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Richard Piatt ReportingSignificant changes are in the works to bring more people downtown, including significant upgrades to both main street malls and more.
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints unveiled a plan to create a mix of attractions downtown. Retail, business and residential attractions will each receive a significant boost if the Church vision goes as planned.
This could be one of the most significant and sweeping plans for downtown in years. The Church plans to plunk down hundreds of millions of dollars, renewing its commitment to help 'heal' Salt Lake City.
H. David Burton, Presiding Bishop: "We are irrevocably committed to the economic future of Salt Lake City, Utah."
It was good news for a room packed full of stakeholders in the future of downtown. But it is also a lot at once: a plan to re-do all but a shell of the Crossroads Mall; to re-vamp the ZCMI mall, and to demolish and then re-build significant portions of the block where Crossroads is.
The view of the plans, looking from the north with State Street and South Temple in the foreground, shows a refurbished Zion's Bank Headquarters---a project already in the works. But it also shows new structures designed to bring housing opportunities to downtown--a key part of the plan. It also shows the vision for the malls with a large skylight in the roof that runs the length of the interior in both malls.
The view looking northeast from a West Temple and 100 South vantage point also shows the skylight plan for the Crossroads property. Housing again will be new construction at 100 South and Main, and at West Temple and South Temple.
The Inn At Temple Square would be demolished. New retail opportunities will exist in the middle of the West Temple block. That new retail will replace a parking structure widely seen as 'unfriendly' and obsolete. Underground parking would replace it.
Likewise, the 60-foot high walls that make up the outside of the Mall would be taken down, again to create an 'inviting' atmosphere to visitors downtown and on Temple Square.
Inside, the mall's skylight would bring natural light and a view into the shopping experience. These elements are viewed as crucial by mall developers.
Ron Pastore, AEW Capitol Management: "The opening is wide; the opening is inviting; the opening has light and glass. It says there's something in here you want to see; it's not dark."
The Church plans on spending hundreds of millions of dollars on these plans, none taken from tithing dollars. No target completion date has been set, but planning for the projects will begin immediately.
Nordstrom responded to the plans calling it an exciting, dynamic project. But the retailer says it does nothing to change its plans to move to the Gateway.
