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SALT LAKE CITY (AP/KSL News) -- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is ready to unveil its redevelopment plans for two largely empty downtown malls in an effort prevent the area adjoining its headquarters from becoming blighted.
David Burton, who oversees the church's facilities, will publicly brief City Council members on the project Tuesday.
The church announced in 2003 it had purchased Crossroads Plaza and had plans for a massive redevelopment project, including both it and the ZCMI Center mall, office buildings, housing and educational sites. Few details have emerged since then.
But most city council members have already seen the plans in closed meetings.
"I like it a lot," councilwoman Nancy Saxton said of the new look. "I like just about everything about it. They really want to be able to present it to the public. I'm going to honor that and give them the ability to make the splash."
It is unknown if the church also will announce new retailers. Macy's and Nordstrom are expected to remain as anchors.
The last time Burton publicly briefed the council, in April, he said the design would include ways to break up downtown blocks with pedestrian corridors. It also included a sky bridge to link the two malls, which would require city council approval. The church also has said the malls would be closed Sunday but restaurants on the blocks would be allowed to seek liquor permits, even though church members are told not to drink alcohol.
Utah Woolen Mills president Bart Stringham puts on a brave face. "We're optomistic and excited for the future, he says.
But Stringham knows the toll the construction will take. "Five years for contstruction is huge! Of course we're concerned. That's a biggie."
Carolina Gomez and her husband run Firenze Art Gifts in the ZCMI Center. She says they're afraid for their business. "As soon as the people know what's going on, I think it's going to be better for everybody."
Tony Weller, owner of Sam Weller's Zion Bookstore, two blocks south of the mall, doesn't know what the church will announce, but he is glad for any news. He believes the mall project will spur other developments.
"We've been hoping for something to emerge for some time. As the biggest, single parcel at this stage of the city's development, many people are, I suppose, waiting to see what (the church) will do before they make decisions about what they will do. Of course it's good. We wish it could be unveiled and executed overnight," he said.
Hope Gallery worker Michael Edsburg says the message is "the sooner, the better."
"Crossroads is shut down pretty much," he said. "ZCMI's not far behind. The traffic has already dwindled down to pretty much nothing. Downtown needs it really badly."
Previous estimates have put the cost of the renovation project at $1 billion.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com
(Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
