The builder of a skyscraper on Main Street has asked the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency for $5 million.

Hamilton Partners, which plans to build a 21-story office building at 222 S. Main, wants the money to contribute to a public parking garage behind the building and to improve some public walkways in and around the block.

Downtown office space has been scarce as companies relocate in anticipation of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints renovating the malls.

"I do think that it would be advantageous to have another class A office space," said Carlton Christensen, the RDA board chairman. Christensen also noted that most skyscrapers downtown have had public money assistance, with the exceptions being buildings by the church.

The RDA would loan $1.7 million for a parking structure with at least 75 public stalls. Another $3.3 million would be spread between a mid-block walkway from Main Street west, north-south access from 200 South to 300 South through the block, and "public infrastructure" improvements on Main Street and within the project's boundaries, said the proposal from Hamilton Partners to the RDA.

Hamilton Partners had plans to start construction this fall and wanted a speedy resolution to the proposed loan from the RDA, said Valda Tarbet, the RDA's deputy director.

Christensen said the RDA board, which is different in name only from the City Council, would "give it our best shot."

In other business, the RDA board extended Ballet West's lease on land in Sugar House by 12 months while the dance company waits for the outcome of negotiations on land downtown. Ballet West wants to build extra studio, office and storage space, and would prefer to build downtown if Salt Lake County can successfully purchase the land directly west of Capitol Theatre.

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E-mail: kswinyard@desnews.com