No 600 West Viaduct
Bullet Points
Review these points, select those you feel strongest about, include your selection (in your own words) in your letter.
o Neighborhoods surrounding the 600 West route are already experiencing a huge influx of traffic from planned & approved development. The creation of yet another physical barrier (visual block of views to the east side of town) will have long lasting impact on marketability of the neighborhood. The neighborhood is already blocked in with Interstate 15, Union Pacific rail, North temple and a proposed off ramp from I-15 southbound.
o Currently the 600 West corridor is used as a pedestrian and bike route in to the city and Gateway. Would you walk under a viaduct to go to the movie with your family knowing it may not be safe? Would you buy a home in the Guadalupe neighborhood located just north on 600 west?
o The UTA study states that the cost variance between the 600 West and 400 West route is insignificant. Yet the proposal for the 600 West route sends a terrible message to our entire community that west side residents don’t count - our children, future and pursuit of happiness have little value.
o The 600 West route threatens one of the primary accesses roads for emergency vehicles when in route to east side medical facilities, placing the safety of those in need of services at risk.
o Generally speaking, the West side viaducts are not maintained and UDOT has a dismal track record of responding to neighborhood complaints to clean up litter, graffiti or repair damages. The negative activity at the North Temple location has been an ongoing problem (drug use and sales, prostitution, graffiti, and gang activity, etc). Fortunately, volunteers from the neighborhood attempt to keep it clean of litter, drug needles, condoms, garbage, abandoned vehicles, etc.,.
o SLC provides shelter and services to Utah’s homeless population three blocks from 600 West option. It creates another place that overworked and understaffed police cannot control.
o A viaduct on 600 West will negatively impact housing and commerce on 600 west and the surrounding area: Traffic congestion is already hard on residents and businesses.
There are currently 17 homes/apartments, 155 rental units at Citifront at the corner of North Temple and 600 West, and a 295 unit upscale condominium development under construction between North temple and 100 south. Would you purchase a home with a viaduct at your front door? Would you choose to live in an apartment, where you begin and end your day passing thru a viaduct?
The 12 ground level retail shops at CitiFront (required by Salt Lake City Corporation) struggle for consumers and a concrete viaduct in their front door will only aggravate their ability to conduct business (barber, beauty shop, attorney, insurance, bridal shop).
Revitalization in the area has been the catalyst for an upscale condo development of 80 units on the north side of North Temple and the beginning of further positive investment along North Temple. Would you choose to live in a neighborhood that previously attracted sexual oriented business, cheap motels, and check cashing stores or a thriving – welcoming entrance to Salt Lake City?
o Planning, zoning, and master plans should give residents and business leaders the protection and confidence to make informed choices about where to live and make investments in safe – livable communities. A change in the master plan (created and adopted in 1999) is not fair to anyone! Shifting the Trax route from 400 West to 600 West will reap no benefits for the neighborhoods slated to be most impacted by a change. We are told ‘our greatest form of wealth building is created thru home ownership or investment, this disinvestment in our property directly transfers to our children.
o Not long ago Salt Lake City looked at 600 West and the surrounding neighborhoods (closest to the new route) as disposable, recommending it be rezoned for light industrial and multifamily rentals. The community and nonprofit organizations said “No” and facilitated over 30 million investment dollars in saving these neighborhoods. These are now neighborhoods of choice. These public and private dollars must be guarded and nurtured for further return on investment.
o The North Temple Viaduct is and has been scheduled to be rebuilt due to its age. Having the Trax line incorporated into the construction on 400 West as originally planned is logical. Why build a second unnecessary and unwanted viaduct for the convenience of a big business and its potential customers at the cost of harming local Salt Lake community members? Just because our community members cannot raise the money and influence to protect our interests does not mean a viaduct can be built at everyones front door whenever a Trump wants the riverboat to go to the backdoor instead of front.