Reader comments
LDS get final OK on project

I'm pleased that at least one organization in Utah wants to renew the central business district. It seems that Salt Lake City government was not willing to do the job itself. It seems like a business risk, but one worth taking for the Church to keep the area vital for church tourists and anyone else who appreciates an appealing downtown.

I don't know why this should merit a story. LDS members represent more than 90% of Utah's elected or appointed government officials. The approval for the LDS project is merely a rubber stamp made from the highest quality rubber tree.

I never drive downtown. I guess I'll need to get down there to see how my tithing money is being spent.

Thats why it took 20 months. yeah what rubber are u talking about.

Dear Observer,

Obviously, you have not watched Salt Lake City politics lately. Do you not remember the Main Street Plaza controversy? Not everything is a slam dunk. Thank goodness informed people, and not fools like you, publish stories like these, so that those of us who actually want to know what's going on in our community, actually know.

Silent Partner: Apparently you have not kept up on the project. The church said from the beginning that it will not use "any" tithing funds for this project.

Observer: the article says Salt Lake City not Utah and there are more LDS members now outside the US than in. The mayor of Salt Lake City is not a member of the church and I highly doubt that even 70% of the officials from these boards are members.

It's going to look great! I'm so glad that it's all approved. I think the only hold up in the entire project was Rocky Anderson who is so Anti-Mormon. Now that he's out of the picture downtown Salt Lake can now have a much deserved new look.

To SILENT...guess you don't follow the story that well, or you'd know that the L.D.S. church is not using any of you tithing money on this project.

Observer... get a life

Tithing money is not used to rebuild down town. Do your homework before you write.

So far we have three comments, and two of them are negative towards the LDS Church. It's amazing how many people so quickly rush to criticize anything the Church does.

So move already. No one has you tied up in their basement, do they?

Gee Mr. Observer, if you think that Salt Lakes Boards and Commissions are merely puppets for the Churchs domination and dictatorship why did it take 25 attempts and changes to please them and get their approval. Don't you people have important things to do. This constant badgering on every article must be very time consuming.

To "Silent Partner"--Your best view of something where your tithing funds have been spent will be each Sunday as you attend Sabbath Day meetings or attending one of the 120 plus temples. But if you go downtown please spend your time on North Temple between State Street and West Temple because if you look south on South Temple you'll find there is very little to see where your tithing funds are being used. Come to think about it there isn't anything for several blocks.

Mainly tourists and cooperating locals will enjoy the opportunity to visit the new developed downtown and spend their money. Some new low-paying jobs will be made available. The existing blight will be reduced. Who knows, maybe this development will be successful and attract even more investors who will expand upon it and who have no LDS Church affiliation, which will encourage a badly needed spontaneous Utah economy. Utah's prime infrastructure is geared mainly to sustain Utah's tourism industries (skiing, Church tourism, local business conventions), not individual enrichment. No one but the development investors will get rich on this, but I am not sure that the poor will become poorer by this capitalist venture.

If tithing were paid for the right reason and in the right spirit, this kind of comment would never even be thought of, much less printed for all to see!

Sorry, but your tithing money went to BYU! I would point out that YOUR tithing money is not yours in the first place. Moreover, once you make the donation, you have absolutely no say on where it is spent. That is not a bad thing. This is an exciting project and will draw people to the downtown area-it was dowdy and raw before and someone needed to do it. The LDS church is the only organization that has the money to do it. I say it is a good thing. It will make SLC fun again.

We get the point...it's not tithing money. So, where does that money go? And, where did all this money come from?

I don't care where the funds are coming from (though where do you think the "non" funds originated anyway), I'm just glad they are finally allowed to fully move into a building phase. With the economy the way it has gone, I was worried all we might end up with was pits of destruction in downtown. Looking forward to the Harmons this fall. It will be great to have a full-service, local grocery close at hand.

I hope the project goes forward smoothly. My office is only a mile away now, but I'll be checking into the new space to see if I can open something two blocks away. It will be really nice to have the plazas and parks. Hopefully as additional blocks and buildings get facelifts or do-overs, developers will add more green space.

It is good to fix up the down town, but it should be a public project, not a chuch responsiblity. Utah is already too much of a church state. The church needs to get out of politics and government. The church should tend to its own business and leave the state business to the people. The church has already done too much to keep utah in the dark ages.