After nearly three dusty years of demolition and excavation work, City Creek Center across from Church headquarters in downtown Salt Lake City is showing the early outlines of its ambitious design.
City Creek Center is being developed by City Creek Reserve Inc., a Church affiliate, and Taubman Centers Inc., a retail properties developer and manager.
Since demolition began in 2006, the future City Creek Center has been touted for its unique outdoor appeal. Broad strolling paths, water features and lush landscaping will create a setting that will be inviting to residents of new condominium and apartment complexes, as well as shoppers and those who work downtown.
For much of the past year, an armada of cement trucks has docked at strategic pumping stations to pour 225,000 cubic yards of concrete, or roughly football field-sized sections, to construct underground parking structures and foundations.
A year ago, excavation workers in their orange-clad vests looked like specks from street level as they dug deeper and deeper.
By general conference time last April, construction had progressed to slightly above ground level on the Crossroads block across from Temple Square, and to near ground level on the ZCMI block across from the Church Administration Building.
Since then, The Regent condominium tower on 100 South has risen to a dozen of its 20 floors, while urban homes at Richards Court, a 90-unit condominium community at mid-block on South Temple between Main and West Temple, will be ready for occupancy in the first quarter of 2010.
The two 10-story buildings at Richards Court are nearly enclosed with interior work well under way. Tower 1, another residential building on the corner of South Temple and West Temple, will top off at 30 stories before the end of this year.
Construction of retail space is just getting under way with stores expected to open in the spring of 2012.
A recent ad in the Salt Lake newspapers acknowledged the 1,500 construction workers who are now on site. These workers, who represent every skill and construction trade, are the most expected to be on site at one time during the project.
City Creek Center will be a visual treat in every direction, according to Dale Bills, City Creek project spokesman for the Church. The 20-acre site has been designed to create a close sense of community among retailers, shoppers, residents and office workers where people will come for pleasure and purpose.
