Residents offer ideas for North Temple transformation

With the airport TRAX line expected to begin running by early 2013, Salt Lake planners have hopes to transform North Temple into a grand entrance to the city.

So do the dozens of Salt Lake residents who showed up for an open house on the North Temple Community Plan at the Utah Fairpark on Thursday evening.

Some sketched a tree-lined street, a place where light-rail commuters would be able to walk to boutique shops, state jobs and high-rise apartments.

"We all want to live in a little village — even if it's in the middle of a big city," said Marilee Utter, a transit-oriented-development expert from Denver.

While some preferred apartments that would overlook a green parkway along the Jordan River, others suggested turning the area into an entertainment district.

Some suggested using money to activate the underutilized fairgrounds.

Still others offered up more grandiose suggestions: Put part of Interstates 15 and 215 in sub-grade tunnels and place a large roundabout at Redwood Road.

The suggestions will be used to help city leaders rework zoning and land-use ordinances along North Temple.

As those ordinances move along, Utah Transit Authority officials said construction of the airport line could be in full swing by the end of the year.

"We're ready to start," said Mike Allegra, UTA's assistant general manager. "We're looking to build the great American city."

UTA expects more than 8,000 riders when the North Temple line begins running in late 2012 or early 2013. More than 12,000 riders are expected by 2030.

Utter estimated private developers would pump more than $1 billion into the community during the next two decades.

Salt Lake leaders plan to host another open house sometime in August, all while working toward presenting the City Council with a final plan next spring.

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