City Creek to open its first condos this month

 (Salt Lake Tribune) The 10 million annual visitors won't come for two years, but City Creek Center will open the first doors of its 700 new downtown Salt Lake City households by month's end.

And, in two weeks, a restaurant will open at those nearly complete Richards Court condos, across the street from the LDS temple.

That update on the $1.5 billion-plus, 23-acre downtown face-lift came Tuesday from H. David Burton, presiding bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, saying the full City Creek Center is on schedule to open "about this time" in 2012.

Speaking at a breakfast fundraiser for Envision Utah, Burton also unveiled pictures of the project's underground parking. The 5,400 stalls, which replace the previous 4,000 terrace and rooftop stalls, are just about finished.

"When we started, the economy was bursting at the seams. We all know what's happened since," said Burton, calling City Creek downtown's one "bright spot."

Carrying their hard hats and lunch coolers, thousands of construction workers cram downtown every day. When City Creek opens, the retail sector is expected to employ 5,000 people.

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