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Bishop Burton extols quality of City Creek Center

Russel Lane | 12:44 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Sorry folks, but with the building of the Gateway, downtown SLCity is a pathetic momument to know it all urban "experts" who ruined a once vibrant commercial district. The LDS church, Xroads Plaza owners and the rest of the Downtown Alliance should have screemed murder at Mayor Coradini and her tax incentive subsidized building of the Gateway! Didn't anybody remember how the 2 uptown malls killed the Broadway & Main Street retail districts in the 1980's? Now almost 30 years later Gateway has done the same thing.

Leo Ball | 6:45 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

It is very romantic to think that keeping things the same will save an area from being self-destroyed. Preservation has its place when considering unique structures. I hardly think Key Bank building or the like qualifies as preservation worthy. SLC had to be protected from urban blight. Pouring billions into our city center now will keep it from becoming another crummy old flop district.

SLC gal | 7:11 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

SLC is going to have a great skyline now, with those two gaping holes where Crossroads and ZCMI used to be. Now downtown is going to be no different from every other city in the nation. Thanks! What's next - turning the Beehive House into a boutique hotel?? i am a faithful LDS member, but I'm not thrilled with what I percieve that they're doing to downtown.

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Guaglione | 7:54 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

SLCGal, you do realize that they're planning to put something in their place, right? How would adding a new, modern, billion-dollar complex in the middle of the city make Salt Lake look like every other city in the nation? If anything, it distinguishes it from every other city. I just don't understand how some people are so opposed to progress.

Mike | 8:05 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I'm not from the Salt Lake area. I'm certainly not a spokesperson for the LDS Church. Having said that, I certainly wish that the Church would take an interest in my city! Any project they take on is sure to be done right! You can love them or hate them, but they are a class act when it comes to their many building projects around the world. It seems to me that those Salt Lakers, who are critical of the City Creek Project, have their heads firmly inserted in the "gift horseï¿½s mouth".

Jody | 8:13 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I think when it's finished it'll be nice, we all just have to be patient. My only regret is that they didn't preserve (or plan to replace) the Inn at Temple Square. That was the nicest hotel in Salt Lake.

Carlos | 8:18 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

SLCGal: What unique and interesting feature are we losing that is taking Downtown SLC from unique to "every other city in the nation." Certainly criticisms of the project are valid, but yours makes no sense to me. Please elaborate.

FreddyC | 8:31 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Please take note at what a success the Gateway is! Also, SLC now only has 1 department store, Sears. Thanks Mayer Anderson!

WC | 8:32 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

SLC Girl - are you kidding? Crossroads and ZCMI in their most recent incarnation were horrible additions to the city. ANYTHING will be better. I'm still mad at the buildings that were torn down for Crossroads to be built. The Constitution building looked awesome. Check out the pictures in this issue of the News.

Joseph | 8:58 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

This project should have been a true Salt Lake City neighborhood and not just a shopping destination for the well-to-do. That is, totally incorporated into the street-level grid with stores that would allow for downtown people to run everyday errands, not just provide a place for for suburbanites to run up their credit cards even more. In this way the church is creating a shrine to the consumerist element that continues to work in direct opposition to its stated spiritual goals.

Mike | 10:01 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Get serious Salt Lake, it could be worse... Try having another "casino" built downtown... To our LDS church leaders, if SL doesn't appraciate your efforts please come and redo our downtown area in Las Vegas we would love your help.

Let's keep everything in prespective.

Heidi | 10:07 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

This project sounds wonderful. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is continuing to beautify downtown Salt Lake City.

AW | 10:13 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

JOSEPH - HAVE YOU EVEN TAKEN A LOOK AT THE PLANS? THERE ARE STORES CERTAINLY, BUT THERE ARE ALSO CULTURE OREIENTED AREAS AND VENUES AS WELL. THE SUN WILL STILL COME UP EVERY MORNING! GET A GRIP!

Karl | 11:19 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Joseph, are you implying that the "stated spiritual goals" include taking peoples choices away by limiting what they can and cannot buy? The church has never said you can't own what you can afford. It has always stressed financial resposibility and living within your means.

Joseph | 11:55 a.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Karl, to answer your question, no. By limiting the stores to those on the high end an important opportunity - to be inclusive - is missed. My objection is to a lack of variety and therefore fewer choices. Rampant consumerism and waste are spiritual stumbling blocks - even if you can pay cash.

AW, I have taken a look at the plans several times.

George | 12:10 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Don't these people have anything to do except sit around and write silly comments to duffus other comment writers (probably including me?)

Matt | 12:29 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I still don't understand what business a church has dumping a billion dollars into a retail/residential project in the first place.

Ben | 12:38 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Freddy, the city has a few other department stores scattered about - Smith's Marketplace is certainly a 'department' store with quite nice apparel and home selections, actually. Also, Mervyns is located in Brickyard Plaza, within Salt Lake City limits. Downtown does have a hole, but has received a commitment from one more major retailer than it had before the change (Dillard's). So more options will return.

Joseph | 12:40 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

George, no.

Fletcher | 1:37 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Matt,
As stated in by Bishop Burton in the article, the main reason for the church putting money into it is so that downtown SLC, which is the international headquarters of the church, does not become a dump like so many old downtowns have become in other cities.

Douglas Cotant | 1:55 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I think that Mayor Rocky Anderson should issue an Executive Order halting the LDS Church's construction project; and the City Council should sustain the his Executive Order, if he decides to issue such an order.

