In The Tribune article by Derek P. Jensen on Oct. 10 entitled "Becker, Buhler blast away at each other's political records," the following quote needs a response: "But the mayoral finalists differed over The Gateway mall just west of downtown. 'It was a big mistake,' Becker said. 'It sucked the life out of this city.'" Buhler praised the open-air shopping center, saying it gives city shoppers an option while the area on Main Street continues to be demolished for City Creek." I give Dave Buhler the benefit of the doubt that he feels The Gateway is more than just a shopping "option", a filler awaiting City Creek. However, I feel Mr. Becker's comments are irresponsible, or at least uninformed, especially for someone who wishes to be mayor. Let me point out the following:

At the time we were encouraged to develop The Gateway by then Mayor Deedee Corradini, the city's share of retail sales in the county had fallen from 43 percent in 1980 to 28 percent in 1997. Sales for many retailers downtown, such as Nordstrom, declined from the previous year for several years in a row.

When we started leasing The Gateway, many tenants were reluctant to make commitments to Salt Lake City because the downtown malls were not doing well. Tenants also had misconceptions about the Utah market, some thinking we were almost an Amish-type community and they were unsure of their ability to be successful in such a market.

We feel that one of the major accomplishments of The Gateway has been leasing to approximately 40 tenants totally new to our market. It took the vision and excitement of a new outdoor lifestyle shopping center to attract these tenants. Does this sound like sucking the life out of the city?

It is interesting to note that while not absolutely every tenant has prospered at The Gateway, we have had total same-store sales (comparing comparable month one year previous) increases every month since the comparison month of the Olympics in 2002.

Approximately 6 million people visited The Gateway over the past 12 months. Would Mr. Becker also think it a big mistake to have The Children's Museum, Planetarium, 480 apartment and condo units, and office space for over 3,000 workers at The Gateway?

I also heard Mr. Becker say in a debate held at The Gateway that he thought the Redevelopment Agency gave The Gateway too much by way of tax increment incentives. Let me point out that the year before The Gateway land was purchased from The Union Pacific, the total property taxes on the property were $45,384. Real estate taxes on the property in 2007 will equal approximately $3.5 million.

We are entitled to a percentage of the tax increase, or increment, to partially reimburse us for infrastructure costs normally paid for by the municipality, but paid by us. Does Mr. Becker know that to date we have received less than $600,000 of principal payments plus interest to this end?

The sales taxes paid for the past 12 months at The Gateway exceeded $15 million.

It is our feeling that The Gateway is a very important part of downtown Salt Lake City. It can and will be complimentary to new development on Main Street and add to the attractiveness of people coming downtown. We hope a new mayor of Salt Lake City will view The Gateway as a positive addition to our city, not a "mistake."

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* H. ROGER BOYER is chairman of the Boyer Company,The Gateway developer.