“With the rise of the City Creek project, the transformation of Main Street, the development of The Leonardo and the Utah Performance Theater, downtown Salt Lake City’s dynamic cityscape attests to our progression as a great American city. The Salt Lake Chamber and the Downtown Alliance have been exceptional partners in our capital city’s evolution.”

Mayor Ralph Becker

Statement of Principles: 

Heart of our Region – We recognize downtown Salt Lake City as the regional center for culture, commerce and entertainment. Downtown is also the historic hub for transportation, finance, banking, law and federal, state and local governments. It is also the headquarters for a world religion. Accordingly, we advocate public policies that compliment the historical investment that has already occurred in Utah’s capital city and that will strengthen downtown’s unique role as the heart of our region.

Downtown Development – We affirm that a vibrant metropolitan center is an important economic engine for the regional community and support economic development that energizes downtown. A strong downtown is essential for the economic strength of the entire region.

Interconnected – We recognize the economic relationship between urban, suburban and rural communities and support fair tax and expenditure policies that are focused on appropriate economic development for all geographic areas.

2010 PUBLIC POLICY PRIORITIES:

Economic Development – Corporate recruitment for downtown is our highest priority. We look to local and state governments to improve funding and coordination with the economic development offices of Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, along with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and the Economic Development Corporation of Utah to bring new regional corporate headquarters to Utah’s Capital City. 

Fair Tax Policies – Property tax rates in Salt Lake City should be fair, reasonable and competitive with suburban communities and competing metropolitan centers in other states. The state should evaluate how to best achieve statewide school capital equalization over time.

Advancing Public and Private Projects – Local and state governments have an important role to play in building Utah’s capital city to support the entire region. Specific projects, including the Performance Center on Main, the Utah Film Center, a year-round public market and a convention center hotel should be supported where economically fair and viable. 

Financing Mechanisms – We support Salt Lake City’s efforts to find reasonable funding mechanisms that will extend quality of life amenities and jobs to Utah citizens and residents of the Intermountain Region. 

RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

Private Investment

Downtown Business Growth – Over 30 businesses opened or relocated in the central business district during?2009. The majority of these businesses are small, locally owned establishments that have made the decision to invest in the growth of downtown and in the shared vision of Downtown Rising.

City Creek Center – The City Creek Center development continues to move forward and leads the way in private capital investment in Utah’s capital city. 

Major highlights include:

• Over 1,600 construction jobs on site.

• The first residential component, Richards Court, will be completed and ready for occupancy in early 2010. 

• The newly remodeled lobby of the Key Bank Tower is complete and the new food court is open and serving customers.  

• The largest residential tower has topped off.

• Injection of more than $1 million in construction wages for the people of Utah each day.

• A commitment to sustainability. City Center is a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Neighborhood Development (ND) pilot project. It is one of 60 pilot projects in the country selected to participate in a focus group that is helping the U.S. Green Building Council finalize its new LEED ND certification process.

222 Main – The $125 million project, 222 Main, adds 459,000 square feet of new office space to downtown’s Class-A inventory. 

• First Silver LEED Certified Class-A office building in?the Salt Lake Valley.

• Tenants include the law firms Holland & Hart and Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione and commercial real estate company CB Richard Ellis. 

O.C. Tanner – Emerging from a $24 million renovation, the historic Hansen Planetarium building is the new flagship retail location for venerable Utah jeweler, O.C. Tanner.

Gateway Office 6 – Proposed Class-A office space is currently being developed by The Boyer Company as part of The Gateway master plan. 

Hyatt Place Salt Lake City/Downtown/The Gateway – Construction on the 128-room limited service hotel was completed in summer of 2009 offering additional downtown lodging. The new hotel is located on the north side of Gateway with close proximity to the Salt Palace Convention Center, Temple Square and EnergySolutions Arena.

Public Commitment:

Federal Courthouse – Historic Odd Fellows Hall successfully relocated to the north side of Market Street clearing the site for construction of the Moss Federal Courthouse. Construction is set to begin in 2010.

UTA Airport TRAX Extension – The highly anticipated TRAX extension to Salt Lake City International Airport is under construction. This project will include the construction of a shortened North Temple viaduct that will enhance transportation between downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. The Chamber thanks the Utah Legislature for helping to fund a new viaduct in the capital city.

Salt Lake City Public Safety Complex – A voter approved $125 million bond was passed in the November election. The new Public Safety Complex will replace the current 50-year-old headquarters located at 315 East 200 South and the project is expected to be completed by 2012.

Regional Assets:

Utah Performance Center on Main – Salt Lake City recently awarded a contract to Hamilton Partners and Garfield Traub Swisher as the development team for the Utah Performance Center on Main. The Performance Center will include a 2,500 seat theater, attracting first-run Broadway touring shows. Located at 135 South Main, the project is one of 20 signature projects defined as part of the Downtown Rising Vision. 

Utah Film and Media Center –  The RDA has purchased the Utah Theater and will convert the facility to the Utah Film and Media Center showcasing Utah’s independent film industry.

“We are committed to revitalizing Main Street and the area around the Salt Lake Temple. We are grateful for the support of the Chamber and Downtown Alliance as community partners in this endeavor.” 

Mark Gibbons, President, City Creek Reserve, Inc. (CCRI).

Did You Know that in 2008:

69,745 Utahns work downtown  I  One in every four downtown workers lives outside of Salt Lake County   I  Nearly a quarter of Utah’s hotel transient room taxes was collected from downtown hotels  I  10% of Utah’s restaurant tax was generated from downtown businesses  I  Downtown companies accounted for 7.3% of personal income tax revenues to the state totaling $230.2 million  I  Downtown generated $1.4 billion in taxable sales   I  Downtown generated $64.8 million in sales tax for Utah’s general fund

Source: Data compiled by Utah Department of Workforce Services, Utah State Tax Comission and U.S. Bureau of Census

“Salt Lake City witnessed a landmark day in downtown development when Mayor Ralph Becker, Gov. Jon Huntsman and LDS Church Presiding Bishop H. David Burton were present to celebrate the new site for a large?theater and the associated development downtown.”

Bruce Bingham, Hamilton Partners