Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Comrade]

To further the discussion on mixed-income development - specifically on 600 West. Another problem we're facing is the lack of mixed-use development. There isn't much in that area - especially centered around walkable neighborhoods. Now, you could make the case that it'll come with the completion of the North Temple TRAX line - but it's also important to remember that light-rail alone doesn't necessarily spur development (400 S today is still limited in its walkability, even a decade after the creation of the line).

Moreover, the projects being proposed, unfortunately, have an inward construction (Citifront, Bridges) and fail to interact with the the street at all. That's one thing housing has on apartments - homes inherently open up to the street, while apartments do not.

Hopefully this new project will do that and not mirror Citifront, which, at the end of the day, is a typical suburban apartment complex just outside the heart of the city.

But right now, the additional residents don't mean a lick if it doesn't bring about retail options that make this area a true neighborhood. Sadly, North Temple isn't exactly walkable and it's not just because of the seediness of the street - it's a massive stretch and a fairly large avenue. It's more State Street and less Main, if you know what I mean.