May 16, 2006

  

A Publication of the Economic Development Corporation of Utah

CEO Jeff Edwards

PRESIDENT'S  

MESSAGE

Business-Led, Regional Visioning for Salt Lake's Central Business District


All successful businesses have a vision, a plan for the future of what and where they want and expect to be in five, 10 and 25 years. Surprisingly, very few business centers as a whole have such a vision. Today's feature article, written by Natalie Gochnour of the Salt Lake Chamber and recently published in the Urban Land Institute's on-line publication, discusses this issue and its relative importance to not only the city itself, but the areas surrounding it and those which possess a codependent relationship with it--in Utah's case, the vast majority of our state.

Today's Economic Review also includes links to many of the ED-related news stories from the past week. As always, if you have comments, suggestions or topics you'd like to see in the Economic Review, please contact us by clicking the "Comments" button on the bottom of this page.

Enjoy!

Jeff Edwards
Jeff Edwards
President and CEO

FEATURE STORY

Kick Starting Business-Led Visioning

By Natalie Gochnour, vice president for policy and communications, Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce

Salt Lake City's businesses need to work together to develop a unified vision for the city.

Over the next five years the central business district of Utah's capital city-the regional center for nearly 2 million people, 61,250 jobs, 3,500 housing units, 13.5 million square feet of office space, and 2.1 million square feet of retail space-will benefit from more than $1.5 billion in new investment. This investment will simultaneously transform the city skyline and create a need for serious construction impact mitigation to minimize the potential short-term problems of dust, noise, utility disruptions, and parking and traffic changes.

As an employee of Utah's largest and longest-serving business association, I spent four months interviewing property owners, businesspeople, and other local experts to learn what the Salt Lake Chamber and its affiliate, the Downtown Alliance, could do to help minimize the inconvenience of so much construction during such a condensed period of time. I learned a lot about tactical construction impact mitigation during these interviews, but always in the back of my mind was a growing concern: Utah's business community lacked a unified, regional vision for downtown Salt Lake City.

A Vision of Visions

Don't get me wrong; residents of the greater Salt Lake area benefit from the actions of many visionary business leaders and plans. This, in part, is why so much money will be thoughtfully invested over the next few years. What the business community does not have is a collective business vision, or what a colleague of mine called a vision of visions-a grand expression of what they collectively value and want their city to be 20 or 30 years from now.

In addition to the interviews, I reviewed many planning documents for the downtown area to see what I could learn. Salt Lake City is fortunate to have a wealth of progressive planning that stretches all the way back to the Mormon pioneers and the original Plat of Zion. These plans include the good thinking of Salt Lake City's planning department, local consultants, and respected national experts like the American Institute of Architects, the Urban Land Institute, and other out-of-state planning experts. So, with a rich collection of local plans, why doesn't the business community capture common words, concepts, and visuals to describe their collective aspirations?

This question troubled me even more because Salt Lake City is home to Envision Utah, one of the nation's preeminent public/private partnerships for high-quality growth. The Salt Lake area has a quality growth strategy that business leaders helped develop and that they embrace. In terms of regional visioning and the business community, we are spot on; but what about the region's core?

To help answer this question, I looked at core cities in other metropolitan areas to see if a unified, business-led vision was present. I turned first to my employer's sister entities-local chambers of commerce. To the extent that chambers of commerce had formally articulated visions for their core cities, they tended to be for a short time frame (many focused on one to five years) and were consequently focused on the immediate battles of the day. Many stopped at just a vision statement; my kudos to those cities that have distilled business-led visions about their future. My sense, however, is that far too few communities benefit from an articulated, long-term business-led vision.

The Second Century Plan

To the extent that I found regional plans with a central city component, they were government-led-a not-surprising or inappropriate outcome. Well-done government plans take great care to involve the business community in the deliberations. But why wouldn't the business community recognize the value of preparing its own collective vision to inform and enrich government-led planning? My search for a business-led effort eventually landed me right back where I started-my home state, or, in this case, the office next door. A colleague pointed out that Salt Lake's chamber of commerce launched a business-led visioning effort during the 1960s. This plan, called the Second Century Plan, included prominent business and civic leaders who outlined a blueprint for the capital city's second century.

These far-sighted community leaders teamed up with the American Institute of Architects to produce a long-range plan to "aid the progress and growth of downtown Salt Lake City." They spent two years creating a growth outline that was "built around people." Their vision was not captured in a one- to two-inch planning document, but in a two-foot-by-three-foot, two-sided poster that included a summary of the past and present, a description of the downtown's potential, renderings of the physical blueprint, a map, and a delineation of the steps to succeed.

