^^^
I particularly like that view ToysNoiz in the Spring, when there's still a little snow on the tops of the back mountains, and everything has greened up a bit. The layering effect of the benches and mountains as a backdrop is what makes Salt Lake City's setting incomparable as a North Am. Metro.
Also, why would retail be a given at a confluence like South Temple and 500 East? Perhaps, 700 East will make more sense in the future, as Trolley Square and to the north becomes more of an urban corridor. There's a lot of thought that goes into placing any kind of commercial endeavor at the base of an apartment building. Most of Central Salt Lake is much more spread out than Central L.A. as far as density, yet I can point to dozens of new apartment buildings in much denser areas of Los Angeles than S. Temple/500 E. that don't include a commercial element, and for reasons that are pretty obvious to those in the know. Give Central Salt Lake a few more decades to increase it's density. But even with a few more decades of density added, I imagine that the eastern climes of S. Temple will always be a bit more of a quiet zone, and for obvious reasons. People typically pay a higher price to live in that particular area. They want a calmer quieter climate, yet close to the hustle and bustle of the Downtown CBD. There are quieter zones here in Los Angeles on the very dense commercial street of Wilshire Blvd. Much of Wilshire Blvd. resembles South Temple between 2nd E. and West Temple. One substantial area of Wilshire in particular runs thru the toney area of Hancock Park. This area of Hancock Park/Wilshire Blvd. is like a duplicate of much of S. Temple, except for the palm trees of course. People pay a premium to live or live/work in that vicinity. Many apartments or condo mid-rises have gone up recently in this area and others like it, filling in the gaps. However, it is definitely not a given that retail is going to be at street level where the correct figures just don't scratch out. This in simplistic terms, is usually because the existing commercial and pop. demographic does not jive with the need for additional commercial business. It has nothing to do with clueless planners or short sighted business men. On the contrary, they're usually experienced and far more savvy, those that plan these type of business ventures.
Often there is another nearby corridor or section of the same corridor that already meets the current demand of commercial volume. A more commercial type traffic is simply not practical or even desired.
Also remember, The often mentioned restaurant/café business is one very tough, thin profit margin business. Unless you have money to burn, combined with a passion to create your own foodie dreamscape, you are going to run the other way from such an endeavor. This unless of course you have a lot of ready traffic to justify the investment. Even when the location would seem ideal, the food service business can be too time demanding and profit thin, and just overall grueling from the business owners perspective.
Beautiful shot, but hopefully these are becoming rarer and rarer. The CCC additions and 222 aren't even in the mix, let alone 111
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