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SALT LAKE CITY -- Possible locations for a new public safety building in downtown Salt Lake City has positives and negatives associated with each spot, but the one site that has caused the most controversy: Library Square, right next to the downtown library. Everyone agrees a new public safety building is needed. The controversy comes on deciding where it should go.
For a beautiful Saturday morning outside, there sure were a lot of adults inside playing with Lego pieces.
Salt Lake resident Ashley Anderson said, "Our city has quite a few options."
Anderson was one of those at the Salt Lake Library moving pieces around, but he wasn't building an airplane. He was helping to figure out what's best for downtown's future when it comes to where to put a new public safety building. He said, "Open spaces in an urban environment are really important and, with the future growth of the city, it's important we think ahead and preserve as much open space as we can get."
Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker and Salt Lake Police Chief Chris Burbank were part of this workshop. Their goal was to listen to residents and try to figure out where the best spot would be.
Already, the Library Square location has been controversial. Salt Lake City resident Kathy Lilly said, "I love Library Square, and I think it should be preserved. I don't think a law enforcement complex is appropriate here."
A lot of people against having the public safety building in Library Square say they're pretty sure Mayor Becker and other city leaders have already made up their mind about putting it here, but when we asked Mayor Becker that, he said that's just not the case.
Becker said, "I'm looking forward to seeing the comments, reviewing it and deciding how to go forward."
And as far as a police station interfering with the peaceful feeling of Library Square, Police Chief Burbank said, "One of the things I find hard to swallow, I guess you could say, is this oppressive nature of the police department because I'll tell you what, we have fought really hard to get out of that." Which is why city leaders say this workshop is important, they want residents voicing their opinions and concerns.
Becker said, "It's a critical part of the whole process, for me at least, in making a decision."
Another public meeting will be held Monday at 7 p.m. at the police department's Pioneer Precinct on 1040 W. 700 South.
Then, it will be discussed during a City Council meeting next month. From there, Mayor Becker hopes to narrow down where a future building will go.
E-mail: acabrero@ksl.com
