Provo MSA Development Thread

[Paniolo Man]

Provo Town Centre Target.


Millrace.




Provo Station Pedestrian Bridge.


This may tie into my next point, the bridge appears to be built to support a second span to the north.




Now for dreaming/speculation:


Provo's Amtrak station should be moved. It's not that the existing station is objectionable, I am quite fond of it. The issue is how removed it is from the Frontrunner station. I hate to think about how many uninformed first-time Amtrak riders miss their train because they went to the wrong Provo Station. Provo should close 600 South directly to the north of Frontrunner and build a full-length island platform parallel to the Frontrunner station. This would allow more trains if regional service and/or Desert Wind are routed through the station. It would also simplify connections between Amtrak and UTA.

[i-215]

6th is too important to close. But there is plenty of room to build a platform between the tracks and the street.

[jedikermit]

"Meet the visionaries who are redefining what it means to build in Utah. Welcome to Utah City."

https://youtu.be/PFk89gCg0oc?feature=shared

...and then some interesting comments on Twitter/X when they shared it there:

https://twitter.com/utahcityutah/status/1718732312748433713

[SLCHenry]

Is the tower section of Millrace still planned? It’s about time provo sees some 10+ story buildings

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

"Meet the visionaries who are redefining what it means to build in Utah. Welcome to Utah City."

https://youtu.be/PFk89gCg0oc?feature=shared

...and then some interesting comments on Twitter/X when they shared it there:

https://twitter.com/utahcityutah/status/1718732312748433713

I don't have Twitter and so I can't see comments or retweets. What's the jist of the comments?

Originally Posted by SLCHenry

Is the tower section of Millrace still planned? It’s about time provo sees some 10+ story buildings

There was a rumor on FB that the taller buildings are not happening. Not sure if true.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by SLCHenry

Is the tower section of Millrace still planned? It’s about time Provo sees some 10+ story buildings

Very much agree SLCHenry. As dynamic and robust as the economy has been with Provo and Utah Valley in general there's no reason why Provo shouldn't focus on a more vibrant and livable/walkable urban downtown core. Also, I think Provo City proper should annex some of the vast empty Lakeshore unincorporated communities to the south. The more reliable census stats put Provo metro at well over 800,000 people. Provo should not be stuck at 115,000 and it should be working on a downtown that is more urban like Boise's. I know there are a lot of different demographics in Utah Valley such as seniors, students, newlyweds, empty nesters, etc. that would love a larger, vibrant downtown with attractive taller multi-purpose housing. Provo easily has the potential, it just needs the leadership with the right vision. Hopefully, the upcoming development of Utah City will spur Provo to act.

[tygr]

Originally Posted by delts145

Very much agree SLCHenry. As dynamic and robust as the economy has been with Provo and Utah Valley in general there's no reason why Provo shouldn't focus on a more vibrant and livable/walkable urban downtown core. Also, I think Provo City proper should annex some of the vast empty Lakeshore unincorporated communities to the south. The more reliable census stats put Provo metro at well over 800,000 people. Provo should not be stuck at 115,000 and it should be working on a downtown that is more urban like Boise's. I know there are a lot of different demographics in Utah Valley such as seniors, students, newlyweds, empty nesters, etc. that would love a larger, vibrant downtown with attractive taller multi-purpose housing. Provo easily has the potential, it just needs the leadership with the right vision. Hopefully, the upcoming development of Utah City will spur Provo to act.

Provo won't be able to annex any of Lake Shore or Palmyra unless it's possible to have non-land connected parts of a city.

Spanish Fork City has been annexing northward to the point that it's touching the south shoreline of Provo Bay. Springville deferred to Spanish Fork for the 535-acre annexation that is north of UT 77 because Spanish Fork can better serve the utility and wastewater needs of the property.

Spanish Fork has also been slowly expanding westward as land is being developed and property owners want to be annexed into Spanish Fork.

Springville is boxed in and can't expand much more. Same with Mapleton. I see Salem City expanding up to UT 164 (Utah County 8000 S). Spanish Fork will expand westward into the unincorporated communities of Lake Shore, Palmyra, and Benjamin until one or more of them incorporate and block that expansion (doubtful).

Current Spanish Fork City boundaries

[Paniolo Man]

The bridge has been (substantially) completed and opened for use.

I took the opportunity to take some pictures today.

[Orlando]

https://method-studio.com/brickyard-student-housing/


upload jpeg

[tygr]

Originally Posted by Orlando

https://method-studio.com/brickyard-student-housing/


upload jpeg

That's the men's housing. Women's housing for the same developer will be across the street and is this one. https://method-studio.com/juliette-student-housing

Both are on opposite sides of 900 E at 900 N.

[Orlando]

Fyi, at the Dragonsteel convention, it was announced that they showed a rendering of a building or two for a new Evermore like place. It was very medieval palace looking like. I assume it will be built down in Pleasant Grove, which is also where Evermore is built. They should collaborate and combine the two, IMO. I tried finding some images online, but I believe it was only presented yesterday. My wife showed me a video of the reveal/presentation. The design is by Method Studio.