Jeff | 2:01 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

As a former resident of SLC (and other major US cities like Houston, San Antonio, and LA)and a professional city planner, I am happy to see this project coming about. The Gateway and downtown will work well together, the SL Valley is growing and both places will offer choices to consumers and visitors and will complement. I now live in Boise and there is only one place to go: downtown. But that is severely limited in it's retail opportunities and destinations. If you want SLC to truly become a world-class city that offers much potential to all, let there be districts. If Rocky has done anything well, promoting these projects is it. And that's about all...
My biggest complaint about SLC, in the past, was the lack of "community" feel or exciting destinations. You don't have to shop and spend money to enjoy a nice place. It makes a walk about town more enjoyable...one of the wonderful aspects of Boise, in my opinion. I would consider moving back to SLC, especially as the city become more diverse. I may not be LDS, but the church has done many great things for the city and the members are wonderful people...even to this Catholic!

Dave | 2:13 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

The money for this project was generated, holy smokes, from the revenue of the malls over twenty some years of operation. They built a business. They earned some money. They're building a better business that for all purposes will benefit anyone who wants to go downtown and enjoy it---even a poor oaf like me who earns $18,000.00 a year. A fairly sound enterprise no matter how many of you Josephites out there think that money is evil. Its only evil for those who wish they had more, or at least had more of what their neighbors have. Covent less, appreciate more, and let the Mormons run their business as they see fit without so many idealogues weighing in with their myopic wisdoms.

TC | 2:42 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Be grateful the church has interest in downtown SLC. I live near Ogden. Our downtown revitalization projet right now is an overpriced Larry H. Miller theater and a rec center that is dominated on the first floor by a too-dark video arcade.

BBG | 3:59 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

Seriously people! If the church wants to spend IT'S money to make the area surrounding THEIR headquarters a nicer place, what's the big deal? If you don't like it and you live near there- move. If you don't like it and you don't live near there- don't visit the area! It's not too hard to understand. Crossroads mall sucked. Gateway is a nice addition, Trolley is nice too. This City Creek will be a great in-between. I agree with Mike in NV- don't look a gift horse in the mouth. And to some of you, you need to get a life if all you do is sit in front of the computer and respond to comments posted on the Des News all day. Pathetic!!

PHX is hot | 4:03 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

"Rocky" Anderson is vehemently opposed to anything the church sponsors. It seems as though he expends more energy trying to fight the church and everything they stand for than promoting his own agenda. Whatever that agenda is. As for those opposed to free market capitalism I have a solution, move to Venezuela and live with your hero HUGO.

Sal Phx | 7:13 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I don't know why some people on here are whining about. Here in Phoenix when the city wants to build something downtown they raise taxes to build it. This project in SLC is not coming out of any of your pockets. And I guarantee you that Tithing is not paying for it. So Douglas Cotant, Matt and Joseph and also to Rocky Anderson keep your nose out of things that have nothing to do with you. Your not paying for it. I wish we had projects of this magnitude in Phoenix paid for by private groups.

Dave | 9:13 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

The Inn in Salt Lake was the Best.

Jim in Las Vegas | 11:37 p.m. Aug. 17, 2007

I have visited SLC many times, and have watched the downtown area malls deteriorate over time. Temple Square was about the only nice thing about downtown, and it looked like only the homeless were living there. This new project looks wonderful and should infuse all of Salt Lake City, offer employment and investment opportunities for many. We have a similar problem in Vegas, with our Fremont Street deteriorating. Our city is trying to bring new business and condos into the area to revitalize it also. The people of Salt Lake City should be grateful that any organization would invest millions of dollars to keep their city shining bright. If someone hadn't stepped forward to do something with the area, it would soon be to the same point Pioneer Park is now, where no one wants to visit or walk the area. I am sure Brother Brigham has looked down on Salt Lake City and wondered for some time why the Saints and non-Saints have allowed their beautiful city to turn into a near slum. Be grateful that the Mormon Church is willing to fix the problem and build a new downtown in your beautiful city. I wish they would come to Vegas, rid out downtown of casinos, and revitalize the area, which was once the railroad crossroad between Utah and Nevada. (I also agree that the Inn at Temple Square was the best hotel in the intermountain west, and they should not have torn it down!)

Jake | 5:28 p.m. Aug. 19, 2007

BBG says: "If you don't like it and you live near there- move."
How kind, you understand that hundreds if not thousands of low income residents will be forced to relocate once the million dollar condos are built. At least there will be Trax for employees of the new mall to comute from West Valley, no one will be able to afford to live in downtown and make less than $10 per hour most non-professional jobs will pay.

Spencer | 12:03 a.m. Aug. 20, 2007

$1 billion? I'm all for the church spending $1 billion to put up some nice stores and what not, AFTER they've provided mental health services to the homeless population down at Pioneer park along with requisite basic life services, and AFTER every person in Utah who needs it is provided with food clothing and shelter, and AFTER they guarantee that 50% of the new housing will be affordable to people who make less than $60,000 a year. Would Jesus spend his time developing real estate or taking care of his neighbors down the street? I guess that's probably the real test of where their priorities are.

Anonymous | 11:02 p.m. March 8, 2008

Why not make this a mid-upper class mall, give Utah something different. We already have a Dillards you might as well just throw a Walmart express in there. The mall is in the heart of Salt Lake, it needs to be classy

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Ravell Call, Deseret News

Presiding Bishop H. David Burton of the LDS Church briefs legislators Thursday about the City Creek Center project.

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Bishop Burton extols quality of City Creek Center

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Reader comments Bishop Burton extols quality of City Creek Center

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Bishop Burton extols quality of City Creek Center