Olympic icon is stored like scrap at Salt Lake City impound lot

Call it the Hoberman Heap.

The once awe-inspiring centerpiece of the 2002 Winter Games Medals Plaza, the Hoberman Arch, now sits in several dozen pieces at Salt Lake City's impound lot, like so much junk.

What will become of it? No one seems to know.

The University of Utah returned the Hoberman Arch to Salt Lake City last August to increase "flexibility" at Rice-Eccles Stadium, where it had been planted since 2003. The U.'s contract with Olympic organizers to keep the arch expired in 2009, said spokeswoman Maria O'Mara.

At the time, city officials said they were surprised by the sudden move, but promised to find a suitable home for the arch. It cost the city $116,000 to tear it apart and move it to the impound lot at 2150 W. 500 South.

On Wednesday, O'Mara said the move wasn't sudden at all — despite comments from city officials. The U. had corresponded with the administration of Mayor Ralph Becker concerning the move beginning in April, she said.

Six months later, however, city officials seem a long way from identifying a permanent location for it.

Upon hearing this week about the present state of his creation, a somewhat-stunned Chuck Hoberman sighed, "Oh that's too bad."

In a telephone interview from his New York City office, Hoberman said the arch seemed to be a part of Salt Lake City and he had hoped it would be a continuing Olympic legacy.

"It brought a warm feeling to the community," he said. "I hope we can find a home for it."

When assembled, the phenomenal 31,000-pound aluminum web is 36 feet high and 72 feet wide. It opens and closes like the iris of an eye.

Former Mayor Rocky Anderson, who presided over the Olympics as Salt Lake City's chief executive, found the update on the arch "depressing."

"It's truly beyond belief that such a unique symbol of the Salt Lake Winter Games could be torn apart with the pieces lying in the city impound lot with no plan for what to do with it."

Anderson wanted the arch to be moved to Pioneer Park after the Games to be complemented with amenities such as an "Olympic garden" and ice rink.

But the City Council in 2002 wanted the arch moved to Gallivan Plaza on Main Street. That plan was nixed by International Olympic Committee rules, which wouldn't allow non-Olympic sponsors anywhere near the arch. Gallivan Plaza counts on such sponsors for various activities there.

In a last-ditch effort, the Salt Lake (Olympic) Organizing Committee — which had offered Salt Lake City $8 million toward an Olympic Park that included the arch — moved Hoberman's icon to the U. That location, on the south end of Rice-Eccles, however, prevented the arch from opening.

"Putting it at the university was a tragedy," Anderson said.

Former City Councilman Eric Jergensen, who originally favored the Gallivan Plaza location, said the arch should be reconstructed close to downtown. That leaves few possibilities, but could include Pioneer Park or Warm Springs Park, 840 N. Beck St. (300 West), he said.

Relocating the icon is a challenge, Jergensen explained, citing location issues, budgetary demands and IOC sponsorship rules.

"But it's something the city should do," he said. "The discussion should continue and there are those [outside City Hall] who would be happy to participate in that discussion."

Becker's spokesman Art Raymond said finding a place for the Hoberman Arch is a challenge because, among other things, it must be easily seen by residents and tourists, but also must be secure from vandalism.

"There is hope for a permanent location for this Olympic icon," he said.

"And we hope there is money found to maintain it," added Raymond, referring to the City Council that holds the city's purse strings.

In February, City Council Chairman Charlie Luke said the city should establish an Olympic park.

"We have neglected that legacy," he said at the time. "It's an embarrassment."

But this week, he said the council had not seen a proposal for the arch from the administration and had not scheduled the topic on its agenda.

csmart@sltrib.com