the county makes the move to Midvale.

That gives Midvale officials time to address some of the challenges presented with bringing that building back up to full capacity, including traffic issues. 

“Before the pandemic, when Overstock was at capacity, there were some traffic challenges that came up in that area, so we want to get ahead of that,” he said. “We’re working to meet with the county to get a better idea of what capacity they’ll be at there, and then, since they’re at least 18 months out, we can take that time to get ahead of any concerns that may come up.”

Stevenson said Midvale will reap big benefits from having the county government buildings located in the city. Residents will have easier access to county officials and it could help expedite the process of getting a new library and recreation center, which has been in the works for a while. Businesses in the area should also see an increase in customers once the Overstock building is at full capacity. 

“It’s definitely a good thing for our businesses to have that building at capacity, especially in the Bingham Junction area,” Stevenson said. “They’ll be supporting Midvale day in and day out as they’re here working.”

Options to offset the cost of the purchase are being considered by county leaders and could include selling or leasing the existing Salt Lake County Government Center. The public is invited to a presentation Tuesday, Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at the government center to learn more about the project and provide comments. λ