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Richard Piatt Reporting"You can come down here, you see these smaller businesses that are trying to make it. It's kind of a homey atmosphere."
But is that homey atmosphere in Sugar House in danger? At least one developer has plans to update the core of Salt Lake City's Sugar House neighborhood. And people are worried those changes could spell the end of the eclectic shops near 11th East and 21st South.
We want to point out that there are no specific proposals out there, yet. But a recent rezoning of the area opened the door to a possible transformation of this block. Here's evidence something is going to happen around here: an engineering company taking measurements.
The owner of the building, Craig Meacham, didn't answer his phone today, and isn't talking to anyone else we contacted, but for the owner of Orion's Music---and lots of other people-- there's plenty of anxiety about what redevelopment might mean.
Andy Fletcher, Orion's Music: "They're going to build another kind of cookie cutter building, and there will be national businesses that you can find on every corner in every city. And we'll lose that unique part of Salt Lake."
The block along 11th East, and around the corner to Granite Furniture has been the subject of speculation ever since the city council approved new zoning for the area. Almost everyone expects at least some new buildings in there; most likely a mix of retail, offices and residences, up to seven stories tall.
Right now there are art galleries, antique stores, a one-room hair salon, among other businesses that might end up leaving permanently.
Soren Simonsen, Salt Lake City Council: "Redevelopment of this block, the Granite Furniture block in particular, will price existing merchants out of the market because of higher rents."
But the owners of Granite defend any future changes to these older, sometimes outdated buildings.
Roger Richards, Granite Furniture: "I think everybody has the sincere desire to make this a special place."
But with a development with practically no local retailers nearby, shoppers on this corner of Salt Lake City are worried.
"That's the thing about Sugar House, is that it feels new. It feels like a place you can come home to."
"They have that feeling with their clients, their customers. They know where they're coming from, they live here."
