Vasilios Priskos, the late Greek American developer who shaped the way downtown Salt Lake City looks was honored with a statue in the capital of Utah on Friday, January 3.
The 2.5-meter (8-foot) high statue was erected right at the entrance of the Vasilios Priskos Walkway on Main Street, Salt Lake City.
Priskos died at the very young age of 53 in 2017, after a battle with cancer.
The beloved Greek-American was born on Greece’s island of Euboea (Evia) to Chris and Tula Prazikos Priskos. When he was only 2 years old, the Priskos family left Greece in search of a better future in the US in 1966.
His life in the US defined the way people today know the beautiful city of Salt Lake.
In 1994 he founded and became the principal broker of InterNet Properties Inc, a pioneering business in Salt Lake City.
He was also the exclusive broker for One/Main Plaza on the southeast corner of 100 South and Main Street of the city.
This redevelopment project has nearly 200,000 square feet of office and retail space and was created because of Priskos’ vision for the city.
Priskos was also involved in numerous committees including the Downtown Alliance, a former board member of The Children’s Museum, served on the Board of Realtors Grievance Committee, the 2002 Winter Olympics committees, and the Westminster College Foundation Board.
Priskos, however, was not just a businessman. He strived to help people build or renovate existing properties such as the former Salt Lake Tribune building, which was transformed into a working Neumont campus, with high-tech classrooms and student housing.
This pioneering Greek American was admired and loved by the community of the City.
He saw downtown as a part of his family legacy and a part of himself, thus he wanted all of downtown to succeed.
On Friday, the unveiling of his statue was a simple gesture of honor to the man who changed the face of his beloved city.
Source: usa.greekreporter.com