Let $U_{q}(\SL)^{+}$ be the positive part of the quantized enveloping algebra $U_{q}(\SL)$. Using results of Alev--Dumas and Caldero related to the center of $U_{q}(\SL)^{+}$, we show that this algebra is free over its center. This is reminiscent of Kostant's separation of variables for the enveloping algebra $U(\g)$ of a complex semisimple Lie algebra $\g$, and also of an analogous result of Joseph--Letzter for the quantum algebra $\Check{U}_{q}(\g)$. Of greater importance to its representation theory is the fact that $\U{+}$ is free over a larger polynomial subalgebra $N$ in $n$ variables. Induction from $N$ to $\U{+}$ provides infinite-dimensional modules with good properties, including a grading that is inherited by submodules.