A committee seated by Park City leaders to study the future of the Main Street core wants a concept that would remake Swede Alley to receive further consideration.
A staff communications report drafted by City Hall in anticipation of a Park City Council meeting on Thursday recaps a mid-August gathering of the Main Street Area Plan Committee. The committee was seated to consider possibilities for the shopping, dining and entertainment strip as well as nearby locations that serve supporting roles to Main Street.
The communications report summarizes the committee work to date and outlines the wishes of the majority. The recap addresses what would be an ambitious revamping of Swede Alley. The elements include:
- Two hotels that would have underground garages.
- An “updated” transit center.
- A grocery store designed for the community.
- A “local liquor store.”
- A post office.
- A space described as a “central town square.”
- Gathering spaces for the community.
The communications report also says the majority wants further consideration of workforce housing on the land where the Sandridge parking lots are located just off Marsac Avenue and close to Main Street.
Much of the information about Swede Alley appears to draw from a recent report issued by a consultant working with the municipal government on concepts for the Main Street core.
Swede Alley nowadays generally serves more utilitarian purposes supporting Main Street. Much of the parking in the Main Street core is along Swede Alley itself and in the China Bridge garages along that road. The bus rider entrance and exit to the Old Town transit center is also on Swede Alley.
The additions of hotels and a grocery store would be dramatic changes to Swede Alley. They could ultimately be seen, though, as boosting Main Street itself by attracting more people to stay in the commercial core rather than opting for lodging elsewhere.
A housing project for the workforce on the land where the Sandridge parking lots are located, meanwhile, would likely be heavily scrutinized in tightly packed Old Town. The planning process for a development at the Sandridge location would address difficult topics like the traffic a housing project would generate and the design of the buildings.
The Main Street efforts are continuing amid increased competition in the Park City area, including at Kimball Junction and in Wasatch County. There is concern the other commercial options could siphon business from Main Street. That sort of scenario could impact City Hall sales-tax collections in addition to the sales numbers at the individual businesses along Main Street.
It is not clear to what extent Mayor Nann Worel and the members of the City Council may discuss the information about the Main Street core on Thursday.
The City Council meeting is scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m. at the Marsac Building. More information about the meeting and online attendance is available on the municipal website, www.parkcity.org. The direct link to the meeting information is: https://parkcity.org/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/39646/15.