Salt Lake City moved forward Tuesday with plans for a 2,500-seat, $110 million Utah Performing Arts Center that would attract musicals and plays downtown. Second-term Mayor Ralph Becker hopes the theater will, among other things, attract City Creek Center shoppers.
Developing the theater’s design is the next hurdle for city officials, who would like to see the playhouse open within four years. Among those expected to put forth a proposal is Moshe Safdie, who designed Salt Lake City’s showcase Main Library.
Councilman Luke Garrot said the project’s success depends on what he called "community buy-in." The risk is high, he warned. The more community groups that buy in to the theater, the better. The city learned a lot about community involvement when it developed the design for the $125 million Public Safety Building, under construction east of Library Square. Salt Lake Tribune
