Farrington suspects those who are leery about heading downtown during construction have bad memories of I-15 repairs and work installing TRAX light-rail lines. He believes the City Creek Center work will prove to be a less-obtrusive project.

The poll also shows that one of the more controversial elements of the plan — the proposed demolition of the historic First Security/Deseret Building on 100 South and Main Street — isn't quite as controversial among residents as it has been among preservationists and city officials.

About a quarter of respondents said they opposed the planned demolition; almost as many, 22 percent, have no opinion one way or the other, while 42 percent say they favor the demolition.

The Utah Heritage Foundation has called on residents opposed to the demolition to send their opinions to city planners and the church via the Downtown Rising Web site. The group calls the 1919 building a "gem" and believes it can be restored to a seismically sound residential building.

But a church spokesman said the costs of restoration would be too high and the outdated design is not useful as office or residential space.

Heritage Foundation assistant director Kirk Huffaker, who acts as spokesman for the group, was out of town Friday and could not be reached for comment.

The church's plans appear to be most popular among church members, with 88 percent of somewhat and very active LDS members approving of the plans, compared with 42 percent of Catholics and 40 percent of Protestants. About one-fifth of Catholics and Protestants saw the plans unfavorably; that number for active LDS was zero.

E-mail: dsmeath@desnews.com