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Achieving the Vision

The authors of the Second Century Plan issued these instructions as they set out to achieve their vision to create the Salt Palace Convention Center, Abravanel Hall, City Creek Park, and many other improvements that we enjoy today. We desire to build upon their legacy by leaving behind a superb and significantly improved downtown.



Implementation structure
Implementation requires meaningful action. And meaningful action requires structure, a sensible order to how we make progress, one step at a time. The leaders of Downtown Rising have adopted a structure similar to the configuration of modern economies - that of global, regional and neighborhood.

Unlike the "old" way of doing things - typically federal, state and local - modern economies and societies organize themselves in the categories of global, regional and neighborhood. We live in a global economy, where regions (not a political jurisdiction, but rather an area with a shared labor market, broadcast area, and centers for trade and commerce) compete for economic relevance. Regions are most effective when they have a globally connected, metropolitan world city at their core. High quality neighborhoods that attract and keep the talent necessary to be successful in the information age are another component of successful regions. The Downtown Rising vision relates to all three of these categories and will adopt a parallel structure to achieve our vision.

The international components of our vision will be catalyzed and coordinated through local international leaders. Prominent entities like the World Trade Center Utah Board and the Governor's Global Strategy Council will take a leading role.

The Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors will direct the regional components of our vision, making steady use of Chamber committees and the broad membership, which includes members from multiple states and all of Utah's 29 counties.

Similarly, the Downtown Alliance will lead neighborhood implementation efforts, focusing appropriately, and in partnership with Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County, on the Central Business Improvement District. The Alliance will also make use of its existing committee structure to implement the vision. Successful implementation for all three organizational levels will require the pro-active partnership and leadership of many other public and private entities and organizations.

Principles
The Downtown Rising leaders have agreed to follow these guiding principles as we implement the vision:

  • Collaborative -- We will actively seek partnerships that will help to achieve our vision. We view the State of Utah, Salt Lake County and Salt Lake City as key partners. In addition, Utah's other 28 counties and 241 cities and towns have a stake in downtown's future; we will seek their support. We will also build alliances with the many other entities and organizations with responsibility and ability to effect positive change downtown.

  • Public leadership/market-led implementation -- We recognize that state and local government leaders will need to provide the community foundation for market-led implementation. We pledge to work with government leaders to identify the most cost-effective public investments. We will seek implementation strategies that are marketbased. By combining our spirit of community with our spirit of enterprise, we can realize the future that we have envisioned.

  • Targeted -- We will prioritize how we spend our resources so that we can accomplish this vision effectively.

  • Community-based -- Downtown Salt Lake City is everybody's downtown. We will continue to involve the public and seek their input.

  • Common information base -- We will work from a common base of information to improve downtown. Where necessary, we will secure the needed studies and research to be certain that decisions are made based on sound information.

  • Sustainability -- We will build on Salt Lake City's reputation as a place that respects the local and global environment and develops in ways that are healthy, sensitive and sustainable.

  • Humanitarian -- We embrace a vision for our city that is about much more than buildings and places; visions are about people and their ability to live fulfilling and productive lives. Human service issues such as caring for downtown's homeless population are worthy of further examination and discussion. We commit to work with community leaders to address this and other humanitarian issues.

  • Vigilance -- We view this vision as a "living vision" that will be updated and supplemented over time.

Implementation tools
Downtown Rising leaders will formally request the support of elected officials, form blue-ribbon panels, and proactively share the vision through a speakers' bureau to build support and make progress. We will continue to seek the input of the public and all of the information generated for this vision will be shared with Salt Lake City to be used in future updates of the downtown master plan.

Envision Utah Quality Growth Strategy
We will also request that Envision Utah, one of the nation's most enduring and respected quality growth partnerships, formally adopt the Downtown Rising vision into the region's Quality Growth Strategy. This strategy provides a blueprint for the entire region's growth and development and the capital city should be at its core. Incorporating the Downtown Rising vision into the region's growth strategy will further institutionalize the ideas and provide another important catalyst for implementation.

Timeframe
Implementation will occur in three phases: near-term (first three years), mid-term (four to 15 years) and far-term (16+ years). This is intentional, as many of the recommendations can be completed right away, while others will require significantly more discussion, analysis and planning. This immediate and long-term view is consistent with the original Second Century Plan, and more importantly, with the recommendations we have made.







Keith Rattie and Clark Ivory, current chair and past chair of the Salt Lake Chamber Board of Governors, converse at a Downtown Rising Convener meeting.

We have a remarkable capital city, born as a master-planned community, located in a stunning natural setting, and endowed with prime economic and cultural assets. Salt Lake City is on the rise and has the potential for greatness. With spirited commitment and entrepreneurial energy, we commend and commit our collective efforts to make the Downtown Rising vision a reality and invite others to join us.

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