A small group of Park City and Summit County leaders traveled to Southern California this week, spending much of Wednesday and into the early morning hours of Thursday learning about a film studio that might locate a facility at Quinn’s Junction.
Mayor Dana Williams, one of the officials who traveled with the group, said in an interview after returning he was impressed with what studio executives showed off. He acknowledged, though, the idea of opening a movie studio in the Park City area might not jibe with the area’s standing as a mountain resort.
Williams led a Park City contingent that also included City Councilman Alex Butwinski, City Manager Tom Bakaly and Diane Foster, who handles City Hall’s environmental programs. The County Courthouse sent Summit County Councilman Chris Robinson and County Manager Bob Jasper.
The trip was the first time there had been direct talks with Raleigh Studios, the film company that might open a studio in a development under consideration on the southwest corner of Quinn’s Junction.
“What was accomplished was getting to know who the players are,” the mayor said.
He said meetings and visits to Raleigh Studios-associated sites lasted from late in the morning on Wednesday until 2 a.m. on Thursday. He said the Raleigh Studios side told the group between 15,000 and 30,000 square feet of movie studios is desired at the Quinn’s Junction site. The studio also wants space available for use by a prop company and a lighting company, according to Williams.
“Does that fit in what has traditionally been a resort-city model? It is different,” Williams said.
He said the Raleigh Studios side indicated it had not finalized details for a project in the Park City area. The hosts said they were interested in attracting lots of summertime business to the site in Park City, Williams said, an assertion that fits with Park City’s wish to further develop the offseason economy.
The Quinn’s Junction land under consideration is just outside the Park City limits in unincorporated Summit County, prompting the interest by City Hall. Park City leaders closely watch development along the S.R. 248 entryway regardless of whether a project is within the city limits. Summit County describes the development idea at Quinn’s Junction as entailing 325,000 square feet, including the studios space, retail space, lodging and a film school.
Meanwhile, the mayor also visited a hotel in trendy West Hollywood that has ties to Raleigh Studios. He said the Sunset Marquis hotel is “spectacular” and spoke about a recording studio at the Sunset Marquis. Williams said Raleigh Studios intends to open a hotel in the Park City project as well. The general manager of the Sunset Marquis discussed putting a recording studio in a Park City hotel if one is built, Williams said.
“Needless to say, these guys are very good at what they do,” the mayor said about the people who the Park City group met on the trip.
Butwinski, in comments made at a Thursday City Council meeting, said the people on the trip were told the project as envisioned would become an entertainment venue as well as a working studio. He said Raleigh Studios would not want a failed project in Park City.
Robinson said in an interview Raleigh Studios presented itself as “professional, capable.”
“As film studios go, they’re probably very, very good,” Robinson said.
Robinson, though, said there are continuing concerns about the size of a Park City-area project.
“We haven’t been able to swallow the density,” Robinson said. “On this piece of property, as proposed, it’s too big.”