for making 300 West between South Temple and 100 South a more pedestrian friendly environment by potentially undergrounding it. Phase 1 is scheduled for completion by 2028. 3. The budget and timelines for Arena, Phase 1 and Community Benefit Account are stated in gross figures. 4. The future of Phase 2 facilities, which includes Abravanel Hall, UMOCA and the Salt Palace is yet unknown. Improvements to these facilities must be administered by their owner, Salt Lake County. Phase 2 is scheduled for completion by 2033 (prior to the Olympics). 5. Design guidelines have yet to be adopted. 6. SEG has pledged to infuse $3 billion into the zone. That pledge is not binding and is not part of the Participation Agreement. 7. The exact terms of how the project will be financed are still being discussed. Likely, Salt Lake City will issue a bond or series of bonds to make the money available up front and the sales tax revenue will be used to (re)pay those costs. There is the opportunity to get this right and make a big difference, or to blow it spectacularly. Proponents say we must strike while the iron is hot, but critics claim that this project is moving too fast. Nonetheless, city, county and state leaders seem unified that this project will be transformational, even generational. The financial potential of this district is enormous; a 2022 consulting report stated a potential economic impact of $600 million annually from events at the Delta Center. Certainly, continual reinvestment in a community is the key to keeping it activated and attractive to local residents, tourists and businesses. City Council Member Chris Wharton said in a recent email: “In my view, this project — which represents the largest Downtown investment in Salt Lake City’s history — could only be possible through a public-private partnership between the city, county, state and SEG. Of course, it furthers SEG’s interests; they stand to make considerable profits if the project is successful. But it also keeps both professional teams (the largest single revenue generators) in Salt Lake City, it creates a new funding stream for the city’s immediate housing needs, improves access to amenities for residents and guests, allows us to help right a historic wrong inflicted on the Japanese-American community, adds greenspace and outdoor gathering space, encourages active transportation, boosts vitality in the Cultural Core, and generates the kind of significant economic activity and tax revenue that will help fund City services long after the 30-year agreement expires.” We can hope this project, which looks like it will proceed, will be structured very carefully to have real, long-term benefits. All parties must be held accountable, terms must be enforceable, and the public must be part of the dialogue. To paraphrase Darin Mano, architect and city council member, “There is so much leeway for this to be incredible, for there to be mistakes made and for it be something we wish we had done differently.” The local A/E/C community always stands to benefit from design and construction projects, and this is no different. No doubt much of the planning and design will be performed by out of state firms, but local coordination with local building authorities is essential and often collaborations between national and local firms provides opportunities for local firms to be significant partners in the process. What makes a public-private partnership succeed in both the long and short term? There are no easy answers to that, but the Second Century Plan, R/UDAT report and P3 studies agree that it is best for the community to move forward together, rather than separately. One could also add that there is great benefit to involving the local design professionals in the conversation with the national designers, elected officials and business interests. No one knows the bones of our city better. We hope that, in the interest of public participation, transparency and responsible use of taxpayers’ dollars, the urgency to implement this project is handled carefully to benefit those of us who will be contributing to its cost over the next 30 years. We don’t need to make those mistakes, Mano mentioned. The stakes are high. There was the Salt Palace and then there was Japantown. There are sports bars and then there is Abravanel Hall. Reach out today and let’s talk about your next project. ALDERS.COM A Leading Distributor of Specialty Building Materials 26 REFLEXION
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