Downtown Rising: Vision of future S.L. is unveiled
By Jenifer K. Nii
Deseret Morning News
Six community districts, eight "signature projects" and one big vision.
Mike Terry, Deseret Morning News/KSL-TV Chopper 5
Crossroads Plaza, which stands on the corner of West and South Temples, is in the process of being leveled.
The Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance unveiled their vision for Utah's capital city Tuesday, a blueprint connecting mountains and metropolis, communities and cultures, residents and guests.
"This is one of the most exciting endeavors I've been involved with in my life," said Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie. "What is Salt Lake City going to be in the next 30 to 40 years? What could it be?"
The Downtown Rising plan, finalized nearly a year after its kickoff in May 2006, and after considering thousands of public comments and interviews, seeks to answer those questions.
However, Beattie said, it is not a mandate. It isn't a bossy document, dictating changes the city should make, who should make them or when. Rather, Beattie said, Downtown Rising is a "big picture" vision of what the city might become.
"This is a living plan. That's why it's not a planning document," Beattie told the Deseret Morning News editorial board Monday. "It's living. It's a vision. It's something that's going to help drive some synergies and yet it very clearly articulates what our capital city ought to be to our state."
The plan was presented to the Salt Lake County and city councils Tuesday. A public event, including Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and community and business leaders, was scheduled for this morning at the Gallivan Center.
Salt Lake County Councilman Jeff Allen said he liked what he heard.
"I think it's very forward thinking, thinking about the next generation, to be honest," Allen said at the council's meeting Tuesday. "And it allows a lot of flexibility."
The plan includes the designation of six "character" districts, eight priority projects and suggestions for transportation, building and development.
Image By Paul Brown
Drawing depicts the Skyline District, a cosmopolitan area featuring tall buildings.
Each of the six districts proposed in the plan encompasses a general geographic area and has a certain "feel." The Broadway District, for example, finds its center around 300 South and is identified by its focus on the arts, entertainment and hospitality, while the Temple Square District is quieter and more contemplative and centers around The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Salt Lake Temple, office complex and educational facilities.
The chamber's vice president of policy, Natalie Gochnour, quickly added that the boundaries of the districts aren't rigidly defined. Nor are the boundaries of downtown Salt Lake City, for the purposes of Downtown Rising. The plan includes, and emphasizes the benefits of, the University of Utah, for example.
And, Gochnour said, while all of the districts will be open to all uses, the hope of Downtown Rising is that businesses will make decisions to locate or grow their businesses in the various districts according to those districts' personalities.
"This was not easy to do, to get people to agree on these main, general areas," Gochnour said. "But we think it's a great way to brand and build our city, market our city and guide future investment to our city. And we think we can accelerate that investment by being purposeful about the thinking."
Downtown Rising also calls for a coordinated transportation plan — from adding new TRAX routes and commuter rail, to remaking the city's main entry points so that they're more inviting, to landscaping city streets to promote walkability.
The plan also outlines eight signature projects Gochnour said will facilitate a "look and feel" of which Salt Lake City, and Utah, can be proud. The projects include a regional rail network, the creation of a "green loop" connecting the Wasatch Mountains with the Jordan River Parkway, a permanent public market and a sports and fitness complex.
http://www.deseretnews.com/photos/3938396.jpg
Image By Paul Brown
Drawing depicts the Skyline District, a cosmopolitan area featuring tall buildings.
Decisions about some of this growth, and these projects, will be made at the city or state level. Others will be made by private businesses. And while Downtown Rising isn't meant to supplant the city's master plan or the plans of individual business owners, the chamber hopes decision makers will use it as a kind of "guiding hand."
"The city will evolve through the aggregate decisions of thousands of players — businesses and state and local government," said Keith Rattie, president and chief executive of Questar Corp. and chairman of the Salt Lake Chamber's Board of Governors. "What this vision is intended to do is provide a context for those future decisions. For this to have useful life, and to really have an impact on the community, it's going to require the ownership of a lot of entities. Not just business, but state and city officials."
Part of the beauty of the plan, Beattie said, is its high-altitude perspective. While it does recommend building certain facilities, improving certain city streets, creating a certain "feel," it doesn't dictate when. It doesn't say what should happen first, or next. It kicks in as opportunities arise and needs present themselves.
