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| SHCC Newsletter, May 2012 |
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Sugar House Community Council Newsletter May 2012
Dear Friends of Sugar House: This newsletter is intended to help keep you informed of the many events, activities and developments occurring in Sugar House. If you have questions, ideas or suggestions please send us an email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . SHCC Message from the Chair Aligning In Recently, the Sugar House Community Council adopted a motion regarding a "locally preferred alternative" for the alignment for Phase 2 of the Sugar House Streetcar. This motion voiced support for "Alternatives 2A and 2B". Well, if you haven't had a chance to attend one of the many public meetings on this topic, you may be scratching your head, wondering what that means. First, let's set some context. Phase 1 of the Streetcar is defined as the first segment of the Sugar House streetcar system, along the railroad corridor at approximately 2230 South from the Central Pointe TRAX station to McClelland Street (1050 East). Phase 2 is focused on any future development that extends the rail line beyond McClelland Street. Where would the line go? Who would it serve? And how would any extension serve the greater goals of the Sugar House Community Council? For Phase 2, a number of different alternatives were discussed - formally, this was known as the "Alternatives Analysis" and you can read more about it here. Of all the alignments discussed, there were two that the SHCC endorsed. And here's why: Alignment 2A achieves the short-term community goal of getting the Streetcar track to Highland Drive. It would do so along Sugarmont, which would be closed to automobile traffic except fire vehicles. This would be a single track line; so rather than the streetcar turning around before heading back West, the driver would simply move to the other end of the train and drive from there. The advantages to this alignment are savings in terms of money and time. Relative to the other options studied, this one uses existing rights of way and possibly could be built along with phase 1, if there is money left over. It also allows more time for the Granite Block to develop before the community engages in more extensive planning. How that area develops could influence future plans for extending the line. Alignment 2B is more extensive, but it would achieve the mid-term community goal of getting the Streetcar track to the Sugar House monument and plaza. Instead of the single-track "out and back" approach of Alignment 2, this alignment would create a loop with two tracks at places. The east-bound track would not run along Sugarmont; rather, it would descend South to Simpson and then loop North at Highland. Sugarmont would then be a one-way single track heading back West. Importantly, the track at the Plaza could be a "jumping off point" for possible future development, including a line that might run North along Highland, or further East. The idea is that, eventually, the Sugar House Streetcar would be part of a larger regional network extending in one or both of these directions. The Community Council also pointed out that, should the streetcar line extend to the Plaza at 21st South and Highland, that "[w]e would like to see special care to energize the plaza and take minimal amount of space with the streetcar". You can read additional notes from the City here. Sugar House Streetcar Construction Update Transportation Committee Work on the Sugar House Streetcar has begun! UTA has broken up the streetcar line into 5 areas. Right now Area 1 (TRAX Station to Main St) is the setup of the construction yard. Fencing will be going up and trailers staged for the duration of the project. In April we will see work done in the following areas. Area 4 (500 E to 800 E) - third-party utility crews will be doing work on casing and relocating gas lines in the corridor. Crews will work to relocate curbs, fencing, bollards and install some temporary paving in the parking lot of Sugar House Barbeque. Crews will also begin work to remove existing rail along the corridor in this area. Area 5 (800 E to McClelland St) - crews have already begun installing construction entrances on the west side of 900 E and the east side of 800 E. Existing rail removal and clearing will also be occuring in this area. For all our information construction work is allowed between 7:00 am and 7:00 pm Monday through Saturday. If you have questions regarding construction or access issues you may call the hotline 801-236-4789 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Sugar House Streetcar Greenway and Parley's Trail Parks, Open Space and Trails Committee
The Salt Lake City Council will be reviewing the Greenway project with regards to a funding proposal for the improvements associated with the project from 500 East to McClelland St. Proposed improvements are estimated to cost $6.8 million and will include: Parley's Trail on the north side of the corridor, a strolling path on the south side of the corridor, embedded streetcar track, extensive landscaping, plazas, site furnishings, lighting and public art. Your input is important to this process. When: May 2, 2012 7:00 pm Where: City and County Building, Room 315 415 S State St Sugar House Art Walk Arts & Culture Committee  ThThe next Sugar House Art Walk is scheduled for May 11th. The Bike Collective will be outside the Sugar House Coffee location to encourage everyone to get out in the beautiful weather and ride your bicycle. Sugar Space (616 E Wilmington Ave) wil be showing the movie "Forks over Knives" which examines the claim that most degenerative diseases that afflict us can be controlled by eating more unprocessed and less animal-based foods. A donation of $3 per person will help cover the costs of the movie. The screening starts at 9:00 pm and there will be information about the Sugar House Community Garden and Food Co-ops. Sugar Space will also be exhibiting the art of Blue Critchfield and Erica Houston. A total of 16 Sugar House stores are participating with amazing art. Don't miss out on all the fun! For more information about the art walks and participating venues visit their new website www.sugarhouseartwalk.com. Nu-Crisp Historical Committee Why did the Popcorn Shop cross the road? By Lynne Olson, Nancy Mathews, and Harold Jensen