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by tygr

That's the men's housing. Women's housing for the same developer will be across the street and is this one. https://method-studio.com/juliette-student-housing

Both are on opposite sides of 900 E at 900 N.

https://method-studio.com/juliette-student-housing/

[delts145]

As posted by Tosh Metzger @ Provo City Developments - https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=provo%20city%20developments

R. Paul Evans - Devin Durrant sold his “hill” property at 2000 North Canyon Road to Reynolds Asset Management LLC on 4 August 2023. There are two homes at the top of the hill accessed by a road on the side of the hill. Development on top of the hill has been previously attempted, but, a major impediment is that the access road slope and specifications cannot be readily engineered to meet current road standards.
The new owner, Reynolds Asset Management LLC, proposes to dig up and remove the entire hill to make the property elevation match street level. With the property at street level, an apartment complex is proposed (see photo).
The impacts on surrounding property elevation transitions, particularly properties to the east, are many. The impacts on the neighborhood during a massive dig and remove operation are many. The number of truck trips and the total time required is greater than any other effort in Provo City to date. The impacts of excavation noise, near constant truck traffic on Canyon Road and the dust will be significant. As an example, at the intersection of Canyon Road and University Avenue near entrance to Provo Canyon, a developer purported to remove the side of the hill to create a street level elevation for a proposed development. During the hillside removal, the developer operated an on-site gravel pit. No development of the site has occurred. Gravel was sold.
Any proposed gravel pit like operation on the 2000 N Canyon Road site should be an automatic denial by Provo City.
At some point in time, this proposed Canyons apartment development will be discussed at a Provo City Neighborhood District 4 (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100088828903309) meeting(s), at a Provo City Planning Commission meeting(s), and a Provo City Municipal Council meeting (s). These all will be public meetings with invited public participation. Expect notifications when these meetings are scheduled.

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[delts145]

Purely from an aesthetic point of view, I was never a big fan of the old Provo Temple design. I was very impressed with how the redesign of its twin the Ogden Temple turned out. I think this new design for the Provo Temple is the perfect melding of classical and deco architecture. IMO, with the combination of its design, setting, and more cohesive expanded grounds this will turn out to be one of the most beautiful temples in the L.D.S. Church. I'm looking forward to watching its construction progress.

https://churchofjesuschristtemples.org/provo-utah-temple/news/
L.D.S. Church officials have given the public a glimpse of the planned design for the Provo Utah Temple, which will be reconstructed following the dedication of the Orem Utah Temple. The three-story edifice will stand at the same location as the existing building and feature striking gold accents including the spire. Just as it was constructed originally, the temple will not have an angel Moroni statue. A statue was added in 2003 as part of a renovation project that also turned the spire from gold to white.

The larger and taller building would be a complete replacement of the existing temple. Temple Hill Drive, the street located west of the temple site, would be vacated and become part of the new grounds. The new temple would be constructed slightly west of the existing building, allowing for ample parking around the entire edifice and reducing the slope that patrons must climb to enter...

The closure date for the Provo Utah Temple, which will be reconstructed under a new design, has been announced as Saturday, February 24, 2024

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[delts145]

,,,,,,,

[Atlas]

I think that new design would be nice in a vacuum, but the truth is that there are multiple temples that look just like it already. It's forgettable.

They should have kept the old design and renovated it. It's much more distinctive and calls back to a different era of architectural taste. The impulse to remove it and build something more pleasing to contemporary taste is the same one that cost NYC of the Singer Building or SLC of the Dooly Building.

[delts145]

Like the Ogden Temple redesign, this will be a major improvement. Subjectively speaking, there was very little that was exemplary about that former design. One of its major symbolic features (the golden spire) was mistakenly given a coat of clashing white. Sure, it was unique, odd, even the brunt of many an affectionate chuckle, and perhaps even considered fugly, but IMO not even close to being iconically attractive.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by delts145

Like the Ogden Temple this will be a major improvement. There was nothing attractive about that former design.

Disagree. See previous.

Give me the old Ogden temple back.

[delts145]

Haha, I'm tempted to use an "Orlandoism" on you Atlas but I realize it's just a difference of opinion.

[delts145]

Ryan Smith aims to create 'iconic' tech incubator in Provo

KSL.com - By Cassidy Wixom - https://www.ksl.com/article/50824160/rya...FGuk3d6FY3prt7mI7mXTZfgGD-_UPOPuPR7BzMLI

PROVO — Qualtrics founder and NBA Utah Jazz, NHL Utah Hockey Club owner Ryan Smith has grand plans to create a "tech incubator," where people with startup ideas can live and work and bring their visions to life in a new Provo community.

He wants to build a live-work environment, with a residential neighborhood and office space, for entrepreneurs to utilize as they are taught how to grow their companies. The River District, as the project is called, will be located on the west side of University Avenue near 800 North and the base of Provo Canyon.

The location has gone through a rezone and design process and is in the permits and approval stage. The 26-acre development will have 198 residential units on the west side of the river, 300,000 square feet of office space on the east side and potential for commercial space, as well.

"Ryan's vision is that Provo will become ground zero for intellectual and technology development from around the world and that some of the brightest people from around the world will come here to develop the newest and brightest concepts in technology," said Keith Morey, Provo economic development director.

Provo city officials will help facilitate Smith's development, including planning and zoning to ensure the development adds value to the area, but Smith will be funding it himself. Construction is anticipated to start in the spring.

Read More: https://www.ksl.com/article/50824160/rya...FGuk3d6FY3prt7mI7mXTZfgGD-_UPOPuPR7BzMLI

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