Falcon Hill -- it's official
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By BRYON SAXTON
Standard-Examiner Davis Bureau
bsaxton@standard.net
HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- The Air Force signed on the dotted line Wednesday, officially creating Falcon Hill, a $1.5 billion public-private venture.
Before a few hundred people at the Hill Aerospace Museum, officials associated with the aerospace research park project gathered to share the announcement.
The Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Installations, Kathleen Ferguson, signed the Enhanced Use Lease contract in Washington, D.C.
The project will compensate the base with up to 1.6 million square feet of free office space to use for Air Force projects in exchange for use of its land.
The total project could create up to 15,000 jobs and 8 million square feet of office space, officials say.
Falcon Hill takes in 550 acres along the base's west side and is aimed at bringing more family-sustaining jobs to Northern Utah. It will also enhance the long-term viability of the base by replacing some of its aging infrastructure.
Those speaking of the project refer to it as "historic," "momentous" and a dream come true. Plans are to break ground in mid-October, with the first phase to be complete by 2010.
"Falcon Hill has finally gone from a dream to a reality," Maj. Gen. Kathleen Close, commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center, told the crowd.
The agreement between the state of Utah, the base and Sunset Ridge Development Partners, LLC, is historic, she said.
The project, which has been in the making for five years, is the largest EUL in the history of the Air Force and brings with it high-tech jobs, including supporting restaurants and hotels, said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
"Falcon Hill is not only the base's future, but also represents Northern Utah's future," he said.
Lt. Gov. Gary Herbert said it is clear this public-private venture is a "win-win" for both groups.
"It has certainly come together nicely," said state Sen. Sheldon Killpack, R-Syracuse.
Helping put the project together, Killpack said, at times was like riding an "emotional roller coaster."
Now that the project has been given approval, he envisions it as being an enhancement to the community, state and the long-term viability of the base.
State Rep. Brad Dee, R-Washington Terrace, said there were initially naysayers who believed it would be difficult to get the cooperation of the Air Force, so "we are witnessing a historical event today."
Utah Defense Alliance President Jerry Stevenson is vice-chairman of the Military Installation Development Authority, which oversees$25 million in state funds being invested in the project.
He said one area where the project could have fallen apart was gaining the support and cooperation of the elected leaders of the four cities in whose borders the project will be developed.
He complimented the mayors of Clearfield, Sunset, Riverdale and Roy for their work with MIDA. "I think we're in for a good ride on this."
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