History Downtown Salt Lake City

1 history

1.1 main street
1.2 commercial street
1.3 20th century

history

downtown s layout first planned in 1833, 17 years before salt lake city founded. joseph smith designed plat of zion, plan cities of 20,000 people each followed city blocks self-sufficient family farms surrounding several temples in center. smith meant plan applied city of zion in midwestern united states, following persecution , smith s assassination, plans carried westward mormon pioneers. downtown salt lake began form in 1847 when brigham young chose site of salt lake temple of church of jesus christ of latter-day saints, forming core of settlement. temple square became center of grid system, bounded south temple, west temple, north temple, , east temple streets. streets named according distance , direction southeast corner of temple square; example 200 west 2 blocks west of meridian, while 400 south 4 blocks south. east temple popularly known main street, , officially renamed sometime in late 19th century. has been commercial center of city.

main street , 400 south


main street

the mormon pioneers, settled in salt lake city, adopted form of consecration whereby crops grown , products produced divided among members of church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (lds church) in local congregations. enabled new settlers have food , products needed after made rigorous journey salt lake city. exchange organized become zions cooperative mercantile institution (zcmi).

the first businesses locate on main street founded james a. livingston , charles a. kincade, in 1850, in area south of council house being built on corner of main , south temple streets. mormon pioneers lived secluded existence in remote salt lake valley first 20 years of settlement. however, in 1865 u.s. troops stationed in park city discovered silver , announced world.

with announcement, entirely new element began streaming salt lake city. prospectors changed downtown district. in accommodation of new crowd, many of main street businesses saloons, earning street nickname whiskey street .

for many years, there existed political , cultural divide in salt lake city. mormons shop , congregate around salt lake temple, gardens @ temple square , zcmi on north-end of main street, , not members of church, prospectors in days, stay south of predominantly mormon area.

originally, business district extended along west side of main between south temple , 100 south. 1880s, area had expanded both sides of street , down 200 south, , increased block decade, until 1900, when reached 400 south. today, southern limit of downtown salt lake city considered 900 south.

commercial street

from 1870 1930s, commercial street (now known regent street ) salt lake s notorious red light district. prostitution begrudgingly tolerated long confined commercial street, kept out of public eye.

in late 1880s, trade unofficially licensed. police arrest of prostitutes , madams each month , fine them $50 each. after physical examination, released , allowed ply trade without further fear of molestation.

many notable salt lakers owned buildings on commercial street, including brigham young trust company, board included many prominent members of church of jesus christ of latter-day saints (lds church). brigham young, jr., church apostle , vice president of bank, temporarily resigned on matter, until building later sold.

20th century

north entrance of now-demolished zcmi center mall

after world war ii, many people afford move out of downtown suburbs. 1971, 60% of homes in downtown salt lake city in major disrepair.

starting in 1960s, revitalization efforts began, spearheaded lds church, had considered downtown home. during 70s, built zcmi center mall on full city block of land had housed zcmi department store, preserving historic storefront. church leased land developer build crossroads mall. land mall housed amussen jewelry building (1869), @ time salt lake city s oldest building. study commissioned city found salt lake city s architecturally significant building, , efforts preserve underway. however, before building saved, torn down make way mall.

also built during era lds church office building, completed in 1973, @ time salt lake s tallest building @ 28 floors. however, surpassed in 1999 american stores tower (now known wells fargo center). although has fewer floors, taller church office building 2 feet, although church office building appears taller because located on higher ground.

from 1970-1976 central main street shopping district saw dramatic shift south-end (near exchange place , broadway) north-end (near l.d.s temple). shift result of change in buying patterns, shoppers preferring malls rather on-street department stores. using land , loan provided zion securities, second main street mall completed in 1978. following completion of crossroads mall south-end of main street collapsed, beginning 117-year-old merchant auerbachs department store. others go under broadway music, paris company, baker shoes, pembroke s, keith o brien , keith warshaw.

in 1980s, saudi businessman, adnan khashoggi, had vision of turning salt lake city major business hub. forming u.s. holdings company, triad utah , planned build 2 43-story skyscrapers, several mid-rise buildings. khashoggi implicated in iran-contra scandal , assets frozen federal government , skyscrapers never built, leaving current triad center buildings 3, 4 , 5. revitalization efforts of downtown continued through 1990s , 2000s. old salt palace arena torn down , new arena, vivint smart home arena, constructed northwest in 1991. existing convention center connected arena demolished , new convention center of same name built on site. in 1998 wells fargo center completed , remains tallest building in salt lake city today (although lds church office building appears taller because stands on higher ground). in 2000, lds conference center completed , supplanted still-existing salt lake tabernacle conferences of church of jesus christ of latter-day saints. gateway, contains office space, apartment complexes, , open-air shopping center, completed in 2001 near western edge of downtown, replacing old, run-down industrial area near railroad. lds business college byu salt lake center moved downtown triad center, purchased lds church in 2004. in 2007, newest high-rise known 222 south main building began construction. 21 story building completed in july 2009.