"When this ought to be done is when things are redone," Beattie said. "When we talk about the growth of a new theater, we aren't saying it ought to be here next year or in 10 years. But what we are saying is that when we are ready as a community for a large theater that would attract national shows, it ought to be part of downtown Salt Lake City."
Bruce Bingham, a partner at real estate development and investment firm Hamilton Partners and one of the Downtown Rising participants, said he was pleased with the final product.
"I think that what they have generated is going to be strong enough and long enough to have an impact for generations on Salt Lake City," Bingham said. "They have done as thorough a job as could possibly have been done, in getting input from stakeholders and others in downtown, and from the public, academicians, experts, the whole gamut.
Deseret Morning News graphic "They've focused on Salt Lake City's position as a world-class city, as an environmentally friendly location, as a business-appropriate and business-friendly climate, with all of the public facilities and cultural elements. They haven't missed much, if anything."
Contributing: Leigh Dethma
Downtown Rising projects,
The Salt Lake Chamber is proposing eight major projects that will add to the liveliness and purpose of downtown.
Regional Rail Network — Downtown Rising calls for additional TRAX spurs to western, southwestern and southeastern parts of the Salt Lake valley, combined with commuter rail service to Ogden and Provo.
Green Loop — A "range to river" connection between the Wasatch Mountains and the Jordan River through downtown. Linking components include City Creek Canyon, the Bonneville Shoreline Trail, the Jordan River Parkway and Liberty Park.
Urban Living/Park Avenue — The growth of downtown living alternatives, including condos, loft-style flats and mid- and high-rise residential buildings.
University Boulevard — As the link between downtown and the University of Utah, Research Park and the Foothill Cultural District, University Boulevard is a prime location for higher density development of residential, office and retail space.
Global Exchange Place — Creating a central location to showcase Utah's international abilities. Tenants could include the World Trade Center Utah, a conflict resolution and peace studies center, and an International Institute.
Performing Arts Center — A new theater, built to accommodate national touring shows and other performing arts shows currently not able to schedule in this market.
Public Market — A permanent public market, offering locally grown food, flowers and other products. A place where people can gather to shop, socialize and listen to local performing artists.
Sports and Fitness Center — A metropolitan health and fitness center, located near a TRAX line, offering a public gymnasium, swimming pools, tennis courts, running track, basketball courts and weight room.
Downtown Rising districts
Downtown Rising advocates the fostering of six "character" districts in the metro Salt Lake area:
Gateway District — Centered around The Gateway, this district offers shopping, entertainment and dining experiences, all in a professional, entrepreneurial, living setting.
Salt Palace District — Focusing on visitors to Salt Lake City, this district includes the Salt Palace, hotels and related services.
Broadway District — The epicenter for the arts, culture, entertainment and hospitality. Centered around 300 South (Broadway), it houses theaters, art galleries, restaurants and bars.
Temple Square District — Centered around the LDS Church's Salt Lake Temple, world headquarters, educational facilities and Main Street Plaza, this district is quieter and contemplative.
Skyline District — This cosmopolitan area houses downtown's business district and is the place for tall buildings, commerce and government activity.
Grand Boulevards District — Featuring 500 South and 600 South, this district serves as the main entry corridor to Salt Lake City and includes many of downtown's hotels.
AND FROM THE TRIBUNE
Downtown vision: Salt Lake Chamber rolls out a new plan of what SLC would look like in 40 years
By Derek P. Jensen
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 03/21/2007 04:16:21 AM MDT
Michael Dolan/Salt Lake Chamber
Everything from commerce to the arts, two loops of free TRAX trains, lush promenades, a university boulevard and a "necklace of green" highlight the Salt Lake Chamber's ambitious 40-year project for Utah's capital.
After a 10-month planning process, the "living poster" for downtown will be formally unveiled today.
But on Tuesday, the Salt Lake City and County councils saw a snapshot of the future dubbed "Downtown Rising" - and members were liberal with their praise.
"It's very forward thinking . . . and it allows for a lot of flexibility," said County Councilman Jeff Allen.
Salt Lake City Councilman Soren Simonsen called the chamber's ideas "fabulous" after listening to the presentation. It will be up to the council, he said, to implement policies that facilitate the downtown vision. And he hopes civic leaders find ways to involve youth in the process.
"A lot of these ideas that are germinating now won't take shape for 10, 15, 20 years," Simonsen said. "It would be important to engage young people now."
