Sky bridge called crucial to downtown Salt Lake project

However, four of the five members of the community who responded to the open-ended issues of a sky bridge, ground-level parking on Social Hall Avenue, street ramps to parking structures, mid-block height restrictions and preservation of the ZCMI Center facade objected to the idea of obstructing the view corridor by constructing a sky bridge.

"One of the prominent features of our city is its proximity to the mountains," said Shane Carlson, a representative from the Avenues Housing Commission. "A sky bridge would lessen that connection. No matter how transparent, you'd still have a difficult time seeing through it."

The obstruction of Ensign Peak and the view corridor Main Street encourages was the reason such structures were excluded from the master plan, which was adopted by the commission in 1995.

Cindy Cromer, a concerned resident, said she believes a bridge would "entrap or hoard shoppers within the project," rather than directing them to Main Street, where redevelopment has been a focus for years past.

Ground-level parking across from the proposed Harmon's grocery store was also an idea of concern to the commission. Such accessibility is also not written into the city's master plan and would have to be re-addressed before the project could be solidified.

"The implications of this are far and wide and would not just apply to your project," Commission Chairwoman Peggy McDonough told the petitioners. She said the commission needed to see more of the mechanics and not just intents of the project.

Public comment will be accepted on the project until Nov. 1, when Taubman hopes to begin demolition for the first phase of reconstruction.

Preserving the First Security Building for its historic significance on the northeast corner of 100 South and Main Street is already being considered by Taubman.

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com