Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Orlando

This needs to happen before the Olympics.

https://le.utah.gov/interim/2016/pdf/00002310.pdf

lol they've been talking about these Grand Boulevards for over a decade. Not gonna happen.

Hell, this deck is from 2016 lmao

[TheGeographer]

Originally Posted by Comrade

lol they've been talking about these Grand Boulevards for over a decade. Not gonna happen.

Hell, this deck is from 2016 lmao

Come on let’s give the city some credit. Since 2016 we’ve added a cool development with ugly billboards hugging it from all angles, a few apartment buildings, and drumroll…a giant parking garage that can someday be converted. All while maintaining highway speeds on the grand boulevard. Thanks UDOT. In all seriousness I hope they can further improve 600 S. Does UDOT own 600 S? For 600 S to reach its full potential the billboards have to come down, electric lines have to be buried and the road needs to become more pedestrian friendly. They could also plant some trees sooner than later since trees take a long time to grow. Those all seem like hard asks for SLC though. Would love for State street to also have a more welcoming grand boulevard feel for those entering from the South.

When I was in São Paulo one thing I noticed were the many streets that had complete tree canopy cover. From a birds eye view you couldn’t even see the street there was so much canopy enclosure. I realize we’re in a desert and our streets are super wide so complete canopy enclosure won’t happen in SLC. But I think planting as many trees as possible is a good start. There’s lots of studies that show improved mental health as the presence of trees and vegetation increases. The best part of 600 S is along Grand America hotel because of all the trees

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by Comrade

lol they've been talking about these Grand Boulevards for over a decade. Not gonna happen.

Hell, this deck is from 2016 lmao

Comrade! Stop making me laugh!

Those billboards are some of the ugliest things known to man.

BTW, are there any plans to build around the Granary parking structure? By itself, it isn't looking at all good.

[Orlando]

/\/\/\ Yes. That Garage between 6th & 7th south is intended to be surrounded by housing. I thought it was also supposed to have a climbing wall on the west side.

This first one below is currently being built on the east side:


This one appears to be planned for the north side.


I believe this one is on the southwest corner.


I've seen the overall plan and there are other housing developments surrounding the garage.

[Paniolo Man]

Snapped this one on Saturday:

[Paniolo Man]

Can't remember if I posted this here already, but Stadler has filed to expand the train factory.

[Orlando]

https://catalystimpact.com/millerwfh

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by Orlando

/\/\/\ Yes. That Garage between 6th & 7th south is intended to be surrounded by housing. I thought it was also supposed to have a climbing wall on the west side.

Thank you Orlando.

[Paniolo Man]

North Capitol Building:

[bob rulz]

Originally Posted by TheGeographer

Come on let’s give the city some credit. Since 2016 we’ve added a cool development with ugly billboards hugging it from all angles, a few apartment buildings, and drumroll…a giant parking garage that can someday be converted. All while maintaining highway speeds on the grand boulevard. Thanks UDOT. In all seriousness I hope they can further improve 600 S. Does UDOT own 600 S? For 600 S to reach its full potential the billboards have to come down, electric lines have to be buried and the road needs to become more pedestrian friendly. They could also plant some trees sooner than later since trees take a long time to grow. Those all seem like hard asks for SLC though. Would love for State street to also have a more welcoming grand boulevard feel for those entering from the South.

When I was in São Paulo one thing I noticed were the many streets that had complete tree canopy cover. From a birds eye view you couldn’t even see the street there was so much canopy enclosure. I realize we’re in a desert and our streets are super wide so complete canopy enclosure won’t happen in SLC. But I think planting as many trees as possible is a good start. There’s lots of studies that show improved mental health as the presence of trees and vegetation increases. The best part of 600 S is along Grand America hotel because of all the trees

Yes UDOT owns 500/600 South and State Street. Don't expect much any time soon.

[TheGeographer]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Yes UDOT owns 500/600 South and State Street. Don't expect much any time soon.

Darn, well in that case expectations are low

[Orlando]

The billboards plus UDOT not caring about those streets other than proper traffic flow is creating one of the worst eye-sore entrances to any major city that I've ever been to. I'm so annoyed by all of this, that I want to start a grass-roots effort to bring it to the Governor's and public's attention. It's a total embarrassment.

