The LDS Church has not spoken publicly about its downtown commercial plans for Salt Lake City in eight months.

On Tuesday, Presiding Bishop H. David Burton, who oversees the church's downtown projects, will break the silence.

He, or a representative, will speak at City Hall during the City Council's "fact-finding" hearing on downtown.

What will he say? It's anyone's guess, but council members hope to get answers about the status of the seemingly stalled renovation of Crossroads Plaza and ZCMI Center malls.

"It'll give them a chance to express their continued commitment to downtown," said City Council Chairman Dave Buhler, who invited Burton to the meeting. "We're pleased he'll come to share with us what he can."

The LDS Church - it last spoke publicly in August 2005 - didn't comment Wednesday.

Few expect a major announcement Tuesday, saying if there was one to give, the church would orchestrate a news conference.

"I'd be surprised if he said anything," said Bill Martin, of Commerce CRG, a commercial brokerage in Salt Lake City. "Normally you would want to have a press release. These guys hate these slow leaks. It's a pretty well-kept secret."

Some news has trickled out since the church announced in October 2003 that it would redevelop its two Main Street malls to include retail and housing. But a renovation timeline and a list of new tenants remains unknown.

Nordstrom was supposed to open its new space on the Crossroads block in 2007. But the lack of construction or even demolition "begs the question: Where do we go from here; are the plans still intact," said Councilwoman Jill Remington Love.

Nordstrom spokeswoman Brooke White said in an interview Wednesday the opening deadline has long been pushed back to 2009 "because the church is undertaking a really complicated project with a lot of working parts. These things take time. As far as we know, we're on track for a store opening in '09."

Observers believe construction must start this year, or in 2007 at the latest, to accommodate the Nordstrom timeline.

Love wonders if the delays can create an opportunity to change the design. As far as the public knows, Crossroads and ZCMI will be renovated but will remain indoor malls, though with more glass and light. Love suggests an outdoor, mixed-use project with less retail.

Mayor Rocky Anderson - who doesn't want to see the malls replaced with another mall - recently met privately with Burton. Anderson wouldn't disclose the details of the conversation, but said he came away "more hopeful that there has been more consideration about urban-design issues rather than just simply planning another mall." And Anderson commended Burton for paying attention to design.

When asked if he would still call the project a mall, Anderson responded: "Nice try." Nor would he say if he expects construction this year.

As part of the hearing, the council also will hear an update on Hamilton Partners' plans to build an office tower on Main Street near Hotel Monaco at 200 South, and comments from the Salt Lake Chamber. The chamber wants to join with the city on a construction-mitigation plan to help downtown businesses and the public weather the $1.5 billion worth of investment expected in the next five years in dozens of projects, including the malls.

Although the church's plans remain elusive, "We have plenty to keep us busy until we get more clarity," said Natalie Gochnour, the chamber's vice president of policy and communications.

hmay@sltrib.com

About downtown SLC malls

What we know

l Malls will be closed Sundays. Restaurants will be allowed to serve alcohol.

l Tenants in the KeyBank office tower on the Crossroads block are being asked to move out so the building can be demolished.

l No deal has been struck with Utah Woolen Mills, which owns property on Crossroads block.

l National mall developer Taubman Centers Inc. continues to work on the project, which it dubs The Shops at City Square.

l Nordstrom expects to open in a new location on Crossroads block in 2009. Meier & Frank will remain in the project, but will become a Macy's.

l Mervyn's is out. It recently closed its Crossroads shop.

l The LDS Church bought the former Old Navy Building at 107 S. Main St., which houses former ZCMI Center tenant Bennion Jewelers.

What we don't know

l When construction begins or is scheduled to end.

l What the project will look like, including if there will be a sky bridge across Main Street linking the malls.

l New tenants.

l Total cost of project.

l How many housing units it will include.