Mormon Church Has Big Plans For Salt Lake City

The plan put forth by the Church of Latter-Day Saints will require the demolition of almost 20 acres of shopping malls, as well as two historic buildings. Despite that sacrifice, church leaders and city officials are welcoming the planned development as a way to improve Salt Lake City's urbanism.

"The project won't be complete until 2011. In the meantime, Nordstrom and Macy's would close - in January. They are slated to return - along with a possible third anchor, two restaurants and up to 130 other to-be-determined tenants."

"The plans, three years in the making, wowed City Council members, business leaders and other developers, who described the project as 'spectacular,' 'historic' and 'world class.' "