From a $46 million historic restoration to a billion-dollar gondola, preservation advocate Eva Chan questions whether Utah is doing enough to protect its natural beauty and cultural heritage.
When Eva Chan moved to Utah four years ago after spending 21 years working on Wall Street, she was struck by the beauty of Little Cottonwood Canyon.
“I just thought it looked like paradise,” Chan told Utah Stories. “I’m surprised it’s not a national park.”
But as she learned more about the canyon, she became concerned about the pressure to develop it. Today, Chan serves on the board of Friends of Alta and advocates for preserving both the canyon and the historic Cottonwood Paper Mill, commonly known as the Old Mill.
During a recent Utah Stories podcast, Chan explained why she believes these landmarks deserve greater protection.
Could the Gondola Threaten Utah’s Drinking Water?
One of Chan’s biggest concerns about the proposed Little Cottonwood Canyon gondola is its potential impact on water quality.
The canyon has an extensive mining history, with abandoned tunnels and mine tailings scattered throughout the mountains. Chan worries that construction could disturb contaminated materials and allow chemicals to enter the watershed.
She estimates that Little Cottonwood Canyon supplies approximately 10 to 15 percent of Salt Lake County’s water.
Chan also questions whether the gondola would effectively address traffic congestion.
“We do have a peak load problem,” she explained, describing how skiers arrive at roughly the same time on powder days and holidays.
Because gondolas transport passengers continuously throughout the day, she argues that the system may not adequately address those concentrated periods of demand.
Then there’s the cost.
Chan estimates the project could cost at least $1 billion and questions whether taxpayers should subsidize infrastructure that primarily benefits ski resorts and their customers.
She suggests that money could instead support projects such as protecting the Great Salt Lake.
The Forgotten History of Utah’s Old Mill
While the gondola threatens to change Little Cottonwood Canyon’s landscape, another piece of Utah history faces an uncertain future.
The Cottonwood Paper Mill was constructed between 1880 and 1883 using granite from Little Cottonwood Canyon.
Remarkably, the stone came from the same area where pioneers quarried granite for the Salt Lake Temple.
The mill originally produced paper to support the Deseret News and help distribute information throughout Utah’s growing pioneer communities.
After its paper-production years ended, the building became the Old Mill Club, a popular dance venue.
Today, Chan identifies it as Utah’s sixth-oldest surviving industrial building.
But preserving it presents an enormous financial challenge.
A $46 Million Question
According to Chan, an engineering report estimates that restoring the Old Mill and bringing it up to seismic standards would cost approximately $46 million.
The building’s massive granite walls and location near an active seismic zone make restoration particularly complicated.
Chan believes the responsibility should not fall entirely on the current property owners or Cottonwood Heights residents.
Instead, she hopes wealthy philanthropists and government leaders will help finance its preservation.
She envisions a restored building that could eventually accommodate weddings, banquets, or even a hotel.
For Chan, the issue extends beyond architecture or tourism. Preserving these places means maintaining a connection to Utah’s past.
As development continues throughout the state, her message is clear: Once historic landmarks and natural landscapes disappear, future generations cannot experience them as we do today.
Eva Talk to Utah Stories
Chan explores the environmental concerns surrounding the gondola, including potential water contamination from historic mining operations, wildlife disruption, and the project’s estimated billion-dollar cost. She also questions whether the gondola would effectively address traffic congestion during peak ski season.
