Salt Lake City is not very dense though. Even downtown is mostly relatively low-rise buildings, maybe 4-6 stories. A few skyscrapers would do wonders for housing capacity. Based on the time I've spent there, SLC is actually a very nice place.
The only thing that concerns me is that the Great Salt Lake is slowly going the way [1] of the Aral Sea [2]. One of the things that makes SLC a bit more interesting and hospitable than the surrounding desert is the snowy mountains all around it and the moderating effect of the big nearby lake. Replace that lake with a dust bowl and you end up with something less compelling.
The only thing that concerns me is that the Great Salt Lake is slowly going the way [1] of the Aral Sea [2]. One of the things that makes SLC a bit more interesting and hospitable than the surrounding desert is the snowy mountains all around it and the moderating effect of the big nearby lake. Replace that lake with a dust bowl and you end up with something less compelling.
[1] https://www.sciencemag.org/news/2017/11/utah-s-great-salt-la...
[2] https://www.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/10/141001-aral-...