“Our city has a financial challenge in front of us… as we are preparing to invest, and want the best outcome for, our (Hillside Plaza Town Centre), the development of the Gravel Pit, and the Old Mill area that the owner is ready to develop,” said newly-elected Cottonwood Heights Mayor Gay Lynn Bennion during the oath of office ceremony on Jan. 5. 

Demolishing the Old Mill structure, in its entirety, was requested on Jan. 9. The Old Mill, also known as the Cottonwood Paper Mill, Granite Paper Mill or Deseret News Paper Mill, sits on 0.86 acres at 6851 S. Big Cottonwood Canyon Road. (In 2024, a low-density housing development named Paper Mill Village was presented.) 

In 2024, Gilson Engineering provided a cost analysis estimating reconstruction of the Old Mill would cost over $45 million. One of the primary costs would be retrofitting a foundation as the structure was not originally constructed with a foundation. 

On Jan. 21, the Cottonwood Heights Planning Commission held a public hearing for the demolition per a request for a Conditional Use Permit from Doug Shelby, WDOM Properties LLC.

The Staff Report for that meeting read: “The applicant asserts that the structure is an attractive nuisance, an imminent danger to public safety, and is structurally unsalvageable due to extensive deterioration and failure to meet modern building codes. Several independent engineering reports support this assessment and conclude that rehabilitation is impractical and cost-prohibitive.”

Over 16 written public comments in opposition of demolition were submitted to the city between Jan. 13 and Jan. 16. 

“I urge you to support continued study, protection and meaningful reuse of the Cottonwood Paper Mill site. Your leadership and commitment to preserving our historic landmarks are vital in ensuring that we do not lose this irreplaceable piece of our heritage,” wrote Daniel Walters, a Cottonwood Heights resident. 

“The Old Mill is part of the Salt Lake Valley history. You can never put it back!” wrote Melinda White, Ph.D., LCSW, Brighton High graduate and lifetime Utah resident.

A petition to “Save the Historic Cottonwood Paper Mill from Demolition" has been started on www.change.org and had 1,624 verified signatures on Jan. 17. 

Recognizing the Old Mill’s cultural significance to the surrounding community, the request for demolition proposes several mitigation efforts including preserving elements of the Mill for the Hillside Plaza Town Centre (2378 Fort Union Blvd.), using blocks from the mill to create a historical marker and plaque, and creating a digital history. 

Before demolition can proceed, the council will need to review a request for a Certificate of Appropriateness. In addition, the Conditional Use application “must be pending before the Planning Commission for at least one year” (Jan. 21, 2027).