Salt Lake's Ambitious Downtown Plans

A couple or years ago I did some consulting work in Salt Lake City. It appears that things are moving forward with the City's downtown development plans.

Salt Lake City's leaders have done their share over the years to bolster arts and culture downtown. This time, they want arts groups to help them.    

The Salt Lake Chamber/Downtown Alliance has a bold new plan for downtown revitalization that relies on arts and culture as its economic engine. The aim is to form a nucleus of arts groups and theaters reminiscent of New York City's Lincoln Center on the block between West Temple and Main and bounded by 100 South and 200 South. The concentration of touring shows, films, ballet, opera and theater is intended to draw restaurants, shops, hotels, galleries - and people with money in their pockets - to the area.

Salt Lake Community College will have a downtown campus at 115. S. Main, bringing an influx of college students to the area. The theater SLCC sponsors, Grand Theatre, has been invited to use Capitol Theatre, which would be available if Ballet West and Utah Opera move to the Utah Theatre. Like Morey, the Grand Theatre's artistic director Richard Scott is interested, but unable to commit while the project is in its early stages.   

Brigham Young University, which will have a downtown Salt Lake campus as part of the LDS Church's development, might also be contacted  about using Capitol Theatre for productions, Beattie said.    Utah Film Commission and Salt Lake Film Society have been approached about moving to the block to create a film presence. Utah Museum of Fine Arts and Utah Museum of Natural History could locate "satellite exhibits" on or near the block. With the new Museum of Utah Art and History right across Main Street from Utah Theatre, a concentration of galleries would result. Regent Street, a narrow alley which runs through the center of the block MUAH is on, could possibly be developed for small shops, galleries and restaurants.

More here.