On Thursday, November 2, 2017, American Express, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and Main Street America announced the winners of the Partners in Preservation: Main Streets grant campaign. Salt Lake City is among 11 winning historic sites, determined by popular vote, and will receive a total $1.5 million in grants to fund preservation projects.
The winners are:
- Parker Hall and the John Trower Building in Philadelphia, PA
- Vintage Neon Sign Park in Casa Grande, AZ
- Formosa Café in Los Angeles, CA
- The Lyric Theater in West Des Moines, IA
- The Carolina Theatre in Greensboro, NC
- E. Romero Hose & Fire Building in Las Vegas, NM
- The Alabama Theatre in Birmingham, AL
- The Woodward Theater in Cincinnati, OH
- Ivers Square in Cape Girardeau, MO
- McKinney Performing Arts Center in McKinney, TX
- Utah Pickle Company and Hide Buildings in Salt Lake City, UT
Salt Lake City was one of 25 cities across the country competing for funding. Due to the interest, support, and voting from Salt Lake City residents and beyond, the City secured $50,000 in this campaign. This historic preservation grant will be used for the restoration of the historic Utah Pickle Company building. Built in 1894, this former pickle warehouse is located at 741 South 400 West in Salt Lake City’s Granary District, which recently received Utah’s first neighborhood business district Main Street America designation.
“This campaign was a city-wide effort, and the fact that Salt Lake City came out a winner – due to popular vote – shows how engaged and excited our residents are for this proposed project,” says Mayor Jackie Biskupski. She adds, “Our City, and the Granary District, has so much history and a great story to tell. I’m thrilled we’ve secured this funding to save a piece of that unique history as Salt Lake City continues to grow, develop, and thrive as a city for everyone.”
The proposed Granary District project from Ori Media includes the expansion of the local creative business collective Studio Elevn into a restored and revitalized Utah Pickle Company building to provide the Granary District with much-needed event space, a media production studio, flex office spaces for local artists and entrepreneurs, and a community garden that is poised to transform a significant part of 400 West between 700 and 800 South into an aesthetically beautiful, community destination that will help revitalize the Granary District through increased street activity, business growth, and local spending.
Michael Ori, president and founder of Ori Media, says this funding absolutely advances the arts in Salt Lake City, “As the Studio Elevn expansion into the Utah Pickle Company building is now one step closer to being a reality, I’m looking forward to cementing the Granary District as a center for creative business in the City. Every dollar towards the preservation of such an iconic building ultimately benefits everyone who see the potential of this district.”
About Partners in Preservation: Partners in Preservation is a program in which American Express, in partnership with the National Trust for Historic Preservation, awards preservation grants to historic places across the country. Through this partnership, American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation seek to increase the public’s awareness of the importance of historic preservation in the United States and to preserve America’s historic and cultural places. The program also hopes to inspire long-term support from local citizens for the historic places at the heart of their communities.
About Salt Lake City Department of Economic Development: Formed in 2016, under the leadership of Mayor Jackie Biskupski, Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development is focused on building Salt Lake City as a vibrant, beautiful, prosperous, diverse, and authentic place – a place that is economically accessible to everyone. Known as the “Crossroads of the West,” Salt Lake City is strategically located for businesses to succeed. SLCDED works to streamline processes, provide excellent customer service, and offer an array of resources and services to recruit and retain businesses in the City, and ensure they have the tools to thrive.