Salt Lake City's Granary District is getting a people-first facelift with the Open Streets initiative rolling out every Friday and Saturday in September. From the after-work hours of 3 p.m. to the not-so-wee hours of 11 p.m., a stretch of 500 West between 700 and 800 South will ditch the car traffic for foot traffic. What's the upside? Residents and visitors can look forward to live tunes, a smorgasbord of food and drink options, street soccer matches, and a mix of activities geared for the youngsters from 4 p.m. to the ambiance-enhancing time of 10 p.m.
The local politicos are heaping on the praise for this urban revamp. Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall said, as per Salt Lake City, "This is an exciting development as we bring Open Streets into the Granary District," and tapped into some nostalgia adding, "For many years, the focus in this neighborhood was industrial. Seeing it now, bustling with a variety of small businesses fills me with excitement for our city’s future and its ability to evolve and thrive." Not one to sidestep a community cheer, District 2 Salt Lake City Council Member Alejandro “Ale” Puy chimed in saying, "Open Streets is a wonderful opportunity for our community to unite and support our local Salt Lake businesses," underscoring the goal to energize communities and shine a light on the diversity of neighborhoods and their businesses.
There's an additional slice of this urban renaissance pie with a Green Loop demonstration along an extended area of 500 West, reaching 900 South. Traffic lanes will slim down to make space for those opting for a more eco-friendly stride or pedal. The goal is clear, prioritize people over cars, at least for a designated time. Importantly for residents and local patrons, business access along with parking, remains uninterrupted.