[Makid]

Originally Posted by Orlando

The billboards plus UDOT not caring about those streets other than proper traffic flow is creating one of the worst eye-sore entrances to any major city that I've ever been to. I'm so annoyed by all of this, that I want to start a grass-roots effort to bring it to the Governor's and public's attention. It's a total embarrassment.

I do think that there is a chance that UDOT will agree to some changes to the road. Sure, vehicle traffic would have to be the priority but I do think making it look better is definitely possible.

Just look at what has been happening on State Street around 7th South. For practically decades, UDOT wouldn't agree to anything that might impede traffic. This is why there is a tunnel under State between CCC and Harmons. The new work between 6th and 7th South (maybe 8th as well), includes a landscaped median and wider sidewalks with intersection bulb outs.

The biggest impediment to the Grand Boulevards isn't UDOT though, it is the various state billboard laws. They require unobstructed views from multiple angles. This reduces the ability to add trees along the roads as they would impede the views required for the billboards.

This would require the State to modify the view laws for billboards, at least along 5th and 6th South. With the powerful billboard lobby, it is doubtful that this would pass.

I would be nice to see some changes that would at least make it easier or cheaper to remove billboards within a city. That would at least give cities or even developers a chance to remove billboards. This would be the minimum that is needed to allow for the Grand Boulevards to happen.

[Always Sunny in SLC]

Originally Posted by Makid

I do think that there is a chance that UDOT will agree to some changes to the road. Sure, vehicle traffic would have to be the priority but I do think making it look better is definitely possible.

Just look at what has been happening on State Street around 7th South. For practically decades, UDOT wouldn't agree to anything that might impede traffic. This is why there is a tunnel under State between CCC and Harmons. The new work between 6th and 7th South (maybe 8th as well), includes a landscaped median and wider sidewalks with intersection bulb outs.

The biggest impediment to the Grand Boulevards isn't UDOT though, it is the various state billboard laws. They require unobstructed views from multiple angles. This reduces the ability to add trees along the roads as they would impede the views required for the billboards.

This would require the State to modify the view laws for billboards, at least along 5th and 6th South. With the powerful billboard lobby, it is doubtful that this would pass.

I would be nice to see some changes that would at least make it easier or cheaper to remove billboards within a city. That would at least give cities or even developers a chance to remove billboards. This would be the minimum that is needed to allow for the Grand Boulevards to happen.

I wonder if allowing the companies to trade those for 2 others somewhere else along areas of freeway or highways in the state would be valuable enough to them to take the deal.

[mattreedah]

Originally Posted by Orlando

The billboards plus UDOT not caring about those streets other than proper traffic flow is creating one of the worst eye-sore entrances to any major city that I've ever been to. I'm so annoyed by all of this, that I want to start a grass-roots effort to bring it to the Governor's and public's attention. It's a total embarrassment.

In 2016 you had the governors office and the gop leadership on board with grand boulevards. There was a bill ready. I’m honestly not sure what happened.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by mattreedah

In 2016 you had the governors office and the gop leadership on board with grand boulevards. There was a bill ready. I’m honestly not sure what happened.

Is this possibly another casualty of the Biskupski administration, much like the 200S streetcar?

[Makid]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Is this possibly another casualty of the Biskupski administration, much like the 200S streetcar?

The 200S streetcar is still in the long range plan. I think it is part of the 2045, unfunded plan. The Red Line routing along 4th West has been part of the 200S streetcar plan and having it happen with Tech-Link does help to make the overall streetcar plan more feasible.

The downtown streetcar plan (4th West along 200S to 2nd East then to South Temple) was always able to be covered by a minor TIF increase along the route. It was determined that not only could it pay for the downtown corridor but also roughly 75% of the granary extension. Without the granary section being needed, this should benefit the downtown streetcar as well as the eastward extension of the line along South Temple then to Presidents Circle at the U.

I always like think what the transit maps and ridership would look like using the 2045-2050 planned rail lines/extensions. Having these options plus the Rio Grande Plan would definitely improve ridership, transit times, and development along and near the rail lines.

[Comrade]

I can't wait.

[Atlas]

The point is that we might have Grand Boulevards and 200S streetcar today if Becker had been re-elected.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Atlas

The point is that we might have Grand Boulevards and 200S streetcar today if Becker had been re-elected.

Yeah I doubt it lol