Plan Will Add Vitality to Downtown Salt Lake City

A $1 billion overhaul of downtown Salt Lake City was announced yesterday. It will affect 20 acres and three city blocks, between West Temple Street and 200 East. The work will create new commercial, residential and retail space, but will require the demolition of some longtime landmarks.

The LDS Church owns the property, which is just south of Temple Square. Work will begin about Nov. 1 and should be completed in 2011. Existing properties affected include the Inn at Temple Square, Key Bank Tower, the Deseret Building and the Crossroads and ZCMI shopping malls.

There will be traffic disruption at times during demolition and construction.

The work will create an attractive and vital downtown area with parks and open space. It will be pedestrian-friendly and will be easily accessible via mass transit.

Nordstrom and Macy's plan department stores to anchor the project, which will be called City Creek Center.

Reaction to the announcement has been very positive. City officials, developers and consumer advocates understand it will inflict growing pains, but will be a tremendous step forward for Salt Lake City.

Here’s what the LA Times has to say about the project.

The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret Morning News had extensive reports.