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John Daley ReportingAdvocates of architectural preservation are urging planners of Salt Lake's big redevelopment project to reconsider the demolition of one building. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints unveiled its plans yesterday and that one old landmark has a rich history.
The plans released yesterday seem to be winning broad praise, overall. But some wonder if there still isn't some way to save a building that they call an irreplaceable "grand madam of Main Street", the Deseret Building, formerly known as the First Security Bank building.
In the plan for the new City Creek Center, there'll be an impressive array of new buildings going up and others will be coming down,some without a tear being shed.
Brenda Scheer, Dean, College of Architecture, Uni. of Utah: "No one is going to cry when the Crossroads Mall gets torn down."
Not so for the building located on the northeast corner of 100 South and Main. Brenda Scheer, dean of the U of U.'s architecture school, shows all the fine points of the Deseret Building -- the detailed metal work, the distinctive columns.
A bank has stood there since 1875, then the Deseret Building went up in 1919 and has seen some serious history, documenting the transition from rail to automobile, from silent movies to talkies. Scheer says for its historic, cultural and architectural significance, it should be saved.
Brenda Scheer, Dean, College of Architecture, Uni. of Utah: "If these things were easy, no one would have any problem doing it."
The big trouble is seismic, it's not at all ready to withstand an earthquake and retrofitting it would be super-expensive. The head of the Salt Lake Chamber says despite losing the Deseret, the project overall will spur the preservation of other historic downtown buildings.
Lane Beattie, President, SL Chamber of Commerce: "But think about what it's going to save. What about the buildings on the outskirts of that, that now have a reason for staying?"
Others, like architect and City Council member Soren Simonsen, say solutions are possible and Salt Lake needs to start saving its old gems before they're mostly gone.
Soren Simonsen, City Council Member: "Let's find a way to make it work and keep it as part of our downtown. It's a very important part of our history. I think it can be a very significant part of our future."
Brenda Scheer, Dean, College of Architecture, Uni. of Utah: "It's just this one building we're tearing down, and then another and another and another."
Barring any change of plan, demolition of part of the site will begin at the start of next month, starting on the northwest portion of the redevelopment area, then progressively moving west to east. Excavation and site preparation will take about a year.
