Demolition Clears Way for New Phase of City Creek Development

None by KCPW

(KCPW News) The former Key Bank tower is now just a pile of rubble, but City Creek Center officials see something far more.

"It's a reminder that great things are coming to this site in the form of a walkable urban community where people will be able to live, work and shop in one great downtown location," says Grant Thomas, director of construction services for City Creek Reserve Inc. which the LDS Church created to own and manage the billion-dollar project.

Thomas says there was nothing structurally wrong with the Key Bank Tower, but developers wanted the space for retail shops and condos. Removing the tower also makes room for a skybridge, which City Creek developers say is essential to connect two blocks of mall over Main Street.

Saturday's implosion completes demolition on the Crossroads Mall block. Thomas says crews will now turn their bulldozers to the ZCMI Mall block across the street. More than half of the rubble from demolition thus far has been recycled, adds Thomas. All demolition should be complete by late next year, and mall officials say the entire project is on schedule for completion in 2011.

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