Downtown Rising is a business-led, regional visioning effort created to define a common future for downtown Salt Lake City. The collaboration included a broad cross-section of business and community leaders and was managed by the Salt Lake Chamber and its affiliate the Downtown alliance. The final product is a vision that includes aspirations that set the tone for downtown's future; along with a series of recommendations that start with structural elements of downtown and continue with a list of eight signature projects..

Salt Lake City is experiencing a renaissance of sorts. Nearly $2 billion will be invested in the Central Business District during the next five years. Downtown Rising complements this investment by convening people who care about downtown and tapping their best thinking about the future. The Downtown Rising Vision is meant to provide guidance, not answers; a conceptual blueprint, not a master plan; a regional focus, not a limited view of the central business district; and finally, a common vision, not a parochial vision focused on personal gain. Our hope is that a common regional vision will build unity today and influence future decisions in a way that ensures continued prosperity.

Implementation requires meaningful action. The leaders of Downtown Rising have adopted a structure similar to the configuration of modern economies - that of global, regional and neighborhood -- to achieve our vision. The global components of the vision will be coordinated through local international leaders with prominent entities like the World Trade center Utah Board and the Governor's Global Strategy Council taking a leading role. The Salt Lake Chamber Board of governors will direct the regional components of the vision - such as transportation and connections. The Downtown Alliance will lead neighborhood efforts in partnership with Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County and the Central Business Improvement District.

Implementation of the vision will require the support and involvement of elected officials, the hard work of blue-ribbon panels and the continued involvement and support of the public.

Implementation will occur in three phases: near-term (first three years); mid-term (four to 15 years) and far-term (16 or more years). Many recommendations can be completed right away, while others will require significantly more discussion, analysis and planning.

Downtown Rising is managed and directed by the Salt Lake Chamber and its affiliate, the Downtown Alliance. The collaboration includes a mix of business and community leaders, technical experts, and interested entities or persons statewide who are willing to lend their support. All interested elected officials serve in an ex-officio capacity.

The Collaboration is divided into four primary groups: Conveners, Cabinet, Technical Advisors and Partners. The Conveners consist of business and community leaders who provide policy direction for the effort. The Cabinet includes other professionals who meet more frequently and provide hands-on policy advice to the Conveners. Technical Advisors serve both the Cabinet and Conveners by providing technical assistance. Partners include all interested entities and individuals who are willing to lend their support.

Yes, all interested elected officials are invited to participate in an ex-officio capacity. They advise the collaboration and they, or their representative, are invited to participate in appropriate meetings and functions. Downtown Rising also has a College of Mayors comprised of former Salt Lake City Mayors who advise the effort.

In October of 2003 the LDS Church announced major plans to invest in a mixed-use development on two blocks in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. The investment includes a destination retail development, along with high quality housing and office space. We expect an announcement of their plans to be forthcoming.

Yes, like other downtown property owners, representatives of the Church are participating as Conveners, on the Cabinet and as Technical Advisors.

Yes, Salt Lake City is currently updating the downtown master plan. They have asked the business community to use Downtown Rising as the business outreach component of their master planning efforts. As such, Salt Lake City is a full partner in the Downtown Rising effort, providing technical assistance, resources and staff support. Downtown Rising is not a master plan. Rather, it is a business-led effort to provide Salt Lake City with the best thinking of the business community as we prepare for the future.

Salt Lake City Corporation and the business community have jointly hired a construction impact mitigation ombudsman. The ombudsman is working with the Chamber, Downtown Alliance and the city to proactively manage the impacts of construction on businesses and property owners. The effort is patterned after the successful 400 South light rail transit project where information was shared frequently and openly. Among other responsibilities, the ombudsman will rapidly prepare for and respond to issues related to business access, traffic/parking, utility interruption, noise disruptions, and other concerns. If you have concerns or problems contact the Salt Lake Chamber at (801) 364-3631.

No. Downtown Rising is funded by generous business and community leaders who are committed to a healthy, vital and livable city core. State, county and city government participate by providing feedback and expertise. In addition, Salt Lake City is helping to fund, on an equal basis with the business community, a contract for a construction impact mitigation ombudsman.

No, but the common vision will help with economic development. Investors are more inclined to invest in communities that speak with a common voice and take collective actions that provide more certainty for their investment. In this sense, Downtown Rising is an important component of an overall economic development strategy for downtown Salt Lake City.

Downtown Salt Lake City serves as the regional center of our state and the intermountain region. As such, it functions as the economic, cultural, religious, commercial, legal, financial, transportation and governmental heart of Utah. Everybody benefits from a healthy, vital and livable downtown.