More public input sought on siting of public safety building site

Mayor Ralph Becker met with the Salt Lake City Library Board Thursday in one of the first stops on a tour to gather input — and eventually support — for a $125 million public safety complex along 300 East.

As he took questions from the board, Becker said he "could have done a much better job" working with the public prior to unveiling a pair of options for two multi-story buildings next to Salt Lake City's downtown library two weeks ago.

"We did not go through a full public process on the siting," Becker told the city Library Board on Thursday. "We did a very thorough and careful analysis, but we didn't engage the public."

Becker said he hopes to change that as the city hosts a public workshop at the downtown library May 30, followed by a public meeting June 1.

Board members, meanwhile, expressed concerns about safety, building conditions, architecture and an overwhelming police presence on the block.

Addressing concerns about the architectural quality of the proposed emergency operations center and police headquarters, Community and Economic Development Director Frank Gray said he would support bringing in the library's designers for the project. Gray said he's been in contact with local architect Steve Crane and would like to involve designer Moshe Safdie. Neither could be reached immediately Thursday.

"I think the original architects of this building need to be a part of the team that works on the architecture for the rest of this," Gray said.

Despite former library project manager Ken Ament's concerns about liquefaction, aquifers and contaminated soil on the library block, city leaders said the site is safe.

"This building is built and standing," Gray said of the library. "From a geotechnical standpoint, this is a safe site."

The block is a medium liquefaction risk, as is much of the Salt Lake Valley, he said.

Board member John Becker compared the city's proposal to build on the library block to a plan to demolish the historic City- County Building nearly three decades ago.

"It took many citizens, who were outraged and came together … to make sure that building was saved," he said. "When we undertook the planning for this library, we took a page from that, and we listened to all of the people of this city."

Another board member, Ella Olsen, also questioned the proposal's value.

"It seems like such a shame to take a beautiful block that we've already invested not only our hearts but our dollars in … and tear that down," she said.

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