Residents will gather Thursday night to discuss plans to build a new building at the Missionary Training Center in Provo beginning later this year.
The new building, sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, will replace the Melvin J. Ballard Building that currently houses the MTC Bookstore, the MTC mail room, the Training Resource Center and some large meeting rooms. MTC representatives will speak at an information meeting starting at 6 p.m. at the Rock Canyon Elementary gymnasium, 2405 N. 650 East. Evans said those attending should 'enter in the west door from the lower parking lot off of 2320 North on the west side of the school.'
These facilities will be moved to the new building and several new classrooms will be added with modern technology as resources to missionaries, according to a press release from the Church.
'The proposed nine story building will have a height equal to the BYU Kimball Tower building -- 160 feet high,' R. Paul Evans, Chairman of the Provo City Pleasant View Neighborhood, said in an email. 'The tallest structure at the MTC currently is five-stories high.'
Evans gave examples of other structures in the area for height comparison, such as the statue of the angel Moroni on the LDS Provo temple, which stands at 200 feet tall, and the BYU LaVell Edwards Stadium elevator towers (now painted blue), which stand at 144 feet.
Demolition of the old building is scheduled in the beginning of 2012 and the Church anticipates the new building will be complete by fall 2013.
The MTC Bookstore and mail room will be moved to the east wing of the Jacob Hamblin building during construction.
The Church does not anticipate the new building will have any adverse impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
This is the only meeting proposed for the project. Evans encouraged any community members who wish to participate to attend the meeting Thursday.