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West Valley seeks to buy three former LDS buildings to expand community resource centers
Summary
Council heard a staff request to acquire three former church buildings (Whitehall, Hillsdale, Lighthouse) for My Hometown CRC expansion, with $50,000 earnest money per building, $2,000 monthly lease applied to purchase, and a 24‑month closing window; staff said acquisitions would expand CRC reach from ~48% to ~51% of households.
Craig Thomas, the city’s community engagement and culture director, told the City Council on Oct. 14 that West Valley City is negotiating to acquire three former Church of Jesus Christ of Latter‑day Saints buildings to expand its My Hometown community resource centers (CRCs). Thomas said the buildings are the Whitehall Building (3200 West; built ~1965), the Hillsdale Building and the Lighthouse Building; staff described historic significance, gymnasium space and one site with substantial acreage.
Under the agreement terms described to council, the city would place $50,000 earnest money per building, pay a $2,000 monthly lease for each building during the lease period with those payments applied to the purchase price, and aim to close within 24 months of signing. Thomas said the city would be responsible for building maintenance and decommissioning religious fixtures (steeple, baptistery, signage) before reuse.
Thomas and council discussed funding options: the city could use existing coffers, bonds or pursue grants and donations; staff also noted the nonprofit CityStrong and My Hometown fundraising efforts are ramping up and had raised roughly $60,000 recently. Council members asked about negotiating purchase prices, maintenance-cost estimates (staff said a facilities analysis would follow), volunteer staffing to expand CRC operating days to seven days a week, and the option to lease for a runway before final purchase to avoid immediate capital outlay.
Thomas said current CRC programming reaches about 48% of West Valley households and expansion into newly covered areas could raise that figure to roughly 51% in the next year. He said CRCs run extensive volunteer programs (about 236 volunteers reported) and provide classes such as English and sewing, but city staff would assess operational and maintenance costs before final purchase decisions.
