Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

As we are well aware, there is a shortage of affordable housing units in Salt Lake City. Could mircro-apartments part of the solution?

As the NYC example in the article points out, 33 of the 55 units are designated as Market Rate, and 8 of the 22 affordable are designated to super low income.

http://www.citylab.com/housing/2015/12/in-defense-of-micro-apartments/420645/?utm_source=SFFB

I think it's something that Salt Lake City needs to explore, but I'm not sure any of our current zoning would allow densities that high. And the parking would have to be addressed as obviously that is broken as was shown on the Goltz Ave proposal.

This is something that should definitely be considered. A lot of homes and larger apartments in this city are occupied by roommates. This could help add young people to downtown while at the same time bringing more families to our surrounding neighborhoods. Both are very good things imo.

[asies1981]

A 14-unit subdivision is planned for the Capitol Hill neighborhood.

[gusam26]

Salt Lake County announced the three firms that turned in proposals by a 2 p.m. deadline Friday were Austin, Texas-based RLB Swerdling and two Utah firms: JLJL in Midvale and DDRM Companies in Sandy. RLB Swerdling built the Hyatt convention hotel in downtown Denver.

[Makid]

More info:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/18/3-developers-bid-for-proposed-salt-lake-convention/

3 developers bid for proposed Salt Lake convention hotel

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) - Three development firms have submitted proposals to build a large hotel near Salt Lake City’s convention center and take advantage of at least $75 million in possible tax credits.

Salt Lake County announced the three firms that turned in proposals by a 2 p.m. deadline Friday were Austin, Texas-based RLB Swerdling and two Utah firms: JLJL in Midvale and DDRM Companies in Sandy.

A county bid committee will meet on Jan. 14 to review the proposals for the 800 to 1,000 room hotel.

The county had been negotiating with Omni Hotels & Resorts but that deal fell through in August when the company sought a heftier incentive package from the government.

Utah officials say the long-awaited Salt Lake City hotel would provide needed rooms for Utah’s convention business, including a lucrative biannual outdoor gear show.

I am not sure what was provided as to possible rooms and designs but we should hear more about these in the coming weeks.

If anyone wants to look into the bidders and see what they have done in the past, it could help to clarify what to possibly expect for designs.

--All news articles appear to be the same from the Associated Press. It may take a bit longer to get a more in depth local news story. or at least something with a bit more filler and comments from local leaders.

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by Makid

More info:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/18/3-developers-bid-for-proposed-salt-lake-convention/

3 developers bid for proposed Salt Lake convention hotel



I am not sure what was provided as to possible rooms and designs but we should hear more about these in the coming weeks.

If anyone wants to look into the bidders and see what they have done in the past, it could help to clarify what to possibly expect for designs.

--All news articles appear to be the same from the Associated Press. It may take a bit longer to get a more in depth local news story. or at least something with a bit more filler and comments from local leaders.

Good catch! I've heard of RWB Swerdling, who are responsible for the Austin (abomination) CCH:



The Denver CCH, which is much better:



DDRM did St. Regis Deer Valley and a bunch of LA stuff. I don't know who JLJL is, perhaps some arm of Sorenson?

[wrendog]

I'm guessing SLC get something exactly like the Austin CCH. It is the right footprint and style that were shown in the drawings for both the north and south CC sites.

[DMTower]

Originally Posted by Makid

More info:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/dec/18/3-developers-bid-for-proposed-salt-lake-convention/

3 developers bid for proposed Salt Lake convention hotel

This from the article:
DDRM is looking at using the northern parcel for a 1,200- to 1,600-room building that could include condos and hotel rooms, according to the company’s operations manager, Eric Hull.

Hull said if the company wins the project, DDRM may try to partner with Starwood Hotels, which owns the St. Regis in Park City.

John Lund, the founder and CEO of JLJL, said his company envisions a narrow building at least 50 stories tall, possibly on the county land on the south end of the convention center.

“It would be the tallest in Salt lake, if it gets approved,” Lund said.

[airhero]

1600 rooms? 50+ stories? Looking to spearhead their own hotel brand? The lofty ambitions of young developers are sad...unless they succeed, which is doubtful.

[DMTower]

Originally Posted by airhero

1600 rooms? 50+ stories? Looking to spearhead their own hotel brand? The lofty ambitions of young developers are sad...unless they succeed, which is doubtful.

If you read the article, those were two different developers. Only one of those is a new developer. I would prefer something along the lines of Denver's, which RWB Swerdling did.

[Makid]

Originally Posted by DMTower

This from the article:
DDRM is looking at using the northern parcel for a 1,200- to 1,600-room building that could include condos and hotel rooms, according to the company’s operations manager, Eric Hull.

Hull said if the company wins the project, DDRM may try to partner with Starwood Hotels, which owns the St. Regis in Park City.

John Lund, the founder and CEO of JLJL, said his company envisions a narrow building at least 50 stories tall, possibly on the county land on the south end of the convention center.

“It would be the tallest in Salt lake, if it gets approved,” Lund said.

