Former Utah men’s prison now gone, The Point set to begin construction in 2024
Aug 30, 2023, 4:00 PM
DRAPER, Utah — The former Utah State Prison is almost completely reduced to rubble. Crews knocked down the final guard tower Wednesday morning, marking the end of what housed male inmates for decades.
Caleb Townes, senior project manager with Grant Mackay Demolition, told KSL NewsRadio all that’s left to take down is a slew of buildings that were once part of the women’s facility. He said they are working to have that demolished by Oct. 31.
Crews began demolishing the old prison in November 2022. As of Wednesday, Townes said they are 90% done.
All that will remain from the old prison is a chapel, currently standing alone among the field of dust and rubble. Officials said they plan to preserve the “Chapel by the Wayside,” which inmates built decades ago.
Inmates of the Utah State Correctional Facility now predominantly reside at the new facility off I-80 in far northwestern Salt Lake County.
One step closer to “The Point”
With the final guard tower knocked to the ground, developers overseeing what’ll become The Point rejoiced, knowing they were one step closer to beginning their massive project.
The Point will bring affordable housing, entertainment, shopping and dining to the site of the old prison on a level Utah hasn’t seen before, according to Alan Matheson, executive director of The Point of the Mountain State Land Authority.
“We want this to represent the best of Utah,” Matheson said. “A place that meets the needs of not just the people who live here, but also the people who visit.”
Matheson, along with Draper City Mayor Troy Walker, said this future development could be less reliant on cars. The area will be one where people could more lean on public transit, walking and biking.
The project also plans to connect the Jordan River and Porter Rockwell Trails.
Matheson said they hope to start putting in roads, as well as water and other utility lines as part of Phase One of the project. They hope people can start seeing buildings go up in 2025.
When it comes to how long it’ll take to complete the whole project, Matheson said it’ll likely take decades.
“It is going to be the best quality…the most innovative and the best forward-thinking opportunity we can conceive,” Walker said.
