Quality Growth Awards single out City Creek, others

SALT LAKE CITY — Six projects or developments are being honored today as recipients of the 11th Envision Utah Governor's Quality Growth Awards, singled out for their noteworthiness and exemplification of smart growth, innovative planning and stewardship of people and the environment.

Award recipients will be officially announced at a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion this morning, in which Jeff Edwards, director of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah, will be keynote speaker.

Recipients include:

City Creek

The City Creek development is one of the largest mixed-use developments in the United States and is hailed as being unique for its ability to draw people together to live, work, shop, be entertained and socialize in downtown Salt Lake City. Developed by City Creek Reserve, Inc., a real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the project spans 23 acres on three blocks.

City Creek Center, the retail centerpiece of the project, features more than 90 stores in an environment featuring a retractable roof, a creek winding through the property, choreographed fountains and a pedestrian sky bridge. The City Creek neighborhood is also home to eight office towers and more than 500 downtown residences.

Unified Transportation Plan 2011-2040

Utah is the first state in the nation to compile statewide and regional transportation plans into one document. The plan provides a summary of anticipated 30-year needs for road capacity and maintenance, as well as transit improvements and operations for Utah's metropolitan and rural areas. The Unified Transportation Plan reflects Utah's approach to providing transportation choices to its residents, responding to anticipated population and job growth, and maintaining existing transportation systems.

Harmons City Creek

Harmons has invested in downtown Salt Lake City with a 70,000-square-foot urban grocery store at City Creek. The City Creek store is full service and includes all of the departments expected from a grocery store and more: fresh produce, a meat and seafood counter, a bakery, a deli, a floral department, grab-and-go food items, a pharmacy, a cooking school, a café and a post office. This store also features energy-efficient lighting and a plastic bag-free policy.

Palmer Court

This housing development was designed to help individuals and families move out of homelessness into affordable and appropriate long-term housing. The project was developed to meet the goals of the Salt Lake County 10 Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness. Palmer Court is Salt Lake's largest supportive housing development with 201 units for chronically homeless men, women and families. This renovated hotel includes studio, one- and two-bedroom apartments that provide permanent housing.

Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District Conservation Garden and Education Center

The Education Center is the focal point of the Jordan Valley Conservation Garden Park. The purpose of the building is to be a regional learning facility where groups can go to learn principles of water conservation and sustainability. The building was designed using the highest LEED standards in order to achieve LEED's platinum status.

The Calvin Rampton Salt Palace Solar Project

A solar energy array on the roof of the Salt Palace Convention Center is producing about 17 percent of the convention center's energy. At 1.65 megawatts, the solar array is the largest in the U.S. and covers 198,000 square feet, enough to power 228 homes for a year.

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