Reader comments
S.L. Council OKs City Creek skybridge in a 6-1 vote

I've never seen what the problem is with this project. I knew it was going to be better than what was there before. Then I saw the 3D walkthru on the DownTownRising website and it looks to me like, when completed, City Creek will do more to revitalize Main Street than anything that I can think of. It opens, on both sides, to Main Street. It is a mostly open-air structure. It will feel like Main Street is a part of the whole thing and if the City does it right, that feeling will be reinforced by things that they do to and around the Main Street area.

Patrons aren't forced to take the Skybridge to the other side of City Creek. Those at ground level can take the crosswalk right there, or just spill out onto Main Street and shop there, or go up and across. The walkthru made it feel to me that this project ties a large portion of the downtown area together into a modern, clean, and open business, retail and residential whole. It will have its naysayers, of course, but I think the overall effect will be very positive to downtown SLC. You'll see.

Build more skybridges. This is not a new or unique downtown addition. For years cities like Seattle, San Diego, Portland, Vancouver, Spokane and many others have proven the safety, convenience and architectural beauty of skybridges. People of SLC, why all the fuss? There has been more money spent in debate and regulation than this thing will cost. This downtown development, the entire project, will unquestionably be a first class improvement to the City and the region. Detractors offer nothing in response ... only added cost and contention. Let's get the project completed so we all can enjoy it!

Glad they're building it. In an age of astronomical gas prices, it's nice to know there won't be pedestrians tying up stoplights and forcing drives to idle for minutes on end, wasting money and polluting the air.

Part of having a "green" city is having skybridges.

Pedestrians don't pollute. Cars pollute. What kind of burb-dwelling logic is that? You people are insane. Glad you don't live in SLC.

Thank you, Gang of Six.

OK, sounds like I'm not dealing with the sharpest tools in the shed here, so I will elaborate.

Pedestrians crossing streets require crosswalks. Crosswalks add stoplight rotations. In the case of downtown, many of those pedestrian stoplight rotations happen automatically. That forces cars (the ones who pollute) to sit there & idle while a few people (or in some cases, no people) cross the street.

By putting in skybridges, you eliminate pedestrians needing to cross the street. Therefore you can eliminate stoplight rotations, drivers are stopped less time. That means less traffic congestion and less idling......which means less pollution and wasted gas.

If you can't grasp that I think I might be dealing with a lost cause.

No doubt the lone dissenter will be called in to speak with his Church leaders, and then the Mormon public will castigate him and make sure he is not re-elected.

The perils of a theocracy!

Ted- you must not live in Salt Lake City, or know nothing about city politics.

i don't think luke garrott is a mormon. (but i could be wrong)

I think you've got it wrong, Ted. Some cogent reasons for the skybridge have been posted above. Also, we are allowed our free agency in the Church and I seriously doubt the vote on the bridge is an ecclesiastic issue.

Ted, that was "offensive and lame." Practicing Mormons make up less than 50% of the populace of SLC now so it would be hard for them to determine the outcome of an election alone. How is that a theocracy?

I don't know the religious preferences of all of the City Council, but my guess is that not all are practicing Mormons and some voted for the skybridge and City Creek Project because in their esitmation it will be good for SLC.

There has been substantial criticism of the church for the City Creek project. To the critics I ask: would you have preferred the virtually dead ZCMI and Crossroads Malls to have remained shuttered and empty? How does that help vitalize downtown or mainstreet?

When in doubt blame the Mormons. Doesn't that get tiring, Ted. Please find out facts before making ridiculous statments.

"I'll be voting against this proposal because I'm against this type of development in general," Garrott said. "... I don't think you develop downtown through mega-projects."

What is this guy smoking? Does he think that tiny little mom-and-pop operations are the answer to revitalizing downtown SLC? Or is he really just hiding a hidden agenda?

I don't know the merits or the de-merits of the proposed skybridge. But I do know that Rocky Anderson is opposed to it. Therefore, I support it.

it is obvious the lone dissenter has an agenda, maybe he doesnt like the "mormon project" maybe he gets elected by those who dont like the "mormon project" who knows. its what he about his vote, not merely his vote that will stop his re-election. he took the risk if this city creek thing ruins downtown like he pessimisticly prophesies then he is a genius. if it does work out he is a goof and hopefully goofs dont get re-elected anywhere

A public Vote
Not 6 people making the decision
The Council is out of order voteing for the people
This is Un Constitutional

A little perspective here. It is a skybridge crossing a street. It is an issue for the city council - that is why they are in office. The public doesn't need to vote on every single thing that the city does.

Are proposing that every decision by government should be a public vote?

The Constitution provides for a representative government of elected officials. The Council members were elected by the people for the express purpose of making such decisions.

It's ok. Maybe they didn't teach that in your grade school.

For those similarly uninformed, not paying attention in their 5th grade class, our government system is a democratic republic. This means that the population votes for representatives. These representatives than make decisions in government.

Good! They gave the go-ahead to the skybridge as they should have and as was expected. The city council made the right choice. I'm looking forward to seeing how the skybridge and the rest of the City Creek project turns out. Thankyou to the council. :)