Is pricing available anywhere for the residential units?

Full pricing isn't yet available, but their are preliminary plans available to be viewed at the Church Office Building (I think that is where they are). Those who are interested in buying can go to view those and the developers are talking with potential buyers and incorporating their feedback. Worth a look.

That rendering of the sky bridge is grotesque - you see why they are showing it from an aerial view? Because from the street it will block the view of the temple and will be a boxy enclosed airport-like eyesore.

Completely horrible design for sky bridge. It NEEDS to be open-aired and have ready access to the street, not via elevators!!!!

The whole idea of the skybridge is to keep people inside so they don't have to go out when it's freezing in January

I have to agree -- the skybridge is grotesque. There's got to be a better way.

I think it is funny that some people hate the idea of a skybridge so much that they would call that rendering of it ugly. While I doubt that is what the final design will look like, I think it look great and will add a very much needed and modern look to our city.

Go to any city of progress or prosperity and you will see arched skywalks and bridges like that. Multilevel living and existance in the 21st century requires it. Salt Lake is modernizing and improving. The skywalk will help keep traffic moving on congested main street. Get over it people!

You're right. Sorry.

Oh man.....so they are admitting the 1.5 BILLION price tag now huh? by the time 2012 rolls around, I'll bet it really is pushing 3 BILLION.

1.5 billion US dollars could buy a lot of fly repellent and gruel.

I totally agree. We need the skybridge. There are going to be a lot of retired and physically challenged folks relocating to downtown as this project completes. They need to be able to traverse safely and secure.
Re: The pricing question - my parents have had their names on a wait list for the condos well over 2 years now. We were told that the residences are very high-scale; a few small studios might be grabbed up in the $300s - however the larger units are going from mid to high $500s and up - temple views are premium.

Minneapolis and Charlotte both have above-street pedestrian walkways throughout the most congested areas of their downtowns. These walkways, which are extensive skybridges, are very popular with shoppers and merchants.

This is an astronomical undertaking just to make sure the shops are closed Sunday.

We need this new downtown, we are not a farmer anynore, skybridge...great!!!
c'mon people, if you dont like progress go to Wyoming!!!
We need more public transport, trains and freeways!!!
The farmer era has ended!!!

lol what are you talking about? I've been to NYC and have spent a considerable amount of time in Chicago (do these count as cities of progress and prosperity?) and I didn't see any skybridges. In fact, those cities are models of why you shouldn't have skybridges- so you can actually have people walking around the street, creating a lively city.

What happened to the proposal for 2 large skybridges?

They will help stop the (very) few idiots who want to stand in the middle of the street to gaze at "The View" and keep getting run over.

Those new and improved skybridges were designed for the folks who want to be out there.

Minneapolis has dozens of skybridges and they in no way limit street traffic during the summer. I've lived in both Chicago and Minneapolis and skybridges profide nothing but a benefit.

I don't understand why people are so concerned about businesses on street level being hurt by a skybridge. If anybody cares to take a look, at the moment, there are only enormous holes on either side of Main Street where City Creek Center is being built. Other than one pharmacy at the far end of the street, the only existing businesses on the street are banks, which likely don't depend too much on passers by anyway. Therefore, the only businesses that will potentially be hurt by the skybridge are those that will be part of the City Creek Center, whose owners want the bridge. So why all the fuss?

The best thing to bring people downtown would be stores that aren't part of chains. Duplicating stores that are already in place in the suburbs or other cities along the Wasatch Front will be a huge mistake--hopefully the City Creek project will be able to lure some unique stores.

And (Anonymous), last I saw, some stores and restaurants in the development would be open on Sundays. And they'll even be serving alcohol.

Yay?

Yes lots of cities have skybridges- and are trying to get rid of them! If we must have a skybridge, why does it have to look like a gerbil tube? Cant we make it iconic?

I see nothing wrong with the skybridge (it being done or it's rendering in this article). The reason it's shown from above isn't to hide faults, but rather to showcase the landscaping of the street below as well.

I fail to see what view exactly is being blocked by a bridge, I've never understood the people raving about this. I've stood in that street and you don't see much to get excited about... but I would think an elevated viewing point (the bridge) would improve this supposed view and make it safer than standing in the street below to see it.

An open air bridge (with no top)? Why would we want that? I'm already baffled by the current fad of open air malls, indoor/enclosed malls are much better especially for a climate like ours. Why would I want to cross this bridge on a baking hot, freezing cold, rainy or snowy day? Those are also my reasons for disliking outdoor malls.

I also don't get the "vital" importance of street access from the bridge, but if you must have it I see nothing wrong with escalators or elevators at either end of the bridge.

This is hilarious! A sky bridge, a sky bridge...oh my goodness, SLC is getting a sky bridge! Who cares! I am relocating to SLC for my job and I have visited for years and there are no people walking around downtown anyway. A skybridge won't deter from anything...although it will be nice for the cold months. BTW, don't compate Chicago and NYC to SLC...two entirely different places. SLC'er just as an fyi NYC doesn't have any room for a skybridge (if you have been here you would understand why) and the reason why they have people on the streets is because 1-they have people (millions) and two becuase 99% of the people must use public transportation and have no choice but walking to their jobs, to eat, etc...the other 1% is taxis NOT because there aren't any skybridges. This project is the best thing that's happened to SLC (except the Olympics)...really who cares about a sky bridge? Put it in and if you're against it, don't ever walk on it (mac & soakblue, enjoy freezing on the streets in January).

