Salt Lake City's streets are legendary for their width — 132 feet in most areas — and consume approximately 30% of the City’s land area.  In the Granary District, a 240-acre “gritty, diverse and grounded” neighborhood revitalization area adjacent to downtown Salt Lake City, that adds up to a lot of land.  Under the direction of an MWA-led “crowd-sourced” charrette, working with whoever showed up and volunteered! James Alfandre, director of The Kentlands Initiative, project organizers, neighborhood businesses, residents, and allies tackled a number of questions, including how to tame the District’s mammoth streets, which are hard to cross, consume valuable land, yet carry little traffic.  Stakeholders in the Granary District refer to it as “a diverse neighborhood with diverse neighbors that grew up around the railroad, industry, warehouses, and silos.”

The “crowd-sourced” charrette was a first for Watkins, but Alfandre’s thorough and determined preparation made for an exceptional week that produced remarkable results and enthusiasm.  Stakeholders in the Granary District were able to clearly articulate their vision for their neighborhood, and Alfandre and Watkins were able to direct the extraordinary efforts of the local designers who participated in a coherent and exciting plan reflecting the stakeholders’ vision.