The Salt Lake Tribune has started its move from Main Street to its new home at The Gateway.

Nancy Conway, editor of The Tribune, said the move will take place this weekend, in stages. Some departments — the paper's library, for example, and human resources — moved Friday. The bulk of its operations will be transferred today, and the transition should be complete by early next week, Conway said.

"This is an opportunity to renew and re-energize our news coverage and commitment to public service, to the community and to readers," Conway said in an e-mail to the Morning News. "Our new space will be more efficient and make communications between various news departments easier, allowing us to focus on our real business — which is putting out a good newspaper."

The paper announced in July 2004 that it had signed a 20-year lease (with two five-year renewal options) to occupy the sixth and seventh floors of Gateway Tower One, which is located directly north of the new planetarium/IMAX theater at 90 S. 400 West. The Tribune's editorial operations will be housed on the seventh (top) floor, with its editorial page, library and other offices on the sixth floor.

In all, Conway said the new space totals more than 31,000 square feet, compared to about 27,000 square feet — spread over four floors — at the Tribune building at 143 S. Main. The Tribune's owner, Denver-based MediaNews Group, plans to sell the downtown building, Conway said.

The Tribune's move has ruffled feathers, both internally and from some who wanted the newspaper to remain on Main Street. The paper began on Main and has had the same address on the street for nearly 70 years. Conway characterized her staff's mood as "mixed, but mostly positive."

"Most of the staff voted for the new location over several other possibilities," Conway said. "Some folks are feeling a bit nostalgic about leaving, because this is the only newsroom they have known. There is a sense of excitement among others and positive anticipation."

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E-mail: jnii@desnews.com