In this way, they stayed away from creating a comprehensive master plan (not their job, nor what they would do well), but they accomplished what Benton MacKaye, the visionary creator of the Appalachian Trail, described as the two components of planning: "an accurate formulation of our desires" and "a scientific charting and picturing of a thing." Several components of the plan have now become a reality-a convention center, a pedestrian plaza on Main Street, a symphony hall, and a farmers market.

Call for a Unified Vision

A lot has changed since the 1960s, but the need for visionary business leadership remains. That is why the Salt Lake Chamber and the Downtown Alliance are sponsoring another business-led effort to create a unified vision for Utah's capital city. We will renew the Second Century Plan for today's generation of business leaders.

The collaboration will be regional in scope-capturing the interrelationships between the capital city and suburbs as one codependent market, workforce, commutershed, airshed, watershed, entertainment center, and cultural region. The plan will recognize that the suburbs benefit from a vibrant city core, and that central cities need healthy and livable suburbs. The issue is not limited to just one or the other-both will thrive or decline together.

We will tap the significant expertise of Envision Utah to weave our vision of the capital city into the fabric of the regional quality growth strategy. After all, the central city shares many of the same goals-improved air quality, housing and transportation choices, efficient infrastructure investment, and conservation of critical lands. In addition, we will focus on the region's capital city to examine the underlying values, and then identify components of a collective vision-gateway entrances to our downtown, multiple districts, connections between the districts, preservation of our historic buildings, a trail network, and other potential items.

'A New and Higher Level of Cooperation'

Most important, we will create a vision that captures the best thinking of Utah's business leadership-including the mom-and-pop stores that contribute to our downtown's character; the large retail establishments that draw business from the region's nearly 2 million people; the legal, financial, and government employees who populate the city during the day; and other components of a capital city.

In the end, I feel confident that a business-led vision will contribute to Salt Lake's enviable quality of life. Joel Garreau, in his landmark book, Edge Cities, said "the only way we will ever arrive at a new and higher approach to our man-made and natural environment is if we somehow achieve a new and higher level of cooperation." Here's to Salt Lake and America's business community getting involved!

Originally published by the Urban Land Institute - April 2006 - Web Extra. Condensed and reprinted by permission of the author and the ULI. (Original article link.)

Natalie Gochnour, a native Utahn, managed the technical work for Envision Utah's original baseline, scenario, and quality growth strategies.

© 2006 ULI-the Urban Land Institute, all rights reserved.

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IN THE NEWS

Economic Development Headlines

Third Dimension Follows KraftMaid to West Jordan

- Box and packaging manufacturer Third Dimension Inc. is building a 140,000-square-foot facility in West Jordan at 6208 W. Dannon Way. The Ohio-based company is constructing the facility to provide boxes to KraftMaid, which will produce thousands of cabinets a day when its West Jordan manufacturing plant opens early in 2007. (Utah Business Magazine)

Utah's Technology Industry Gathers Steam

- After two years of solid growth and the recent passage of the USTAR initiative, Utah's technology industry is gaining momentum. According to figures released Wednesday by the Utah Technology Council, the state's tech industry grew more than 7 percent from September 2004 to September 2005, adding 258 new companies. (Utah Business Magazine) (Morning News) (SL Tribune) (Press Release)

Trade is Top Topic for Mexican President's Visit to Beehive State

- Trade will be the main topic when Mexican President Vicente Fox visits Utah on May 23, a governor's office spokesman said. (Daily Herald) (Morning News)

Winds May Bring a Windfall

- A potential source of clean, renewable energy in Spanish Fork also may be a source of cold, hard cash for Utah County, a study conducted by Utah State University researchers has concluded. (Morning News)

Western Growth Positive, Speakers Say

- Rapid growth in the West brings both economic opportunity and the challenge of preserving the natural environment that draws people here. During a special session Thursday at the Urban Land Institute's Spring Council Forum in Salt Lake City, at least 150 planners, developers and economic leaders from the West discussed ways to accommodate the region's growth, yet preserve its open lands and unique quality of life. (Morning News)

In Robust Economy, Businesses Struggle with Labor Shortage

- The Zions Bank Small Business Index for Utah has dropped more than two points to 113.4 in April. The index, which rates the state's economy from the perspective of a small business owner, reflects the ultra-low unemployment rate of 3.4 percent that is making it difficult for businesses to hire enough workers. (Utah Business Magazine) (Morning News) (Davis Clipper)

For Ogden, It's Decision Time

- This so-called "Junction City," at the West's crossroads for much of the past century, is at a juncture. (SL Tribune)

Renewal Boss Sees Progress Reviving Ogden

- Karen Thurber calls herself a "cockeyed optimist." After all, she says she has seen a lot of progress during the last decade in Ogden's efforts to revive its central city, once wracked by high unemployment, deteriorating homes, low school-graduation rates and increasing crime. (SL Tribune)

Minority Chambers May Form Alliance

- They're already growing. So now they're looking at ways they can grow, together. Several of Utah's minority chambers of commerce, including the Utah Hispanic Chamber, Black Chamber and Asian Chamber, and possibly the soon-to-be-formed Pacific Islander Chamber, have been in talks to form an alliance, tentatively called the Ethnic Chambers Association. (Morning News)

Utah Tech Growth Highlights

- The number of Utah tech industry companies totaled 3,786 in September 2005, up from 3,528 a year earlier, according to data from the Utah Department of Workforce Services for 50 job codes defined by the Utah Technology Council as information technology and life science industries. (Morning News)

Busy Cash Registers in Utah

- Utahns have gone on a shopping spree, ringing up an additional $1.9 billion in retail sales in 2005 over the prior year, an increase of about 9 percent. Among the top grossing cities, American Fork achieved the greatest increase in retail sales, up more than 111 percent over the past five years, according to a report from Commerce CRG. (Utah Business Magazine) (Morning News)

Utah Stadiums Compete to Host Lucrative Concerts

- Hosting various events in sport facilities is vital to the survival of any stadium or arena, but the changing face of the concert industry means they must compete more fiercely for musical acts. During a Friday session at the Urban Land Institute conference, three panelists spoke on the economic impact of sports facilities. (Morning News)

Barnstorming for HAFB Jobs

- State Sen. Sheldon Killpack really wants to get state lawmakers behind supporting jobs for Hill Air Force Base. He engineered a whirlwind trip to Oklahoma City recently with Senate Pres. John L. Valentine, R-Orem, and House Speaker Greg J. Curtis, R-Salt Lake City. They landed at 9:30 p.m. on a Thursday night and were back in Utah less than 24 hours later, Killpack said - after meeting with officials from local chambers of commerce and community leaders. The overall goal was to see how another Air Force Base impacted area - in this case, by Tinker Air Force Base - is able to capture a lot more base-related contracts and associated business. (Davis Clipper)

RDA: Project Could Redirect Taxes for RSL and Medical Company

- This suburb is on its way to finding out how much money it can raise to help fund a 20,000-seat soccer stadium and keep a medical-device maker growing. (SL Tribune)

Incentives Offered to West Liberty May Still be an Option, Recruiting Office Says

- An Iowa-based meat processing company that promised to employ 500 people at a new facility in Pleasant View, Weber County, is now looking for a different location for its plant. In April, West Liberty Foods announced it would build a $50 million plant in Pleasant View after the Governor's Office of Economic Development board officially approved $2 million in tax incentives. (Morning News) (SL Tribune)

Ogden Makes National Lists

- An emerging "cool factor" has made the Top of Utah one of the hottest communities in the nation in terms of affordability, quality of life and business climate, according to survey results released this week by three national business magazines. The Ogden area's outdoor splendor and burgeoning reputation as a ski-industry hub earned it the 18th spot for hottest midsize cities in Inc. Magazine's Boomtowns 2006 survey. (Standard-Examiner)

Construction to Start on Ogden Office Building

- With the turn of a shovel, Property Reserve Inc. will break ground Friday on construction of a 75,000-square-foot downtown office building. The four-story building, named Ensign Plaza South, will be located at 2225 Washington Blvd., on the northeast corner of The Junction, a multimillion dollar retail, recreational and residential complex under construction at the former site of the old Ogden City Mall. (Standard-Examiner)

$50 Million Electrical Products Wholesaler to Open in North SLC

- Crum Electric Supply Co., a Casper, Wyo.-based wholesaler of electrical goods, telecommunications products and datacom materials, will open a 12,500 square foot facility at 925 W. 100 N., North Salt Lake, by July 1. (Enterprise)

Annual Tourism Conference Planned for Ogden

- Registration is under way for the third annual Utah Tourism Conference, scheduled for Wednesday through Friday at the Ogden Marriott. Sponsored by the Utah Tourism Industry Coalition and the Utah Office of Tourism, the event will sport the theme "Take Care of Business and You." (Morning News)
 

CALENDAR

May 17:  EDCUTAH Board of Trustees Meeting

May 21-24:  ICSC Spring Convention, Las Vegas

May 24:  Zions Bank International Trade and Business Conference, Salt Lake City Grand America Hotel (Click here for information/registration)

May 25:  Salt Lake Chamber 'Business After Hours'

June 8:  EDCUTAH Quarterly Update (click here to RSVP)

August 9:  EDCUTAH Annual Meeting