I work in the office building on Social Hall Ave. literally right next to where the Harmon's grocery store is supposed to be built. I and fellow workers love the idea of Harmon's coming right there, but I've been scratching my head the whole time wondering how it will work. I'd like to see it explained by the City Creek people or local media how exactly Harmon's will look/work... the spot it's going in seems too small. Will it be a 2 story grocery store or what?

Anonymous @ 1:33 pm: I couldn't agree more.

I personally am all about having a skybridge there, I think it's great.

But... I think the design they chose for the bridge is tacky. It doesn't match the rest of the development. I say: less glass, more masonry.

I'm not so worried about the skybridge...the rendering of the other places seemed very plain and boring to me. Looked like Gateway all over again. I hope it is going to look far more urban and classy than that.

As a developer in So. California for nearly 30 years, I can tell you this plan is POORLY conceived. Their is not enough critical mass to sustain the type of common market experience this type of development will require. Equity sources for the individual purchase of residential units is drying up, going from bad to worse. I'm sure the Church will require in the CCR's that no commercial properties will be open on Sundays. Most shops and commercial experiences will cater to the LDS market and most of this demographic prefer to be home and to be frugal in spending money. And yes, costs will only go up, up and up, cases in point the Joseph Smith Memorial Bldg and the Conference Center.

I have worked downtown for a long time and at one time lived downtown and have not seen people standing on Main Street looking at the view. I have stood in other places admiring the view, but not on Main.

With TRAX already being one thing taking away a view I don't think it matters. If the sky bridge is such an issue then we should be removing all of the skyscrapers and not approve any new ones because clearly they obstruct the view from the ground as well and certainly some of the building would a place to obtain a much better view of the temple.

As usual a lot of complaining about nothing really important. Skybridge or no skybridge it is not going to create more foot traffic on downtown side walks. If someone wants to walk around downtown they will and if they don't they won't.

The only successful CA developer I know with the initials Gary S. is located in Stockton. Is that you? Good man!

However, the critical mass sustainability will be helped from the 10,000 BYU students living near by at the new BYU-Business school to be located in the old Triad Center.

Also there are other large developments planned that will ingest people with money to burn into the neighborhood as well.

Those are some really awful illustrations indeed! Why don't they extend the massively ugly skybridge to the Gateway? And, while they're at it, they can install a water feature underneath said skybridge and get people wet in the process, lol!

Gary, one thing you fail to incorporate is that this does not need to make money. The church would be happy to break even, but even that is not its goal. The goal is the preservation of the area surrounding its headquarters.

Also, keep in mind that the anchor tenants are already signed to long term leases.

HOW IS IT UGLY!?

I LOVE the structure how the picture is honestly and aside from that UTAH NEEDS MORE.

UTAH is a special place with growing visitors and growing population and NOT GROWING features as a city.

Anyone who apposes this bridge is just antagonist. People hated TRAX which we greatly use now.

It shouldn't be open faced because Jan. cold is too much for it and more so because how many lawsuits because there was ice inside the bridge and someone falls.

This is a great design and I'm sure the final product will be better pending approval.

If the state refuses this then I don't see how they would be just.

If there is ANY form of accessing Main Street, no business can complain. It reduces unsafe crossing of roads AND it places a good mark in Utah.

Other businesses do this all over the world and without this much guff. Just because the church does something and Rocky doesn't like it.

For safety, pedestrian, weather, design, Utah architecture, and crowd pleasing atmosphere there is nothing wrong with this as long as they is a way to the street.

I LOVE the design. Simple. Smart. Friendly.

The Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the Conference Center were both astoundingly successful. I don't think the City Creek project will be any different. The naysayers are probably the same people that fought TRAX.

Downtown Salt Lake died years ago! A skybridge is just to make it look pretty for the fools that come down for conference. Nobody lives downtown who has any brains!

I like it

When this is all finished I will NOT be able to afford the gas to get to the bus stop to get downtown. If I could get downtown in 2012 I would have no extra money to spend anyway. My natural gas bill went up. My taxes went up. I can barely afford gas for my car. Groceries cost more each week. About all the good I see is that I am staying home more and so are my neighbors. After 10 years in my home I am finally getting to know my neighbors -- none of which speak the same lanugage, but we wave a lot.

I'm excited for the renovations. I live downtown and love it! There's a lot to do down here from the symphony, to Jazz games, to theater, to eating out. The best part is that to do anything I can normally walk there or just hop on trax for free and I'm wherever I want to be in about 5 to 10 minutes max. The only thing wrong I see with downtown is that parts of it have been let go. I'm glad to see the LDS church help revitalize downtown. I think a lot of people don't realize how much there is going on/to do down here. I think people should be grateful. In AZ where I'm from there is not a thriving area of things to do like Salt Lake - at least not a family friendly one where you feel like its appropriate to take children.