"It's not easy in this economy," said Bruce Heckman, vice president of development for Taubman Centers Inc. "Leasing for projects opening this year is pretty tough for most people because of the uncertainty in the market. I think the fact that (City Creek) doesn't open for a couple more years here keeps it more on the radar than other projects."

The Michigan-based company has locked multiple retail tenants into leases, Heckman said, though he declined to name them or say how many were under contract.

Since its inception, however, City Creek has stirred up plenty of controversy — most notably the protracted battle between developers and the city over construction of a skybridge.

Stephen Goldsmith, a former Salt Lake planner who now teaches at the University of Utah, approached LDS leaders with a plan for the downtown property around the time the Crossroads Mall was demolished.

Goldsmith lamented what he called missed opportunities by City Creek and Taubman to reopen Richards and Regent streets, making downtown more pedestrian friendly.

Still, Goldsmith said City Creek would help revive downtown by luring tenants to the urban core and introducing a 24-hour population to the area.

"The fact that we're getting that mixed-use development down there, despite the problems, it's still a step ahead," he said.

E-MAIL: afalk@desnews.com