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REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF SALT LAKE CITY
JOINT RESOLUTION NO. R-35-2018
Support for Japantown Placemaking Process
RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF SALT LAKE CITY SUPPORTING THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A WORKING GROUP COMPOSED OF BLOCK 67 STAKEHOLDERS, WITH THE GOAL OF WORKING COLLABORATIVELY TO ARTICULATE A VISION FOR JAPANTOWN, AND PARTICIPATING IN THE STUDY AND IMPLEMENTATION OF STREETSCAPE IMPROVEMENTS TO ENHANCE PLACEMAKING IN THE COMMUNITY.
WHEREAS, on July 12, 2005, Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County adopted a joint resolution recognizing the unique cultural, economic and social contributions of the Japanese-American community and the need to mitigate the impacts of the Salt Palace Convention Center, which displaced Japanese-American businesses and cultural assets along 100 South between 200 and 300 West (Attachment 1).
WHEREAS, on September 19, 2006, the Salt Lake County Council encouraged Salt Lake City to rename 100 South between 200 West and 300 West as “Japantown Street,” recognizing the historical importance of “Salt Lake’s Japanese Community and its relationship to the development of the Salt Palace,” and that “the actions of Salt Lake County in expanding the Salt Palace Convention Center have inextricably bound it to not only the future, but also, the preservation of that historical community” (Attachment 2).
WHEREAS, on March 6, 2007, the Salt Lake City Council changed the name of 100 South between 200 West and 300 West on an honorary basis to “Japantown Street” (Attachment 3).
WHEREAS, the Board and Executive Director of the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (“RDA”) seek to ensure that future development is sensitive to and supportive of the unique cultural assets in the area as the RDA considers significant reinvestment to spur additional large-scale commercial and economic development in the adjacent area.
WHEREAS, on November 27, 2018, the RDA approved $100,000 to fund a study of the public right-of-way along 100 South between 200 West and 300 West, which will evaluate, design and estimate costs for potential streetscape improvements including, but not limited to, pedestrian and safety enhancements, improvements to facilitate street festivals, increased neighborhood connectivity, and options that reflect the cultural heritage and assets of Japantown.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Directors AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR of the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City that the RDA hereby supports the establishment of a Working Group composed of Block 67 stakeholders, with the goal of working collaboratively to articulate a vision for Japantown, and participating in the study and implementation of streetscape improvements to enhance placemaking in the community.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board and Executive Director will evaluate specific ways to include this policy goal in future project area plans and objectives for the area.
Passed and adopted this 11th day of December, 2018.