Developer, Public Discuss City Creek Sky Bridge

Apr 02, 2008 by Jeff Robinson

(KCPW News) The developer of the City Creek Center once again indicated to the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday that if it doesn't approve a sky bridge connecting the two halves of the mall, the entire project is in jeopardy.

"You have a developer and two department stores that have entered into a non-binding letter of intent with the church on this project that is contingent on there being a sky bridge," said Bruce Heckman, Vice President of Development for Taubman Centers. "If the sky bridge is denied, that would cause, at minimum, a very large delay in the project where we'd have to consider whether we'd move forward."

Heckman said retailers are frustrated by the amount of time it's taken for the council to approve the sky bridge. The city council amended its master plan a year ago to allow for the creation of sky bridges, but has yet to approve this one.

During Tuesday night's council meeting, about a dozen people spoke up, both for and against the sky bridge. Architect Dave Richards says it would largely keep people from shopping in businesses outside the mall on Main Street.

"I foresee the same old pattern of people driving their cars into the parking lot, taking the escalator up to the mall, shop, get back in their cars, and leave without exploring Main Street or anything further south," said Richards.

The Downtown Alliance and the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce both support the bridge. The council is set to make its decision next Tuesday.  Listen to a conversation about the issue with Councilman Soren Simonsen.

Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW