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Draper Journal

The Point hosts groundbreaking for Porter Rockwell Boulevard to start Phase One infrastructure

Jan 31, 2025 12:27PM ● By Mimi Darley Dutton

“This pivotal milestone symbolizes the start of a new era as Utah’s Innovation Community rises from the ground,” said a statement from The Point. With the old prison gone and development partners in place, construction of infrastructure began in December. (Mimi Darley Dutton/City Journals)

For a project touted to be unequaled in the nation and world, the standard groundbreaking with shovel-wielding politicians just wouldn’t do. Instead, The Point put dignitaries in the driver seats of several large excavators and had them ceremoniously scoop dirt from the landscape where the prison once stood. The Dec. 17 event kicked off the construction of infrastructure for The Point, including the extension of Porter Rockwell Boulevard which will be central to the site and its main connection to the rest of the region for people and supplies.

“We kickstart development of a site that is owned by all Utahns,” Utah Governor Spencer Cox said. “This is really unique all over the world. It’s the epicenter of the fastest growing part of the fastest growing state in the country. We understand how important infrastructure is and infrastructure supports good development.” 

The event was a veritable who’s who in Utah with the governor, legislators, mayors, school district officials, construction leaders, media and others gathered in the middle of a dusty construction site. Two years prior, the public was invited to watch the first prison guard tower come toppling down on a frigid winter day, an event that happened safely but took much longer than planned. 

“It took so long to tear that tower down, the media left. I feared that would be symbolic of this entire process,” Draper Mayor Troy Walker said. But by August 2023, the prison had been demolished and the final tower came crashing down successfully. 

According to Cox, who previously served as co-chair of the Point of the Mountain State Land Authority (Land Authority), progress has been swift beyond that first tower toppling hiccup. “I advised that we’d rather be right than fast on this project. This board has actually done both, they’ve gotten it right and in record time,” he said.

Another thing that sets development of The Point apart from most projects, according to Executive Director Mike Ambre, is how they’re going about building the infrastructure.

“This is unlike usual developments that start on the edge. Instead, we are starting at the center, accelerating the success of this project,” he said. The Point is promised to be a place of open spaces, parks, trails and trail connections, housing, retail and restaurants, entertainment, public transit, jobs and innovation stemming from universities and entrepreneurs working together. Of the thousands of new housing units planned for the site, the state promises some will be “affordable” to help alleviate the housing crisis. 

State representative and Land Authority co-chair Jordan Teuscher explained why he thinks there is national awareness of what’s happening economically in Utah. 

“This is not just another development….Utah is already the innovation capital of the U.S. There is nothing like it in the country,” Teuscher said. 

Senate President Stuart Adams credited Silicon Slopes for helping make Utah’s economy strong. “The Wall Street Journal says we have the top job market”, he said. But Adams’ eye is on the AI prize. “I believe within me that the country who controls AI will control the world…I believe we are in an arms race, an AI arms race, and this will help us solve our future cause of it”, Adams said.  

House Speaker Mike Schultz said Utah has been ranked the best economy in the country for the last 17 years in a row. Schultz added The Point will help continue and even improve on that while also solving the state’s most complicated challenges and providing dividends for generations to come. “We believe in limited government and how to get government out of the way so businesses can drive and Utah can thrive,” he said. 

The Point’s officials are quick to point out the project belongs to the people of Utah and they promise a strong return on investment. With the old prison gone, all the metal removed and the concrete from that decades old building recycled for use at the site in new roads and foundations, it’s now a blank slate of more than 600 acres of state-owned land to which the legislature has loaned $165 million for infrastructure. That legislative investment will be coupled with billions of private-sector investment dollars The Point’s development partners are projected to bring in for what has been nicknamed “Utah’s Innovation Community.” 

“Utah taxpayers will stand to benefit from a more than doubling of a return on investment. The loan will be paid back with interest from revenue generated by future leases as development progresses,” said The Point’s press release. The Point Partners (TPP) were previously chosen to lead development of Phase 1. TPP includes international Lincoln Property Company working with Colmena Group and Wadsworth Development Group, both Utah companies.

Because the state-owned land for The Point falls within Draper City limits, Walker said the development not only requires various state and local governments working together, but also consensus among Draper’s city council. “They’ve helped carry the vision too. As a city, we’re working closely with The Point to bring this to fruition. We’ve spent a lot of time, we’ve argued, we’ve still got a lot to do, but we’re moving forward in a positive way. I think it is great for our future, not just for my community…we’re going to be the epicenter of something…that’s going to make a difference,” Walker said.

According to Assistant City Manager Kellie Challburg, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was developed between Draper City and The Point in December. The MOU clarifies the city will be part of the discussions and planning of infrastructure components to address such things as deviations between The Point’s design and the city’s design standards. Compensation details must also be hammered out because the city is expected to eventually service The Point with police, fire and sanitation. Draper City and The Point have yet to reach a final agreement and no financial obligations have been decided.

“It’s not easy when you have local government, county government and state government working together and they’ve done it because this project is worth doing,” Cox said.  λ