Business Facilities - March 2008 - (Page 62)

METRO SPOTLIGHT Salt Lake City, Utah By Bill Trüb S alt Lake City, UT is in the midst of a large-scale revitalization project called Downtown Rising. A joint effort between the Salt Lake Chamber and the Salt Lake City Downtown Alliance, Downtown Rising’s renovation plans are designed to enhance the quality of life of the city’s 190,000 residents. Increases in public transportation services, bicycle paths, and pedestrian friendly walkways are part of the plans, which also include upgrades to the city’s green spaces. The result will be a “green loop” that connects the Wasatch Mountain Range to the Jordan River through downtown Salt Lake City. A former rail right-of-way between Interstate 15 and the Jordan River will be converted into a walking and jogging trail, while reclaimed industrial space in the Gateway neighborhood will become a network of winding green spaces. Heavily landscaped boulevards known as “green corridors” will connect the city’s recreational amenities, and the City Creek Greenway (a series of manicured parks and gardens) will tie together many downtown destinations. Other enhancements include the addition of a performing arts center, a sport and fitness facility, and a public market. A highlight of Downtown Rising is the City Creek Center in the Central Business District (CBD). The project, undertaken by the Church of Jesus Christ of LatterDay Saints, will transform 20 acres across three blocks of the CBD. When completed in mid-2011, the City Creek Center will encompass 2.7 million square feet of office and commercial space, serving as an employment hub for 65,000 employees and generating an expected $2.3 billon in wages and $550 million in retail sales annually. In addition to business growth, the CBD will also acquire 3,700 housing units, creating space for about 7,500 permanent residents. Next Stop: Anywhere S ble transport hub situated alt Lake City is an accessi- SOURCE: FORBES.COM. RANKINGS ARE BASED ON UNEMPLOYMENT RATE, JOB GROWTH, INCOME GROWTH, MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME, AND COST OF LIVING DURING 2007. 62 MARCH 2008 PHOTO CREDITS: UTAH GOVERNOR’S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT; DOWNTOWN RISING along the major I-15 and I-80 arteries. The city’s commuter rail system is being extended west from downtown to the new intermodal hub, scheduled for completion this year, and out to the Salt Lake City International Airport. The rail line will run north for 44 miles through Davis County to Pleasant View, UT in Weber County. Once completed, the Utah Transit Authority (UTA) will extend the line south for 52 miles through Provo and Orem to Spanish Fork in Utah County. These The intermodal hub will serve as a transportation nerve center, complete with an Amtrak station, Greyhound bus depot, UTA bus transfer station, light rail staRendering of the City Creek Center in Salt Lake City, UT tion, commuter rail station, taxi cab stands, and amenities Best Cities for Jobs 2008 for bicyclists. Rank Location Salt Lake City International Air1 SALT LAKE CITY, UT port, with its available industrial 2 Wichita, KS 3 Austin, TX and office space, is six miles west of 4 Atlanta, GA the city. It ranks first nationally in 5 Ft. Worth, TX both on-time arrivals and departures, according to the Bureau of Transportation’s November 2007 extensions will better serve the four statistics. Last year, 81.54% of all counties of the Wasatch Front, flights arrived on time and 84.94% home to 80% of Utah’s population. departed on time. http://FORBES.COM

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Business Facilities - March 2008 Contents First Word Snapshots California Seeks Immigration Reform To Spur Economic Growth Outside the Biotechnology Clusters Global Biotech Competition Heats Up Location Is Key To Your Bottom Line New Incentives For New Hampshire Metro Spotlight: Jersey City, NJ Europe's Center For Goods, Real and Virtual Access Your Markets From Pennsylvania Corporate Moves: Illinois Louisiana Upgrades Important Port Road Projects To Accelerate Michigan's Economy Corporate Moves: South Carolina Metro Spotlight: Salt Lake City, UT Advertiser Index Inside LiveXchange

Business Facilities - March 2008

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