Downtown districts would include the traditional business center - it would be called Skyline - a contemplative "spiritual center" at Temple Square, The Gateway, Salt Palace and an epicenter for arts and culture, along 300 South, dubbed Broadway.
Another "stately and green" segment, called Grand Boulevards, would comprise 500 South and 600 South.
The plan also calls for eight signature zones: Global Exchange Place, which could host a World Trade Center Utah; a public market; a metropolitan sports and fitness center; a "green" loop; regional rail; and a dynamic urban-living zone called Park Avenue, which could see mid-rise luxury housing along 200 East.
A final zone, University Boulevard, would extend east along 400 South to the University of Utah. That stretch is intended to sell the capital as a "university city," noted chamber Vice President Natalie Gochnour.
"So, on game day," she said, referring to Ute sports, "you can feel it."
Chamber President Lane Beattie was quick to point out the Downtown Rising presentation is not intended as a planning document. He called it a "poster" for the ambitious vision of the future.
City, county and state civic leaders would decide specific locations for each district, he said. Money to pay for it, Beattie explained, should come from natural growth over the next several decades.
Besides urban development, the model puts a premium on transit.
It calls for expansion of TRAX to ring the business center as well as the greater downtown area, which Gochnour said should be part of the free-fare zone. Chamber officials - they predict such transportation upgrades would make Phoenix and Las Vegas jealous - also hope to change the name of the transit hub on 600 West between 200 South and 300 South to "Salt Lake Central Station."
The last time such a comprehensive downtown-revitalization blueprint was proffered was in 1962, when business leaders created the "Second Century Plan," said Bob Farrington, executive director of the Downtown Alliance.
The new concept, Farrington said, is to ensure Salt Lake City's vitality - or "everybody's downtown."
Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon characterized it as ''a big-picture wish list. We'll have to figure out what our priorities are, what should be funded and when."
The blueprint also calls for a healthy dose of green.
Planners envision walkable districts with heavy trees and foliage along multiple corridors that connect the benches with the Jordan River Parkway. One would stretch from City Creek down North Temple Street to The Gateway, then on to the river at about 1000 West. A second would run along 900 South, between the Jordan River and Liberty Park.
Gochnour noted that a forest of trees and center medians also could define 500 West, 600 East and 200 East.
Amid praise for the plan arose some criticism.
County Councilman Joe Hatch says a developer's idea for a sky bridge across Main Street - it would tie together the two halves of the City Creek Center soon to be under construction - would be "completely and totally inconsistent" with the Downtown Rising concept.
Hatch also questioned whether zoning decisions would be seamless, since four of the six districts belong to individual property owners. That list includes Earl Holding, owner of Little America and Grand America hotels; Salt Lake County; The Boyer Co.; and the LDS Church.
"You are the first person to even notice that," Beattie told Hatch on Tuesday.
"That, I can't believe," Hatch retorted.
Still, County Councilwoman Jenny Wilson - who is running for Salt Lake City mayor - said the vision is "very healthy."
And, it's the right time, added Beattie, who noted the Downtown Rising Web site has received 2.5 million page views since last May.
"Three years ago, there wasn't a lot of positive talk about what was going on in downtown Salt Lake City," he said. "But that is no longer the case."
[email protected]
* Downtown Rising's new poster will be presented at 10:30 a.m. today at the Gallivan Center, 200 South between Main and State streets. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson and former Tribune Publisher Jack Gallivan will join about 100 business leaders for the event.
Q&A
Will "Downtown Rising" get off the ground? Salt Lake Chamber leaders say the vision is simply a blueprint, not a planning document. City, county and state leaders would guide construction, which ultimately could take 40 to 50 years.
Who pays the bill? Nobody knows for sure. Business leaders anticipate a combination of private and public funding they hope will be accessible by the capital's natural growth.
Why plan a makeover now? The last design plan, which envisioned the Salt Palace and Abravanel Hall, was done in 1962. Business leaders want to ensure a vibrant downtown for generations to come.
Will construction keep Salt Lake City in shambles? Probably not. Pockets of commercial upgrades would happen in stages, keeping construction isolated.
New plan for the heart of Salt Lake
Boulevards of green: Spruced-up streets and lush promenades would be bordered by tree-filled, walkable corridors.
Travel by train: TRAX routes would be expanded to circle the city, including two loops that fall under the free-fare zone.
Neighborhoods: Downtown's makeover includes six spots with individual "character," along with eight signature zones.
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