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 * About the RDA
 * What We Do
   * Project Areas
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 * Partner With Us
 * Since 1969
 * Get Involved


JAPANTOWN VISIONING PROJECT




 

The Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and the Japanese American community’s 2018
partnership to mitigate the potential impacts of a neighboring development on
the stretch of 100 South in between 200 and 300 West known as “Japantown,” shed
light on something much bigger – a shared goal to enhance Japantown to become a
vibrant gathering place honoring Japanese culture.

This led to the RDA’s funding of a yearlong, visioning process where Japantown
leadership, community members, and area stakeholders worked together to identify
priorities for improving Japantown’s public right of way.

The community’s overall vision was encapsulated in the Japantown Design Strategy
and Guidelines. The Strategy’s main elements are outlined below on this webpage,
and the entire document is also available for download here:



 


THE STRATEGY

PARTICIPANTS + PRIORITIES

Visioning participants included the Japanese Community Preservation Committee,
Japanese Church of Christ, and Salt Lake Buddhist Temple. 

Through a series of exercises, the community representatives identified three
main things they wanted to prioritize in the design: 

 * Improved functionality, such as festival street enhancements; 

 * Safety for all who use it; and 

 * Placemaking that establishes Japantown as the special place that it is.  

 

VISION + DESIGN

The group also created the following Vision Statement and Design Guideposts to
guide decision-making for the community into the future. This important exercise
played a key role in how the final document came together.



 

 

STREET CONCEPT + PLACEMAKING

The group selected a preferred street concept that incorporated their main
priorities including – but not limited to – festival street enhancements,
safety, and placemaking.

*Please note all images are conceptual only and subject to change

An example of how placemaking elements may be incorporated on Japantown Street
based on the community vision includes history and storytelling elements, art
elements, entryway monuments, and functional placemaking elements.

*Please note all images are conceptual only and subject to change

 

BEST PRACTICES

In addition to improvements to the public right of way, the community expressed
interest in programming Japantown Street with active uses such as food truck
events, as well as supporting Japanese American-owned businesses on Japantown
Street as seen at other successful Japantowns throughout the United States.  

As such, the Strategy also includes a “Best Practices Report” on the management,
programming, and operations structure of other successful Japantowns to get an
understanding of how they’re funded, managed, and successful overall. 

 

PROJECTED COSTS

At the time of the Strategy’s 2021 publishing, the implementation cost was
estimated at roughly $7.4 million, plus $160K – $200K ongoing maintenance. These
figures have likely increased since then. 

Due to the overall cost of the desired improvements, the design would most
likely be implemented in three separate phases, each building on the first and
incorporating each type of important element as early as the first phase, and
throughout each phase.  

 

EXTRA CONTENT

In addition to the above elements, the Japantown Design Strategy includes the
following:

 * Summary of the Overall Process and Outcomes
 * Background and History of Japantown Street and the Design Strategy Project
 * Community Engagement Process
 * Design Approach
 * Implementation and Operations Recommendations
 * Appendices Including Japantown Historical Photos

 

RECOGNITION

This project has been recognized by the American Planning Association of Utah, a
clip of which can be be seen here.

It has also received attention from The University of Utah Magazine in a feature
article detailing the significance of the Street’s history. This article
provides a glimpse into the creative process behind the design project. 




WHAT'S NEXT?

Based on the best practices report that looked at other vibrant Japantown areas
to get an understanding of how they are achieving success, a key takeaway is the
importance of a Japantown management group that oversees the area and
coordinates funding and programming.

It has been recommended that the next step taken by the Japanese American
community be to decide on an organizational structure to begin seeking funding
for Japantown’s improvements identified in the Strategy. It’s anticipated that
the community will apply for Salt Lake City, RDA, County, State, and even
national funding to support the revitalization of Japantown.

Salt Lake City looks forward to its continued partnership with the Japanese
American community and welcomes additional entities to the table to help bring
the rest of the community’s vision for Japantown to life! 

 



 

 

LEADERSHIP

 * Mayor Erin Mendenhall
   Executive Director
 * Danny Walz
   Director
 * Council Member Alejandro Puy
   Board Chair
 * Council Member Darin Mano
   Board Vice Chair

CONTACT US

Office Address
City & County Building
451 South State, Room 115
Salt Lake City, Utah 84111
Mailing Address
PO Box 145518
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5518
 * 801.535.7240
 * Email the RDA
 * 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.
   Monday – Friday
 * General Inquiries

© 2024 Salt Lake City Redevelopment Agency