1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT
Karianne Salisbury
Communications Director
Phone: 801-226-3777
Fax: 801-226-8460
Provo City Seeks Community Input for New Businesses
Provo, UT—You pass by it every morning. You drive by it on your way to work. At first you don‟t take
much notice; it‟s just another empty building. But then you start thinking. Maybe this building would offer
the perfect location for a breakfast café or a new restaurant. The possibilities are endless, and it‟s time to let
the community take charge and voice what developments they‟d most appreciate.
The Utah County Association of REALTORS® (UCAR) and Provo City are excited to announce the launch
of the community‟s own “I Wish This Was” campaign on June 28 at 11:30 a.m.
“I Wish This Was” is a project first started in New Orleans following the devastation of Hurricane Katrina.
Designer Cindy Chang made fill-in-the-blank stickers and placed them on
abandoned and broken down properties. People were then able to use this
creative source to write down how they‟d like to see the property used.
With some help from local leaders, the campaign has now made its way to
Provo, Utah.
“This project immediately caught my interest when I saw it being used in
New Orleans, and I wanted to help bring it to Utah County,” says Chris
Nichols, the 2011 UCAR president. “„I Wish This Was‟ is an inventive
way to get feedback from those passing by, and the stickers are an easy
tool for people to voice what they want and where they want it.”
The “I Wish This Was” stickers will be displayed on two empty buildings
near Provo Center Street. The first is located at 19 N. University Ave.
Owned by Richard Gregory, this building is also where the “I Wish This Was” launch will take place. The
second building is located at 265 W. Center Street and is owned by Matt Baker.
“This property has been vacant for about five years,” Baker says. “I am definitely open to suggestions and
ideas as to what people would want to see in the downtown Provo area. When the right idea fits the building,
we‟ll definitely move forward.”
The “I Wish This Was” stickers will be available and displayed at both locations as the owners collect input
from the community. John Curtis, Provo mayor; Kathryn Allen, director of the Provo Downtown Alliance;
Dixon Holmes, Provo economic development director; and Chris Nichols, 2011 UCAR president, will
introduce the campaign. Following the short program, everyone is invited to join the mayor at lunch in
support of the new Provo restaurant: Station 22 Café.
The Utah County Association of Realtors is the local voice of real estate and is committed to promoting
positive economic development throughout Utah County. For more information, contact the Utah County
Association of REALTORS® at (801) 226-3777 or visit them at www.ucaor.com. More details about the “I
Wish This Was” campaign can be found at www.iwishthiswas.com.
I Wish This Was
Tue. June 28, 2011
11:30 a.m.
19 N. University Ave.
Provo, Utah 84601
Also participating:
265 W. Center St.
Provo, Utah 84601

2. I WISH THIS WAS
Visit www.iwishthiswas.com to see the campaign in action.
A grocery
A coffee house
a gym
a flower shop
a music venue
a seafood restaurant
A bike shop
The Utah County Association of REALTORS® & Provo City announce the
economic development campaign.

3. Please join the Utah County Association of REALTORS® (UCAR) and
Provo City in the exciting launch of our community’s own “I Wish This
Was” campaign.
June 28, 2011
11:30 a.m.
19 N. University Ave.
Provo, UT 84601
Provo City is letting its community take charge and voice what
developments they’d most appreciate. Knowing what to do with
vacancies can be difficult, but the “I Wish This Was” stickers provide
a simple and creative way for residents to tell their city officials and
business owners what they wish could be done with various properties
in the area. The project creates a unique, interactive process that lets
residents be involved in their community’s economic development.
Mark your calendars now, and don’t miss this exciting launch. Please
contact UCAR with questions: (801) 226-3777.
1031 W. Center St. Orem, UT 84057
“This project immediately caught my interest when I saw it being used in New Orleans, and I wanted
to help bring it to Utah County,” says Chris Nichols, the 2011 UCAR President. “‘I Wish This Was’ is
an inventive way to get feedback from those passing by, and the stickers are an easy tool for people to
voice what they want and where they want it.”