LDS Church buys lot on North Temple

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Mormon Church is buying another lot in downtown Salt Lake City.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says it bought 3.76 acres on North Temple Street as a long-term investment.

That's the same reason the church offered for its purchase announced weeks ago of a 10-acre block north of the Little America Hotel.

The church picked up that parcel and a smaller one from hotel owner Earl Holding.

The latest real-estate purchase is a corner lot at 400 West and North Temple from a subsidiary of restaurant chain Gastronomy.

Church spokesman Scott Trotter says the church has no immediate development plans.

The church, through business affiliates, is downtown Salt Lake's largest land owner.