When the Marlo Theater started showing movies on 21st South, it was a popular attraction in Sugar House, remembered fondly by three generations of Salt Lakers. At the time, theaters did not sell snacks or drinks from their own concession stands. In 1933, George "Milt" Kelly and his wife Leone opened a popcorn and candy store at 1027 E 21st South, next door to the Marlo, The Nu-Crisp Products Company was a family business, where the Kelly's, their children and grand-children made popcorn treats and candy for forty-five years. In 1946, the Kelly's bought a handsome brick bungalow at 960 E 2100 South. They added a two-story concrete façade to the house in 1950, placing the business entrance at street level, and moved their family into the residence behind it. A string of electric lights framed the upper story window, and an arrow-shaped blade sign pointed in toward the shop. Newspaper ads for Nu-Crisp read, "Famous from Coast to Coast - Follow the Arrow."When the Kelly's wanted to retire
Harold Jensen , who was a friend of the family and worked at Nu-crisp Popcorn as a boy, bought the business in 1970, and continued to manufacture Caramel Corn, Cheese Corn, Buttered Popcorn and Peanut Brittle in the little shop. New flavors were added, totaling 32 flavors in all. The original Carmel Corn and Strawberry Corn were the favorites. Jensen's brother-in-law, Charles Hand, managed the store for a time and recalls making 46,000 popcorn balls one year to sell for Christmas parties. Pedestrians stood outside the shop window to watch taffy being stretched on the big puller. Hand designed the nationally-famous Nu-Crisp Popcorn sign, with the popcorn pot ablaze and kernels of popcorn flying out of the pot. It was made by Rainbow Signs, and installed in the early 1970's. Chuck Hand continued on at the store helping to pop the corn and keep things working when Earlene Parry took over as manager. Mrs parry, sister of Marva Jensen and sister-in-law of Harold Jensen, managed the store for approximately ten years. She is known as 'The Popcorn Lady." Many of the fine German chocolate pieces, sold in the store, were hand dipped by Earlene. She was coached initially by Mildred Cox "Aunt Millie", former candy dipper for Snelgrove's Ice Cream. Nu-Crisp Popcorn continued to be a family affair. Many of the Jensen's nephews and nieces were employed there throughout the years. Under the Jensen's ownership, the store continued the tradition of selling penny candy, and children from Forest School and Irving left lots of little fingerprints on the candy counters. Most of their popcorn sales were to people on their way to the drive-in movies, and for parties. For a time, Nu-Crisp Popcorn products were available at Cottonwood Mall. In 1982, the business was sold it to Carl Newell, who had formerly owned a McDonald's hamburger franchise in Salt Lake City. After a bankruptcy ended Newell's ownership of the business, the Jensen's repossessed the store and in 1984, sold the inventory and equipment in the store to Margene Sorenson. Neither the name "Nu-Crisp Popcorn" nor the business was ever re-sold. Products being sold today under the "Nu Crisp Popcorn" label are not the original ingredients and, according to Mr. Jensen, taste quite different than the original product.
In 1984, the Kelly's sold their building to Blair W. and Margene Sorenson, who did business there as the "Popcorn Palace" for another decade. Nu Crisp Buttery Popcorn and candy corn is currently being manufactured and marketed to retail stores by J. Morgan's Confections Inc, Ogden UT. Today, the Nu-Crisp Popcorn store sits vacant, a rope of taffy dough still hanging from the Kelly's original puller. But the residence behind the shop is still in use by the Sorenson's as an office for various enterprises. The current owners are not interested in selling or leasing the property at this time, but they don't dismiss the idea that the store may reopen someday, and the Nu-Crisp Popcorn sign, a historical neon masterpiece, may sparkle again. Ed Sperry and Elaine Brown contributed to this story. Photos courtesy of the Salt Lake County Archives Sugar House Local Card Community Interest
These cards are free are participating stores and as a local you just have to register your email online and you can begin to receive weekly email blasts that give you access to sales and discounts to all our favorite local Sugar House stores. If one of your favorite stores is not participating yet now is a great time to get them on board. To learn more visit here. You can get your card now by visiting Sugar House Coffee, The Joint or Barnes & Noble. |
Public Hearing
Living in Sugar House just got even more exciting with the new program run by the Sugar House Merchants Association for local residents.