In response to John Florez's recent columns and Raymond Hollstein's comments (Readers' Forum, April 7), inaccurate information continues to be spread regarding west-side development. Salt Lake City Corp. proposed a loan to a developer who stepped forward with a viable proposal for a 160,000-square-foot neighborhood lifestyle center at North Temple and Redwood Road. The administration also proposed a performance-based allocation of partial sales tax (used twice before for retail projects in Salt Lake City), which is only distributed if a retailer meets performance standards above what is already being generated in other retail establishments in the city.
The California-based developer of the center has a history of entering commercially challenged neighborhoods with projects that include a mix of national and local, independent retailers. The projects have become catalysts for more development resulting in positive change and growth for the surrounding area. The proposal was for the center to be grocery anchored with up to 12 additional stores, including furniture. There was the potential for the grocer to be Gigante, but the tenant mix was still to be determined. Several smaller, local, independent shops were a recommended part of the project. There was no "foreign" investor involved, as Florez and Hollstein have commented erroneously.
Salt Lake City administers a Revolving Loan Fund that is available to every business located in Salt Lake City. Forty-one percent of the city's loans since the inception of the program in 1991 have been given to businesses located west of State Street. (Statistics were provided to Florez prior to his writing the editorials.) Fewer than 10 percent of the loans have been given to businesses with more than 50 employees in keeping with the desired purpose of the loan fund, which is to assist small businesses.
It is true that there are many excellent small businesses located on the city's west side. Yet for at least six years, city staffers have heard the continual requests from west-side neighborhoods for more commercial development in the area. City officials have been told repeatedly by residents that rather than shop in their own community, they drive to Bountiful and Murray to do their shopping. Consistent attempts by city staff to attract a local developer to the area have failed, as have three other proposed developments over the past four years in that specific area.
Salt Lake City provided seed money to start the Local First campaign and has been a strong supporter of all local, independent businesses. Salt Lake City also supports, and is working to attract, larger-scale development that can serve as a catalyst for growth and meet the commercial needs that residents have requested.
Alison McFarlane is a senior adviser for economic development with Salt Lake City Corp.