Downtown Rising vision hailed by Salt Lake leaders

Downtown Rising took off with gusto Wednesday, accompanied by the late morning breeze swirling around Gallivan Center at a gathering of the city's business leaders and dignitaries.

"People will look back and say that this was absolutely a pivotal time," said Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson. "This is a world-class city. What we're headed for is going to be, I think, something that will be a real model for cities not only around the country but around the world. And that only happens when you plan for the future."

Downtown Rising, presented to the business community Wednesday by the Salt Lake Chamber and Downtown Alliance, is a "conceptual blueprint" of what the city's downtown might be in coming decades, with suggestions for expanding and coordinating transportation and travel, developing identifiable downtown districts and fostering a vibrant, attractive, diverse, affordable, sustainable urban environment.

The plan includes a vision of six "character districts" in downtown Salt Lake City, each with its own look and feel — the Skyline district, for example, centers around business and commerce, while the Broadway district, centered around 300 South, jives with the city's artists and entertainers and features bars, restaurants and theaters.

Downtown Rising also proposes eight "signature projects," which the Chamber believes will enhance and foster growth in the city's center. The projects include the creation of a Global Exchange Place, a sports and fitness center and permanent public market.

The plan was inspired by a similar plan proposed by community leaders in 1962, called the Second Century Plan. That plan included several proposals that were made manifest: the Salt Palace convention center, the courts complex and restored City-County Building.

Salt Lake Chamber President Lane Beattie said that, like that plan, Downtown Rising doesn't mandate. It isn't meant to be a law, but rather a guide.

"We have a remarkable capital city, a capital city with enormous promise and opportunity," Beattie said. "As we enter the next phase of downtown rising, we will remember the counsel of the original Second Century Plan: It can be done, by many combinations of easy steps."

More information about the plan may be found at www.downtownrising.com.

Gary Porter, secretary to the Presiding Bishopric of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, participated in the Downtown Rising process and said the LDS Church is pleased with the final product.

While the church is among downtown's big players, in terms of land ownership and employment, Porter said Downtown Rising makes room for, and encourages, all kinds of growth.