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Date: September 17,
2004
Heather May The Salt Lake Tribune A Salt Lake Chamber plan to revitalize a 10-acre block with an arts district is gaining support -- and possibly more tenants. Byron Russell, director of the chamber's cultural center development plan, told Salt Lake City Council members Thursday the University of Utah's Children's Dance Theatre, Brigham Young University's film school and the American Film Institute -- a nonprofit group that preserves and exhibits film -- could join groups as varied as Salt Lake Community College's Grand Theatre, Ballet West, the opera and national touring shows on the block between 100 South and 200 South and Main Street and West Temple. No commitments have been made. Council members showed strong interest in the concept and the possibility of helping pay for it. Russell said money would also likely come from Salt Lake County -- through some sort of tax that would have to be authorized by the Legislature -- and via donations. Councilman Van Turner called it a "dynamite destination." The chamber has been talking about renovating the Utah Theatre, which is on the block, for use by Ballet West, the opera and national touring groups and perhaps for the Sundance Film Festival. The block's Capitol Theatre could also get a face-lift for community college performances. Smaller performance art theaters -- so-called black boxes -- could be built, along with a small film theater for screenings by AFI and local film societies. Satellite galleries for the U.'s Museum of Fine Arts and Natural History Museum and others could emerge now that the Museum of Utah Art & History is already on Main Street. Ballet West is considering building its rehearsal academy in the district instead of in Sugar House. Russell mentioned bringing BYU's film school downtown, as the college builds a new Salt Lake campus at the Triad Center, a couple of blocks west of the proposed arts block. The district will cost millions of dollars. A preliminary figure, not including every project, puts it at at least $109.5 million, with about $20 million already raised.
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