To put this in perspective:

The North option with between 1,200 and 1,600 rooms would range between 34 and 45 stories tall and would be between 500' and 600', possibly up to 650'.

The South option at 50 Stories would range between 550' and 650' with a possibility to go over 700'.

The only one we don't know about is the Austin Developers but it is probably between 400' and 450' (my estimates only).

Any of these 3 options would be a dramatic change for the skyline as well as the city. This also means that most likely the CCH and APS will be under construction at the same time. It also means that there is a good chance of 2,000+ hotel rooms coming online at nearly the same time (within 2 hotels).

These proposals are really game changers for the city. It will be interesting to see who wins the bid and if the others plan on building something as well.

As a note, it is possible that we could get 2 hotels on the convention center property. One on each end. The CCH would be required to add additional meeting space of up to 160,000 (based on the 1,600 rooms) but the other could just provide additional parking or other amenities and still be able to build on the other spot.

With that said, I don't think we will end up with 2 hotels on the properties, but it is something to think about as it is a possibility.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by Marvland

Good catch! I've heard of RWB Swerdling, who are responsible for the Austin (abomination) CCH:



The Denver CCH, which is much better:



DDRM did St. Regis Deer Valley and a bunch of LA stuff. I don't know who JLJL is, perhaps some arm of Sorenson?

Swerdling is just a financier though right? It seems to me that aesthetics design etc is not really their forte. #Moneymen

It would be interesting to know which architects, engineers, etc were involved with each proposal.

[Curledor]

This is my design for Salt Lake City new city flag.
SLC-FLAG-1450119855494

[delts145]

Originally Posted by wrendog

I'm guessing SLC get something exactly like the Austin CCH. It is the right footprint and style that were shown in the drawings for both the north and south CC sites.

When you say exactly are you also including the finish? That Hotel is a puke fest as far as the attractive quotient goes. I don't believe for a minute that SLC City and County leadership would allow that piece of crap to take center stage in the skyline!!

[bflatflat9]

Originally Posted by delts145

When you say exactly are you also including the finish? That Hotel is a puke fest as far as the attractive quotient goes. I don't believe for a minute that SLC City and County leadership would allow that piece of crap to take center stage in the skyline!!

I agree. I think/hope they wouldn't.
I would be fine with something like Denvers' design, layout, and height (489 ft.).
The talk so far from the local companies sounds exciting, yet a bit ambitious.
I hope that after one is chosen, we get to see the proposals not picked.

[San Diego-Honolulu]

Originally Posted by delts145

When you say exactly are you also including the finish? That Hotel is a puke fest as far as the attractive quotient goes. I don't believe for a minute that SLC City and County leadership would allow that piece of crap to take center stage in the skyline!!

I've actually seen Austin's convention hotel in person, and it's not as bad or ugly as everyone here thinks it is. The only thing I would change about it is its dark windows. If they were more of a blue color then I think it would help it but besides that it's not that bad. I also agree that I think SLC will get a similar style hotel, meaning similar to a T shape or L shape style hotel.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by delts145

When you say exactly are you also including the finish? That Hotel is a puke fest as far as the attractive quotient goes. I don't believe for a minute that SLC City and County leadership would allow that piece of crap to take center stage in the skyline!!

I mean style and design, not finish.

[airhero]

Originally Posted by DMTower

If you read the article, those were two different developers. Only one of those is a new developer. I would prefer something along the lines of Denver's, which RWB Swerdling did.

I understood they were two. I thought DDRM was also relatively young in that they haven't developed anything of this scale before, but it turns out that they've developed other 1000+ room hotels before, which surprised me.

[DMTower]

^^^ I would be very surprised if we actually got a tower with over 40 floors, but I like that at least 2 of the proposals are thinking that ambitiously.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

It's from this sculpture park in Norway. I don't really understand it. I assume either the man is overwhelmed with fatherhood or maybe it just shows what we've always assumed about Europeans; they're bothered by small children. It seems rich in potential interpretations.

That sculpture is called "Man chased by genies." I don't know why the genies took the form of babies.

Vigelands Park in Frogner Park in Norway is amazing. It's one of my favorite places in Oslo. There are dozens of naked statues all created by Gustav Vigeland including the monolith. SLC definitely needs more sculptures, not necessarily of naked people or Mormon stuff on the opposite spectrum.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by San Diego-Honolulu

I've actually seen Austin's convention hotel in person, and it's not as bad or ugly as everyone here thinks it is. The only thing I would change about it is its dark windows. If they were more of a blue color then I think it would help it but besides that it's not that bad. I also agree that I think SLC will get a similar style hotel, meaning similar to a T shape or L shape style hotel.

While I would much rather have a taller slender tower, I am not completely against the syle of the L or T. The L or T can help a lot in breaking up what could be an over the top giant wall. However, the finish on that Austin Hotel is extremely unfortunate, and yes, I would much rather have the Denver finish and patina, if we're going to go with that type of massing. IMO, the finish material and patina of that Austin Hotel is about as bad as you can get.