Sorenson Unity Center Nears Completion

Apr 10, 2008 by Elizabeth Ziegler

Some Programs Still Not Ready

(KCPW News) The fitness wing of Salt Lake City's newest community center opens Monday, bringing former mayor Rocky Anderson's vision one step closer to completion. The Sorenson Unity Center is a peace offering to those upset with the city's 1999 sale of one block of downtown property to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Alexander Morrison, Executive Director of major donor Alliance for Unity, explains:

"It did cause an almost immediate cessation of ill-will, which had been growing," Morrison says. "And as a result of that the center has proven to be a tangible evidence of the good will and the good faith of a lot of people in the future of the city."

Morrison says Alliance for Unity donated $4 million of the project's $6.5 million price-tag to sooth the public outcry over the Main Street Plaza sale. He says the Alliance is a charitable group representing religious, business and civic leaders in the community, founded by former Mayor Anderson, among others. The capitol city, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake Community College are collaborating on the Sorenson Unity Center project. It includes a county-run fitness center, a computer clubhouse, low-income dental clinic and community college classrooms. The controversy surrounding the center's inception predates Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker. But the mayor's spokeswoman, Helen Langan, says the city is excited about the project.

"I'm sure you'll find different perspectives on the whole history of it in different corners of the community," Langan says. "From the city's perspective, from the mayor's perspective, we're just very excited about the additional facilities that the unity center will provide for residents. That is really what the city is all about, adding services and facilities that enrich the lives of its residents."

Also opening Monday is the Sorenson Unity Center's computer clubhouse for adults. A similar program for kids is slated to open at a later date. The low-cost dental clinic is also open. A grand opening ceremony for the center is in the works, but not yet scheduled. Click here for more information on the new community center.

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