News flash: Main Street is far from dead. In fact, the entire downtown is in the midst of a marvelous renaissance.
Main Street is healthier and more diverse than it has been for the past 25 years. I have consistently expressed this view to the Deseret News editorial board and reporters, yet the April 1 Deseret News article headlined "Is Main Street dead?" expressed one reporter's baseless editorial view that "it may be time to sign the death certificate."
Unfortunately, that article was written in a manner that led some people to think I had said such things. In a letter to the editor ( April 12), Pamela O'Mara said she was "deeply disturbed" about the article "quoting Mayor Rocky Anderson as saying, 'Main Street in Salt Lake City may already be dead.' " In fact, it was the reporter, not me, who said that — and such a conclusion is, of course, exactly the opposite of my view.
The Deseret News characterization is unsupported by any actual information about the evolution of Main Street. The real news is actually very positive. The following facts represent the truth about our downtown:
More than 60,000 people work in the Main Street office buildings, compared to 49,000 in 1990, an increase of 23 percent.
Even including the vacant space left by SLOC after the 2002 Winter Olympics, downtown office vacancy rates are lower today than the suburban market, for the first time in many years.
The amount of office space along Main Street has doubled in the past 10 years to 3 million square feet.
New construction along Main Street during the past 15 years includes Gateway Tower West, One Utah Center, Wells Fargo Center and the Gallivan Plaza.
Significant recent renovations have included the Hotel Monaco, the Clift Building, David Keith and Judge buildings, as well as the beautiful historic renovation of the Lollin and Kerrick buildings.
More than 2,700 apartments and condominiums have been built downtown in the past 10 years. More than 3,300 housing units have been built for more than 4,500 downtown residents.
There are more than 8,000 hotel rooms downtown, with occupancy rates consistently rising since the Olympics.
Property tax revenues for the central business district have generated approximately $1.5 billion in 2003, increasing by $30 million since 2001. The new Depot District added $220 million to property tax values in 2002.
New tenants are moving in, including great new restaurants like Buca de Beppo, 3rd & Main, Cucina Toscana, Hong Kong Tea House, Melting Pot, Orbit and the Globe Cafe; office users like KUTV, EAS, Urban Utah Homes and Estates, and Siebel Systems; extraordinary community resources like the Salt Lake Community College Metro Campus; and wonderful new places such as Angles Cafe, DaVinci's Salon Gallery and the Urban Barber.
The Gallivan Center was home to over 260 events last year. The Utah Arts Festival has returned to our downtown. Also, the Salt Lake City International Jazz Festival, and other exciting activities, take place throughout the Central Business District.
TRAX ridership increased 40 percent in December 2002 from 2001, an increase of 220,000 riders.
Our unprecedented commitment to the Main Street corridor is indicative of Salt Lake City's commitment to the entire central business district. We continually strengthen that commitment by promoting projects ranging from $20,000 grants to businesses that locate on Main Street, providing funds for renovation and rehabilitation of space for Old Navy and the Salt Lake Community College, as well as re-striping 300 South to allow 145 stalls of free, center-of-the-street parking.
Obviously, Main Street is not "dying"; rather it, and our entire downtown area, is evolving and thriving. It is becoming more diverse, with both significant day and evening populations. Over 4,500 people now live within the central business district, enjoying our fantastic new City Library and the many new restaurants, clubs, and exciting activities at the Delta Center, Capitol Theatre, Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center and the Convention Center. The almost daily events at Gallivan Center draw people from all over the Wasatch Front to Salt Lake City's downtown core. Also, downtown offers compatible office space lease rates to encourage employers to locate downtown, and ample structured parking for their employees. TRAX provides easy access from the suburbs and links the Central Business District with the University of Utah. Main Street has been reborn and the revitalization will continue.
With growth comes change. Our Main Street downtown area is undergoing a dynamic, positive evolution. We can enjoy the ride through these changes with patience and wonder.
Rocky Anderson is the mayor of Salt Lake City