Intentions Questioned In Salt Lake City Downtown Redevelopment Project

According to Taubman and CCRI (the primary developers of the new City Creek Center project in Downtown Salt Lake City) The second level of retail space is a key component to the overall success of the project to attract 10 million visitors annually to Salt Lake City. This second level will allow the center to gain the "critical mass that is needed to draw a significant number of people downtown...We need the jumpstart that this second level of retail will provide." This is according to Taubman representative Rock Locke. These sound like reasonable arguments. There needs to be a second level of retail because this way Taubman and CCRI can squeeze the most amount of retail in the smallest amount of space, enabling more room for courtyards, gardens, open-space and street cafes.

However, private streets, second level walkways and a skybridges disable a vibrant public square environment, where everyone feels they have access to the street with the ability to demonstrate and actively participate in the life and Democratic process that occurs on authentic streets. Its impossible to envision street performers setting up inside of a mall or attracting a crowd of people who are there just to watch and be entertained. Malls are designed for movement and circulation. Ultimately controlled environments detract culture and street life.

Today there are plenty of young people who don't want to live in the suburbs, who don't care about yards, upkeep and long commutes. There are retirees who don't want to risk their lives and others by being required to drive everywhere. Instead, they want to return to the old days of getting what they need by walking. The movement is towards reviving and getting the old Salt Lake City back. Its clear that the old Salt Lake City was destroyed forty-years ago when two malls were built over the block bisecting pedestrian streets. Its no coincidence that the population of downtown Salt Lake City began declining two years after the completion of the second downtown Salt Lake City mall. When all the pedestrian life of a city is controlled inside of a mall, it leaves all the places that aren't controlled more dangerous and left in the control of the more seedy elements. Video: availability of residential condominiums.

It almost needs not being said, that this trend today has happened organically. There hasn't been a marketing ploy or ad agency that has enticed people to move back downtown. Because of the organic nature of the trend there is no need for fertilizer or inorganic solutions such as sky bridges designed to keep people contained and offer additional convenience. There is no need to over-build, over-hype, over-accomodate retail. People want to live in cities, work, play shop and most importantly walk.