As currently planned, redevelopment of Salt Lake's moribund Gateway area is running into an obstacle: the mayor.
Rocky Anderson has blocked a proposed Nordstrom department store in the Boyer Co.'s large Gateway development west of the Union Pacific Depot and is trying to get rid of the proposed "park blocks" along 500 West — 100-foot-wide medians where fairs and community activities would take place.
It's creating a fuss. RDA Executive Director Alice Steiner has called the park blocks the "showpiece" of the entire neighborhood and key to its redevelopment, and Boyer Co. chairman Roger Boyer said he is counting on them.
They would run from North Temple to 400 South.
Boyer said if the park blocks aren't installed, the housing he has planned for the west side of his development likely wouldn't be installed, either. That would be ironic, given that Anderson wants the Gateway area reserved primarily for housing.
The City Council approved the park blocks, as well as power line burial in the area, during Deedee Corradini's administration. Anderson wants the council to reverse itself and spend the estimated $8 million cost in other areas of the city whose infrastructure is in sad disrepair. "I think it's time we stop pouring all this money into the Gateway area," he said.
He's probably in for an uphill battle.
"I'm not sure that the council would ever consider reversing that decision," Council Chairman Carlton Christensen said. "It doesn't work without the park blocks. You're not going to get a mixed use, which is the intent of all the parties, without some community amenities."
With regard to Nordstrom, Boyer and Nordstrom held discussions several months ago regarding relocating the store when its Crossroads Plaza lease expires in 2005. When Anderson got wind of those discussions last week, he installed an administrative moratorium prohibiting the building of retail stores over 45,000 feet in certain areas near downtown, including the Gateway.
The action is consistent with his attitude that the Gateway should not be allowed to siphon off downtown businesses.
"This city has poured tens of millions of dollars into the Gateway area," the mayor said. "We did not do it to plunder downtown."
The moratorium was also spurred by a proposed Target in the area of 400 South and 500 East. Alison Gregersen, acting director of community and economic development, said the intent is to have all large department stores concentrate in downtown.
Anderson must get council approval to continue the moratorium past Feb. 18, and that may be difficult.
"There are some fundamental issues there that (Anderson) has not articulated sufficiently to justify the actions he has taken," Christensen said. "I have some concerns about the process. I don't think it's the right way to deal with the issue."
For his part, Boyer called the moratorium an overreaction to "very preliminary" discussions with Nordstrom, adding that "We're talking to every tenant that's out there.
"This is awkward for us," he said. "We don't want to get in a fight with the mayor. This is a huge risk for us. . . . We've proceeded in good faith, and I hope the city will as well."