This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Every now and then neighborhoods, the private sector and the public sector can work together for a "win-win-win." That's why, as the owners of The Gateway, we heartily applaud Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski, the City Council and the mayor's site selection committee on their recent joint announcement of locations for four new 150-bed homeless resource centers in the city for their clients.
It is good news for the city, for those who are experiencing homelessness, as well as The Gateway. We feel these changes will help dramatically in the long-term for everyone involved and serve all communities well.
Although the process has been at times controversial and presented unique challenges for all those involved, we are confident that this can represent a new start for so many.
The outgrowth of almost two years' work by the mayor's site selection commission and Salt Lake County's Collective Impact initiative has culminated in solutions that will serve to take the mounting pressure off downtown while directly addressing the well-being of the homeless.
We also applaud the community for treating the shelter location issue with great respect and compassion. Each of those experiencing homelessness has great value and a future and we feel these new plans will go a long way to helping these varied populations succeed with individualized approaches and solutions.
The relocation of the shelter to smaller neighborhood settings fits in well with the "ultimate comeback" story of The Gateway and our long-term plans to revitalize it. Launched during the height of Olympic fever in Salt Lake, The Gateway once was a vital and relevant heartbeat in the city.
When we acquired the property in February of this year, the homeless concentration in the Rio Grande area created real and perceived problems for what was once one of Utah's most beloved shopping centers. Now those issues will be going away. They have already been greatly mitigated with our major security upgrades. Those who visit during a Utah Jazz game, on the weekends or whenever their schedules permit can see the dramatic changes. City leadership has done exactly what they told us they were going to do when we acquired the project. They have been very responsive and supportive.
The Gateway's top priorities are safety, cleanliness and a superb experience. We have added major upgrades and security personnel, and are working to revitalize the property further. With over 80 unique shops, restaurants, and amenities — including Wiseguys Comedy Club, Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatre, The Depot, Discovery Gateway Children's Museum, and Clark Planetarium — The Gateway continues to serve as an important and thriving part of Salt Lake's renaissance story.
Our company is investing over $100 million into the property with a heavy emphasis on food, hotel and entertainment. We feel that with our holdings throughout the West there are few if any more resourceful and creative companies to turn around The Gateway, and we're really excited to share our upcoming plans. We are reinventing its glory years and will once again be the place to be that's hip, fun and social.
There will be big tenant announcements and the addition of a new four-star boutique hotel to the Union Pacific Depot. More plans are underway for a winter ice rink, creation of an adult urban playground, chef-driven food hall and so much more. We're transitioning from the regular 'mall' concept into a spot that's more community-driven, distilling some of the best, most unique parts of the city into one downtown, always-on hub. Downtown Salt Lake City is on the move. We're joining the excitement.
A healthy Gateway is good for all city residents as it generates millions of dollars for services such as police, fire and parks. It's our hope through this revitalization and addition of entertainment, food and community art projects that we remain a vital community partner in Salt Lake City's future and growth.
The Gateway has already taken many steps to assure its comeback. We urge Salt Lake residents to come see all the new changes. We look forward in the coming weeks and months to unveiling our grand vision for this reimagined community gathering spot. The recent announcement by the mayor's office is a big step in this direction.
Jenny Cushing is vice president of leasing for Vestar.