For decades, Salt Lake City’s Rio Grande district carried the reputation of a scary and blighted area, rife with drugs and crime. Once a bustling transit hub during America’s train era, the district slowly disintegrated into a derelict haven for prostitution and criminal activity, as a highly concentrated and dangerous transient population threatened the wel … [Read more...]
Taking Back Our Economy One Bar of Soap At a Time
Welcome to Riverton! Welcome to Sandy! Welcome to Bountiful! Traveling along the Wasatch Front, we see evidence of the larger problem of the American economy: homogenous central retail shopping districts. It’s like a bad radio station that only cycles through the top 10 hits. “And now for more oldies but goodies: Walmart! Costco! Applebees! McDonalds! And if you missed it … [Read more...]
Salt Lake’s Urban Indian Center
Since 1971 the Urban Indian Center has provided essential support and resources to the Salt Lake Valley’s Native population. This is done by offering a kind of haven and cultural hub away from the hectic pace of urban life. Co-Founder of the Utah League of American Voters, Moroni Benally, says, “Census wise, there’s over 6,000 representing some 250 plus tribal nations. So it’s f … [Read more...]
Top Hat Video: Get the Popcorn!
In 1983, when every street corner had a video rental business, Lee and Lona Earl got in on the ground floor with a franchised Adventureland Video store. They started out at Five Points Mall in Bountiful and remained with Adventureland until that business closed. They looked at options with Aardvark Video or Warner Video. They chose instead to venture out with a … [Read more...]
Utah Transplants: Where Do they Come From and Why?
Jon Warner and Amanda Szabo. Photos by Braden Latimer.Utah’s population is booming—growing by 2% between 2015 and 2016, compared to nationwide population growth of just 0.7%. In 2017, an estimated 27,000 people moved to the Beehive State, which is an extra 2,250 new residents every month. At Utah Stories we know why we love calling Utah home, but we wanted to find out what’s … [Read more...]
Tackling Homelessness in the Suburbs
Residents living on the south side of Cottonwood Apartments near 4700 South and 900 East could hear and were sometimes awoken over the past six months by loud construction sounds, but many were unaware of what was occurring just across Little Cottonwood Creek. Some who ventured over to the abandoned business complex at 965 East Murray Holladay Rd. to walk their dogs or just … [Read more...]
Meet New Sandy Mayor Kurt Bradburn
If you want to get a glimpse into the personality and drive of new Sandy City Mayor, Kurt Bradburn, read some of his campaign materials and Website. They might leave you in stitches, frustrated, or in disbelief. Claiming former long-term Mayor, Tom Dolan, became so complacent and feeling untouchable he “frequently fell asleep or yelled at residents during public m … [Read more...]
Providing Special Needs Jobs and Delicious Ice Cream Howdy Homemade Ice Cream Finds a Home in Utah
Nothing speaks more to Utah’s local foodie community than a genuine mission statement and amazing ice cream. Because of Utah’s obsession with ice cream and charitable lifestyle, Howdy Homemade Ice Cream (Howdy) has found the perfect home. Tucked away in the neighborhoods of Sugar House, Howdy isn’t the typical ice cream shop that we ice cream lovers come across every day. … [Read more...]
Seasonal Mecca or Enclave for the Elite? Moab’s Housing Market is at War with Itself.
Randy Day has been a Moabite for the past 45 years. On the walls of his office at Anasazi Realty in Moab are photos of the founding fathers and Jesus. He shares a very brief version of his success story with me. Growing up, his family was in the habit of moving every few years, but instead of leaving the town he had settled into and enjoyed so much as a 18-year-old, he … [Read more...]
Attack of the Developosaurus
Utah Stories was started ten years ago to offer an independent source of journalism, with a bent toward examining the harmful effects of crony capitalism. The abuse of power in municipalities runs rampant because the suburban cities have a record number of developers, land speculators, and real-estate brokers who also happen to be politicians. This power goes unchecked because … [Read more...]