Salt Lake, Mormons Wrap Up Land Swap

Salt Lake City officials and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints completed a land swap that gives the church the right to regulate behavior on the downtown block of Main Street it purchased from the city.

In return for giving up an easement that allowed unfettered access on the Main Street block, the city received two acres of land to build a community center on the city’s west side. Federal courts had ruled that the city’s sidewalk easement carried free speech rights the church could not curtail.

The agreement gives the church control over the Main Street block, which after its purchase from the city was transformed into a pedestrian mall spruced up with gardens, fountains and a giant reflecting pool.