Q: Besides the Olympics, what is the most significant thing to happen to Salt Lake City in the past 25 years? Or, how do you see the city changing the next quarter century? (To weigh in with your own thoughts on the past quarter century, comment below.)
Paul Rolly, Salt Lake
Tribune columnist
Steve Erickson, lobbyist and founder of the Citizens Education Project
Kevin Kirk, Heavy Metal Shop owner
Steve Williams, KUER 90.1
“Nighttime Jazz” host
Note: Williams started hosting
the weeknight jazz program part-time on KUER 26 years ago, on June 24,
1984. He has been the full-time director of jazz music at KUER for 25
years. “In the next 25 years, I’d hope we’d develop some kind of
area in downtown where music clubs will be fairly close to each other,
along with late-night dining options. It would be great if downtown is
walkable and has plenty of parking for the walking tour of downtown.
Hopefully, parking costs for the entire evening while you walk the
streets will be reasonable and the streets will be safe and lit up. It
would be like an arts festival every weekend in downtown Salt Lake
City.”
Shelly Thomas Williams, former
KSL 5 reporter
“I think the Olympics stand out
sharply as the most important event/situation in the past 25 years, and
I can’t think of anything that compares in impact. I hope those games
(despite the controversy and sharp opposition by some) exposed children
to the fact that a large, welcoming world exists outside of Utah, and
that life should include exploration. It was satisfying to see the city
and state come to vibrant life for those weeks.“In the next 25 years, I expect
that downtown Salt Lake City will revitalize to a thriving metropolitan
center. Many do not believe it can happen, but I believe it will; not
just with the obvious new construction at the north end of Main Street,
which will certainly make a major difference. I think Salt Lake can
rise again through the fact that many will discover the benefits of a
livable, walkable city.”
Jerry Rapier, Plan-B Theatre Company producing director
Frank Pignanelli, lobbyist and Deseret News columnist
Next 25: “Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County will be a major focus of economic and cultural energy in the Western United States. Indeed, as the University of Utah continues to expand biomedical and technological advances that promote development on many levels, our tremendous lifestyle will continue to attract diverse populations and industries.”
Kent Powell, Utah State Historian
“The one event during the past 25
years that has changed life for everyone, both in Salt Lake City and
around the world, is the establishment and widespread use of the
Internet. The Internet has had a profound impact on just about every
aspect of our lives from commerce and business, to education,
recreation, communication, and how we do everything from check out a
book from the library to pay a bill, register for a class, reserve a
tee time at a golf course, purchase tickets for events, and keep in
touch with family and friends around the world.
“Perhaps the single-most important development (and my favorite) in the Salt Lake Valley in recent years, is the establishment of the Jordan River Parkway. Although not all of the sections have been completed, many are and the opportunity to bike, walk or jog along the Jordan River 12 miles or so from 200 South to 8500 South, as well as significant sections further north and south, is of immense value to residents of our rapidly urbanizing valley. It does and will continue to provide recreation and a respite to thousands of people. Twenty-five years from now, and even more, people will look back with much appreciation to those who made the parkway a reality.”
Nancy Borgenicht, actress and Saturday’s Voyeur co-writer
Past 25: “The Hotel Utah becomes
the Joseph Smith Memorial Building. The closing of The Hotel Utah by
the Mormon church in 1987 took away the soul of this community. For me,
we have yet to recover.”
Next 25: “John Saltas will be the publisher of a hugely successful daily newspaper with a readership of hundreds of thousands of Utahns who recognize how critical the fourth estate is to the future of our country.”
Betsy Burton, owner of
The King’s English Bookshop
“From my perspective as a
small-business owner, the creation of Local First Utah is and will
continue to be the thing that has had the greatest impact on our city
in the past quarter century. Salt Lake City was on the road to
ruin—witness Main Street—before we began the process of educating the
public and government about the importance of local business to our
community and our economy. Now, Utahns are rediscovering their love of
community and newly appreciating the uniqueness and vitality local
businesses add to it. People are recognizing that what keeps any
community alive economically speaking is locally owned businesses—not only do we keep our dollars here rather than sending them out of state but collectively, we form a web
of community, reaching out to schools and churches, contributing
hundreds of volunteer hours, and many thousands of dollars, not to
mention pooling our knowledge and expertise to help keep our community
strong.”
Valerie Larabee, Utah Pride Center director
Scott Renshaw, City Weekly A&E editor and film critic
Marguerite Henderson, chef, former
restaurateur and author
“I think there’s been a
resurgence of the food revolution. People have discovered farmers
markets, people are growing their own vegetables, and good restaurants
are locating here. Twenty-five years ago, there were just a handful.
Now, new ethnicities have come into Salt Lake City, serving Thai,
Vietnamese and sushi—whereas 25 years ago, you had buffets. High-end
hotels like the St. Regis and the Waldorf Astoria have discovered Utah,
and it’s a good thing.”
Ted Scheffler, City Weekly dining editor