Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[eastidaho]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Feds want Port O'Call shut down in early 2009

After years of unsuccessful negotiations to buy the Shubrick Building, the U.S. government on Tuesday sought to condemn the home of the popular Port O' Call social club to make room for a new federal courthouse.
Just compensation for the 29,122 square feet of land is estimated at $5,465,000, according to a condemnation suit filed in U.S. District Court. The Shubrick, at 60 to 78 W. 400 South, is just west of the present federal courthouse.
Melodie Rydalch, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said the legal action was filed because the government and property owners were too far apart on price. She said the compensation estimate is based on an independent appraisal done last year but could change with a new review.
As part of the legal process, the government has deposited a check for $5,465,000 with the federal court. In a typical case, appraisers on each side testify on what they consider to be just compensation for the property -- in this case, an approximately 50,000-square-foot building sitting on less than an acre of land -- and a jury decides what's fair.
Kent Knowley, owner of the Shubrick and Port O' Call, was out of the state on Tuesday and could not be reached for comment. His lawyer, Paxton Guymon, said the two sides are "very far apart" on price and still negotiating how long the club can operate at its present location.
The government wants Port O' Call to close in early 2009, Guymon said, while Knowley
would like to do business there for another nine months.
The Frank E. Moss Courthouse at 350 S. Main St. was deemed unsatisfactory by government officials in the 1990s primarily for security reasons -- the building lacks the ability to route prisoners, judges and the public down separate corridors.
The new building will sit west of the Moss Courthouse on land partially occupied now by the Shubrick, which was completed in 1912 and operated as a hotel and apartment building until the 1980s.

sltrib.com

I am confused. I thought the Shubrick was already moved to make way for the courthouse expansion? Also, I thought the Port of Call is located on the far west corner of that block. Is the courthouse really going to take that whole block?

I think that article was very poorly written. It talks about shutting down the Port of Call, but only speaks of the Shubrick being in the way of expansion. What am I missing?