From Deseret News archives:

LDS get final OK on project

Salt Lake approves work on City Center ZCMI facade

Published: Thursday, July 3, 2008 12:03 a.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 
It took 20 months and 25 appearances before Salt Lake City government boards and commissions, but The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints now has all the official approval it needs to remake the heart of downtown.

The city's Historic Landmark Commission issued the final stamp of approval for City Creek Center Wednesday night, unanimously supporting the conceptual design for reconstruction of the historic ZCMI facade as part of the $1.5 billion project.

"This is an important decision for us," said Dale Bills, spokesman for City Creek Reserve Inc., a development arm of the LDS Church. "We're grateful to the commission for their careful deliberation and their recommendations."

The ZCMI facade, a staple of downtown since the 1870s, is slated to return to Main Street as the storefront for Macy's. Plans call for the department store to serve with Nordstrom as co-anchors for the 20-acre retail, residential and office development.

The developers needed permission from the Historic Landmark Commission because the facade is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Wednesday, developers presented a revised design of the new building using the historic facade in response to concerns expressed by the Historic Landmarks Commission at a June 4 meeting.

Story continues below
Commissioners didn't like the idea of a recessed entrance that created a galleria or corridor between the facade and the actual store, saying it was not street-friendly and made the facade feel more like an intrusion than an asset.

Another issue was the opaque glass planned for the second- and third-level windows, which some commissioners felt created dead space.

Working with the city's architectural review committee, the developers did away with the set-back entrance and modified their plans for the windows to meet commissioners' approval.

The revised design calls for most of the street-level windows to be used for displays, replacing what had been the recessed entrance. Upper-level windows will use reflective glass with lighting hidden between the facade and the new building to illuminate the historic architecture.

Kirk Huffaker, executive director of the Utah Heritage Foundation, said many buildings historically were lit in a similar fashion.

"I think it's a great plan," Huffaker said during the public discussion. "I commend this version."

The three-story ZCMI facade underwent careful disassembly last fall and was put into storage so the old Macy's building could be demolished.

Recent comments

One, the church owns: A business, that�s in business to make money,...

Re Frustrated: | Oct. 24, 2008 at 5:17 p.m.

So let's see, a multi-billion dollar shopping mall improves the Utah...

Frustrated | July 23, 2008 at 12:06 p.m.

Let me come over to your house and re-paint it. Plant some new trees...

mall rat | July 13, 2008 at 11:32 a.m.

Image

The west side of the Key Bank building is exposed as construction continues on the City Creek development in downtown Salt Lake

previousnext

Latest comments

Chuck said, "I would like to quote a simple verse from the Bible: "By...

I hate Max Hall. I hate everything about him. Touche

Budget hinges on economic growth

Governor Herbert has shown us true leadership with this budget proposal. Up...

NYC mayor: 'Too many guns'

To "Enforce Existing Laws", your statement is ludicrous. It is much harder...

Jazz manage a magical win

Miles, you really make yourself silly when your questions demonstrate that...

2A boys soccer tournament

wendover is going for the state championship this year yeah!

Letters: Plain talk on warming

@SO4 2:16 a.m.: "This is the highest level of atmospheric CO2 in several...

The judge said he has a long history of criminal activity and this weighed in...

I bet ya the husband killed her!!!!

Good post. I noticed that too and it bothered me immediately.

Advertisements