Being in the top 10 is not always a good thing.
So it is with the 10 most endangered historic sites in the state.Anxious to raise public awareness of historic preservation issues, the Utah Heritage Foundation identified 10 historic sites in Salt Lake City, Provo, Park City and elsewhere as the most seriously threatened areas in Utah.
Brigham Young Academy in Provo tops the list, which also includes historic buildings on Salt Lake City's ailing downtown Block 57, Fort Douglas, a Park City school and the Uintah Tabernacle in Vernal.
Many of the buildings are in need of funding for their preservation or in the path of planned development, the foundation said.
"Utah's cultural heritage must be protected and we hope to raise public awareness of these historic properties . . . to garner support for their preservation," Foundation President Cathleen Clark said.
The foundation has long been cataloging threatened buildings, said James W. McPherson, foundation issues committee chairman. But the top 10 list released this week is the first attempt to circulate widely the status of threatened buildings, he said.
The primary purpose of the list is "to raise public awareness of these properties," McPherson said. But other considerations contributed to the decision to embark on the preservation campaign.
Increased development in Utah's capital city as well as efforts to bring the 1998 Winter Olympics to the state underscore the need to preserve the state's historic assets, he said.
"With the Olympics, if we're to project the image of welcoming people to the state and we're presenting it in terms of welcoming guests to our homes, we don't want our homes to be a mess," McPherson said.
While the list will go a long way toward bringing attention to preservation issues, Utahns already have grown to recognize the importance of historic preservation, McPherson said.
The 1987 decision by the LDS Church to close the historic Hotel Utah and the $34 million renovation of Salt Lake City's City-County Building have piqued the interest of Utahns and focused concern on endangered properties, he said.
What's more, Salt Lake City strengthened its demolition ordinance in 1988, requiring developers to justify demolition of a downtown building before a demolition permit can be issued. McPherson said the new ordinance was further evidence of a commitment to historic preservation.
Still, the foundation will update its top 10 list on a quarterly basis in an attempt to maintain interest in historic preservation issues.
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The top 10
Here are 10 endangered historic sites, according to the Heritage Foundation's list:
Brigham Young Academy, Provo--The Brigham Young Academy Foundation must raise $800,000 in six months to save the landmark.
Downtown Ogden--Nine Washington Boulevard structures have been demolished in 1989 alone.
Block 57 historic buildings, Salt Lake City--The Boyer Co. is requesting demolition of one historic building on the block.
West One Bank Building, Salt Lake City--The foundation said bank officials say the building may have to be razed.
Fort Douglas, Salt Lake City--The foundation and the University of Utah is unsure what it will do with the fort if it closes and falls into University hands.
Earthquake-vulnerable structures statewide--The state must develop a plan for preserving historic buildings from destruction by earthquake.
Wilson Farmstead, Sandy--Widening of the Skier Connect, linking 9000 and 9400 South in Sandy would call for demolition of the farm.
Carl Winter School, Park City--The foundation hopes the City Council will approve plans to turn the school into a cultural center.
Uintah Tabernacle, Vernal--The historic building has been vacant for years.
North Temple Interchange proposal, Salt Lake City--An "ill-conceived" idea that could damage Temple Square and the surrounding area.