But David Petersen, Community Development Director for Farmington, said Tuesday there remain many unanswered questions about the project, and until those questions are answered by those representing the other side of the project — UGL Equis Corporation in New York City – the project is on hold.
“We need more information from Equis before we put this to a vote before the city council,” Petersen said. “We have sent a letter to their headquarters in New York and we are now in a wait and see pattern.”
The letter sent by Farmington Mayor Scott Habertson says that the city is excited about the prospect of housing a call center for Equis, but as Petersen stated, further information from the company is definitely needed before any decision can be made on the part of Farmington and its city council.
The location of the proposed call center is at the site of the former Kmart at Shepard Lane and U.S. 89. After Kmart left, the building became occupied by Bukoos, a members-only discount retail business. But after Bukoos’ business went south in the struggling economy and closed its doors, the building remained vacant.
And while the project being proposed by Equis is intriguing, Petersen remains hopeful a store will take over the spot.
“The best situation would be a retail business,” Petersen said. “That is due to the fact that a retail business will bring in money for the city in the form of sales tax. The increase of revenue for the city would be nice.”
“The idea of getting a business in there that brings in some tax revenue at that location may not be a reality, though, but it would be best.
“Even though a retail business would be ideal,” he said, “an occupied building is definitely better than an unoccupied building.”
But the future is unclear.
“We’re now waiting for the next move from them. We still need to find out how interested Eqis is in our location,” Petersen said. “That was made clear in the letter the mayor sent to them in New York.”
ssculte@davisclipper.com
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