Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[TheGeographer]

I’d tell the developer to go back to the drawing boards and try again. Replace the stucco with brick or no deal. The building would look fantastic and be an excellent addition with that minor change. If the developer can’t afford to do that financially then I’m sure there’s 10 others that can. I’ve seen new 10-20 story brick infill buildings built in other cities, let’s keep doing more of it here. Figure out who those developers are and force the current developer to sell the land to them if they don’t want to up their game. Of course it’s more complicated than that, but that’s my wish at least. Otherwise I really like the building and street engagement. Just seems a little half assed and cutting corners with the stucco for the developer to earn some extra bucks. I wouldn't want to do business with developers who half ass things personally. I want great things for SLC, not mediocrity.

[Enemy4thePeople]

Originally Posted by delts145

Is that this project? I think that office building on the corner is going to be converted not demoed.

That building is being demolished, which is too bad. The architects for that building actually put together a good design. Having said that, after just a couple of weeks with no maintenance, that building quickly looked like hell.

[Enemy4thePeople]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Ah, too bad. The stucco is a significant downgrade. Good density and street engagement though (3000 sq ft commercial), so I think it's still mostly a win.

I also notice that they have that other residential project to the north in this rendering.

Missed this whole page. Gotta say that new design sucks relative to the old design. VE must've been rough. Which is also too bad.

[delts145]

https://bkvgroup.com/projects/trolley-square/

.

[Comrade]

lmao why is everything always a downgrade from the initial rendering? I would much rather keep the current building than add the generic box they plan on replacing it with. So disappointing because that original rendering looked pretty cool with the brick and (metal?) scaffolding facade (or whatever you call it).

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by Atlas

So here's where we are at with new towers in 2023:

Under Construction:

• Astra Tower - 40 stories - 450 ft (topping out this week)
• Worthington/Convexity Tower - 31 stories - 335 ft (topping out soon)
• West Quarter Block C - 16 stories - 185 ft (demo)

Active Proposals:

• 390 S West Temple - 28 stories - 295? ft (significantly delayed)
• Sixth South Residential Highrise - 34 stories - 380 ft (delayed?)
• 150 S Main - 36 stories - 395 ft (significantly delayed)

Prospective:

• Sundial Tower - 23 stories - 344 ft (possibly redesigned)
• West Quarter Block D - 2x ? stories - 380+ ft (will happen eventually)
• The Cascade - ? (base built, on hold)
• 100S 200E Residential Tower - ? (rumored)
• Dakota Pacific Tower - ? (rumor)
• Future Kensington Investment Company properties - taller than Astra? (rumor)

Did I miss anything?

I think Atlas, that we missed the hotel (Regent Street Hotel) directly west of the Astra. My understanding from the posts from this site indicated that owners would start after Astra was completed.

I agree with Comrade that proposals are often watered down from original specs. It becomes very frustrating.

Speaking of Comrade, He just planted the Juggalo Clown Posse Flag on the island of Sears lake.

[Rileybo]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

I feel like public ed buildings are between a rock and a hard place -- if they built something really high quality in terms of either design or materials, ESPECIALLY something that's for the administration for the school district (not being used by students) they'd be accused of abusing taxpayer dollars and public trust. So...we end up with things like this. When Granite School District bought the abandoned hospital at 2500 S State (I worked in it for 6 years) people called it the "Taj Mahal"...I can only imagine what they would say if a school district were to build something truly lovely or innovative.

So...we get this.

I wish the GSD building stayed an abandoned hospital. Would be so cool to have an authentic spooky haunted hospital in our city.

[bob rulz]

Unfortunately unless Salt Lake City enforces really strict design standards in their code, there's really nothing we can do to prevent "value engineering" and bland stucco like that.

I agree it's a shame that original iteration we saw isn't coming to fruition because that would've been a really cool and unique project for SLC. It's frustrating when you see something like the Post District and know that a visionary project can be done in Salt Lake City but most developers just don't care.

Brick on the first 2 floors is still better than what most try to do, and the street engagement looks respectable at the very least.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Comrade

(metal?) scaffolding facade (or whatever you call it).

That (whatever you call it) was also my favorite feature. I have no idea wtf it was, but it was different. Even faux-industrial is better than more stucco.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Rileybo

I wish the GSD building stayed an abandoned hospital. Would be so cool to have an authentic spooky haunted hospital in our city.

It's 100% still haunted, if that helps.

[delts145]

I'm going to reserve judgment on this project. I'm waiting to see how closely the finished product follows the rendering. As most have suggested the lower portions are attractive and the ample street commercial engagement is a big plus. I also like the upper crown area. My only question is whether that is stucco or not at the center. The groove pattern would suggest it's actually stained architectural concrete. At least I would hope so. Yes, I would have preferred the original rendering but architectural concrete with a pronounced groove pattern would be much more attractive than a patternless type of stucco.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Ironweed

I think Atlas, that we missed the hotel (Regent Street Hotel) directly west of the Astra. My understanding from the posts from this site indicated that owners would start after Astra was completed.

Yeah I put "Dakota Pacific Tower" for that one. I wonder how long they'll wait after Astra is completed to start the project. I assume the market/financing has to have a favorable outlook before they start the push.

The parcel is actually labeled as a "Future Tower Site" on their website, which is a good sign.

[Orlando]

Speaking of value-engineering, I just drove by the Post District and saw that they are doing black stucco on the southeast corner. It is a huge disappointment, in my opinion. What happened??

[Atlas]

Hmm, looking back it may have always been black. The lighting they used in the renderings makes it less noticeable.





right side of images

[jedikermit]

those fucking billboards.

Pardon my English.

[Orlando]

[airhero]

Originally Posted by Orlando

At least it's not beige. I don't mind it. I like the overall design of Post District. Plus it's bringing I think 10 new retail spaces including at least 5 new restaurants already lined up, new pedestrian-friendly midblock streets. Poking around the area I think it will have a nice urban feel at least within the block (being bordered by 300 W, 500 S, and 600 S is a built-in disadvantage for walkability, unfortunately). IMO it's the best development going up in the city right now. It's what Hardware Village should have been.

[Comrade]

I don't mind the black, either. I'd take that 100x over beige or brown stucco.

I do wish it was like a metal, tho. I think that would have looked cool.

[TheGeographer]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Speaking of value-engineering, I just drove by the Post District and saw that they are doing black stucco on the southeast corner. It is a huge disappointment, in my opinion. What happened??

Yea I can’t say I’m impressed by the black stucco. I do like the retail and other aspects of the Post District. And yea those billboards suck. They are a hideous sight that are unfortunately placed at the main entrance into SLC.

[felixg]

Some random thoughts not in response to one particular post or user —

Regarding the 700 E proposal, I’d just like to state how much backward-facing architecture like this kind irks me, especially when replacing something truly representative of its time. This project is far from the worst offender, but to me, things that are built to look vaguely older than they are feel so corny and dishonest to me.

You want the “character” characteristic of an older city? Too bad, shouldn’t have knocked it all down then, as anything built now will be representative of contemporary codes, ordinances, trends and broader social mentalities, despite how much or little brick it has plastered to its exterior. This ultimately negates the whole draw of older buildings — it’d be like going to the Met and being told everything in there was actually just made by a couple guys from Brooklyn last year as their vague interpretation of world history. We really should be championing projects that take and utilize everything unique about the present, as that is how you create valuable, interesting architecture for the future. For as much hate as all the “glass cubes” get on this forum, you can’t deny that at least they’re trying for this