Salt Lake City officials have a grand vision for a new neighborhood downtown. It’s part of Mayor Ralph Becker’s plan for a more sustainable city.
Picture this: a walkable, bikeable urban village on Salt Lake City’s West Side, with housing, local shops and a year-round farmers market. Today Salt Lake City invited developers to get in on the bidding process, for a new project called Station Center. Jason Mathis is executive director of the Downtown Alliance.
“This project has the possibility of revolutionizing the entire west side of downtown Salt Lake City, benefiting The Gateway and other neighborhoods that are in close proximity,” Mathis says.
Station Center will be located west of Pioneer Park between the historic Rio Grande Depot and the Utah Transit Authority Central Station on two ten-acre blocks.
Salt Lake City officials say residents will be able to live in an urban center and possibly not own a vehicle, which will help improve air quality. DJ Baxter is Executive Director of Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency.
“Both for local trips which are served by bus and light rail and for regional trips which are served by Frontrunner,” Baxter says, ”the access will be unparalleled.”
The project is adjacent to a number of homeless service providers, including The Road Home.
Salt Lake City Mayor Becker says new development and homeless services aren’t mutually exclusive. He’s hoping to incorporate his plan to build 5,000 affordable housing units over the next 5 years into this new development.
