Downtown Salt Lake City entertainment district moves one step closer to reality

SALT LAKE CITY – Tuesday night’s Salt Lake City Council meeting was marked by numerous discussions and decisions that will impact the city’s future transformation.

The meeting was the last day for the council to make a decision on the entertainment district zoning changes before the Sept. 1 deadline. The council voted unanimously in favor of the changes.

One of the changes would allow building heights to be increased from a maximum of 125 feet to 600 feet.

“Who voted to build a 600-foot building? They would be almost as tall as the tallest buildings in Denver. Totally inappropriate for Salt Lake City,” one man told the city council.

The Smith Entertainment Group project will now go before a state committee. If lawmakers approve the details, the council will then have to vote on the half-percentage point sales tax increase.

But it was the fate of the old Sears site at the corner of 800 South and State Street that got the community and the City Council talking. Intermountain Health wants to build a hospital there.

“I think this is something that the larger neighborhood and the Fourth Ward could really contribute to as we think about creating a true urban hospital,” said Council Member Eva Lopez Chavez.

“I often think about the people of Glendale and Rosepark and the fact that right now, in the event of a very serious medical emergency that requires a Trauma One response, you are, at best, 20 minutes or more away from receiving that help,” said Council Member Sarah Young.

Small business owners also expressed their reservations about this vision for the area.

“While we are happy about access to the hospital and better connectivity to people on the west side, etc., it is important that this block is not lost to inactivity,” one man said.

The council will vote on the Sears zoning amendment at its meeting next week on September 3.