Regulating the appearance of buildings is important, Anderson said, but "a McDonald's with a nice facade is still a McDonald's."

It would be better to keep chain stores and formula businesses out of neighborhoods like Sugar House altogether, he said.

Barbara Green, of the Sugar House Merchants Association, said many of the businesses have already relocated, and many are still in Sugar House. Even in a good location, however, businesses lose money when they move, she said.

"It's difficult for any business to relocate," she said. "It's really important for you to find where these favorite stores that you've been going to are and support them because we know it will be hard for them to start up in a new location."

When construction does begin, Green said, streets, sidewalks and other businesses in the area will remain open.

Green encouraged people to come to Wednesday's Sugar House Arts Festival, held near 1100 East and 2100 South.

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E-mail: dfelix@desnews.com