A scale model of a proposed high-rise building in downtown Salt Lake City barely came out of its box when the project found itself plunged into a mini-controversy.
Salt Lake City-based American Stores, which is the parent of Chicago’s Jewel Stores Inc., wants to construct a 24-story headquarters office tower.
The problem is, its huge west-facing wall, 325 feet across, would block the mountain view enjoyed for years by residents of the twin-building American Towers condominiums, a block west.
In a letter to Salt Lake City Council Chairman Stuart Reid, some condo owners in the 27-story complex raised concerns that their property values could fall if a high-rise goes up between them and the mountains.
Reid raised the issue during a meeting of the Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency.
Could the company twist the proposed sloping east wall so it faces the south, thus sparing more of the mountain scenery, Reid asked?
Not exactly, said architect Jack Yardley, as he moved a scale model of the building on the conference table.
The building’s proposed west-facing atrium, above Main Street, requires that the design essentially be constructed as planned.
Some RDA members showed sympathy toward the American Tower residents.
“When you live downtown, you can’t guarantee any view,” said councilmember Paul Hutchison. “I believe they should accept the fact that they chose the lifestyle downtown.”
Naturally, city officials want to smooth the way for the American Stores high-rise because it fulfills their objective of transforming the area into an office and retail magnet.
The overall project, approved last month, calls for the grocery and drug retailer to buy the land from the city Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and construct the $90 million office building and multistory parking garage.
In turn, Salt Lake City will pay the company $5.5 million to help construct the tower, parking lot and an L-shaped street that will run through the property.
If current plans remain intact, the west side wall of granite and glass tower will rise vertically from the Main Street sidewalk, with a sloping wall on the east side widening at the bottom. This triangular design is often associated with Hyatt Regency hotels.
Retail shops, including a 17,000-square-foot grocery store, would occupy the ground floor on Main Street. The office tower would be the second-tallest building in Salt Lake City after the LDS Church Office Building.
Salt Lake City Council members, sitting as the RDA, approved the general location of the American Stores building, the parking garage and Plaza Drive. Other matters, such as building design and traffic control, will be resolved later. Construction is to begin this fall.
And traffic may prove the most nagging issue because some 1,500 new office workers will be funneled into the building once it opens in 1997. Current plans show access to parking lots and service areas only from 300 South, the same street onto which cars would leave the 1,400-stall parking structure.
