Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[rockies]

Originally Posted by meman

I just returned from spending the night in downtown Portland and noticed they have a beautiful blue-glass Ritz-Carleton (very tall-460 feet high). It started me to think about why Salt Lake does not have a Ritz-Carleton or Four Sesons Hotel?

Maybe one could be build for the SEG project.
Any thoughts anyone?

I would like to see a downtown Ritz. I believe there is a Four Seasons planned for Deer Valley though

[delts145]

Yeah, there is a big Four Seasons Hotel and Village going in up at Deer Valley. Up until now, the Grand America filled that void downtown. However, given what seems to be happening over the next ten years, it's time to add one or two more hotels of that size and caliber to the mix. Not just top tier, but closer to CCC, The CC, Temple Square, and this whole upcoming mix of new development. Hyatt Regency and some of the boutique hotels like the Asher Adams have been a great step in the right direction but I think it's high time that Marriott started investing in downtown with at least one or two of its highest-end hotels, like a Ritz or a St. Regis. I think a J.W. Highrise/Ritz Boutique Hotel/Residential Combination, like they have here in L.A., would be a great addition located right across from the Convention Center on the old Arrow Press Block. By the time 2034 rolls around, if Salt Lake City and the urban Wasatch Front continue the current trajectory, the need will be past tense. Planning, approvals, and construction 2034 will be here before we know it. The city needs to start getting aggressive with that entire block of regressive developers, who don't have the means to give those sites across the street from the CC the type of developments it deserves.

There is always a strong possibility that Smith is already thinking the same thoughts, and the hotel planned for the Entertainment District will be top-tier. We shall see.

I think this upcoming Olympics and the huge amount of new development that will occur downtown leading up to 2034, like the Sports Entertainment District, the new 6,000-seat performance venue, and all of the many other developments, will lift downtown to a whole new level beyond what we thought possible in such a short period of time.

[freeshavocado]

A little caveat.. that Ritz Carlton project in Portland has been a pretty significant failure. There's a bunch of news stories if you google it.

[meman]

Thanks guys for your comments regarding the ritz-carleton.
I too am hoping we get a really nice, tall new hotel in the Entertainment district
in Salt Lake.

[delts145]

Eye-catching townhomes being pitched near Highland Drive in Millcreek

Full Article @ https://buildingsaltlake.com/eye-catchin...ve-in-millcreek/?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)

A new slate of for-sale townhomes in Millcreek could potentially be built near Highland Drive.

The proposed development, located at 1265 E. Villa Vista Avenue is named the Villa Vista Townhomes, and would consist of 18 townhomes that would be subdivided so the units can be owner-occupied, according to a staff report from Millcreek...

...Current plans call for three buildings, each with six townhome units that reach up to 47 feet in height. Two of the buildings would be made up of four bedroom units, and each unit would have an elevator and a rooftop deck. The third building would be made up of three-bedroom units that would not have elevators. All units would have a two car garage...

A rendering of the Villa Vista townhomes in Millcreek. Image via Mint Architecture


A rendering of the Villa Vista townhomes in Millcreek. Image via Mint Architecture

.

[Orlando]

Does anybody know the status of the UTA Office building?

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Does anybody know the status of the UTA Office building?

No public news in months. They've been very cagey about it.

I personally hate the design and hope to see major changes. It makes no sense to build another wall of a building across 300S when the RGP is being studied and the allowable heights in the Depot District have been raised.

[Orlando]

I actually don't mind the length along there because it is so far removed from the freeway, and so it's presence really won't be that obstructive.
Plus the bend expression works with the site, IMO. But, didn't the City Planning Commission want some changes to it? I forget, and I don't have a paid subscription to the BSL article.

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by delts145

Eye-catching townhomes being pitched near Highland Drive in Millcreek

Full Article @ https://buildingsaltlake.com/eye-catchin...ve-in-millcreek/?ct=t(RSS_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN)

A new slate of for-sale townhomes in Millcreek could potentially be built near Highland Drive.

The proposed development, located at 1265 E. Villa Vista Avenue is named the Villa Vista Townhomes, and would consist of 18 townhomes that would be subdivided so the units can be owner-occupied, according to a staff report from Millcreek...

...Current plans call for three buildings, each with six townhome units that reach up to 47 feet in height. Two of the buildings would be made up of four bedroom units, and each unit would have an elevator and a rooftop deck. The third building would be made up of three-bedroom units that would not have elevators. All units would have a two car garage...

A rendering of the Villa Vista townhomes in Millcreek. Image via Mint Architecture


A rendering of the Villa Vista townhomes in Millcreek. Image via Mint Architecture

.

This to me this is fantastic! The bay windows look great! Very old school Chicago. I love it!

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Orlando

But, didn't the City Planning Commission want some changes to it? I forget, and I don't have a paid subscription to the BSL article.

No, as a state agency they don't answer to the planning commission. Mayor Mendenhall didn't like the design and said as much when it was presented. She thought it looked like a wall.

I think UTA deserves an improved headquarters but there's a lack of transparency and public engagement on this project. They don't even have a website posted for it like all of their other projects.

[Snoogalator]

Originally Posted by Atlas

No, as a state agency they don't answer to the planning commission. Mayor Mendenhall didn't like the design and said as much when it was presented. She thought it looked like a wall.

I think UTA deserves an improved headquarters but there's a lack of transparency and public engagement on this project. They don't even have a website posted for it like all of their other projects.

they should just officially endorse the RGP and then build a new bus storage facility and office in a skyscraper right next to it

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Snoogalator

they should just officially endorse the RGP and then build a new bus storage facility and office in a skyscraper right next to it

Hear hear!

Picture of the U's new computer science building today:

[rockies]

I think for the sake of long-term planning they should not build a wall-like building there (even despite the adjacent freeway). Like, who knows what UDOT will be dreaming up for the I-15 corridor 20-50+ years from now... if there is ever an opportunity for 300S to be reconnected over/through/under I-15, it would be a shame to have such a barrier there. It's so preventable at this stage and I agree with the mayor and atlas

Even if they don't go with the RGP eventually, this design by itself is not great and the process was not great either - obviously RGP is the solution tho

Originally Posted by Orlando

[Snoogalator]

Originally Posted by rockies

I think for the sake of long-term planning they should not build a wall-like building there (even despite the adjacent freeway). Like, who knows what UDOT will be dreaming up for the I-15 corridor 20-50+ years from now... if there is ever an opportunity for 300S to be reconnected over/through/under I-15, it would be a shame to have such a barrier there. It's so preventable at this stage and I agree with the mayor and atlas

Even if they don't go with the RGP eventually, this design by itself is not great and the process was not great either - obviously RGP is the solution tho

Thats a good point, for all we know UDOT could decide to fully burry or elevate I-15

I'm also hoping that if the RGP happens SLC will cut the block size to a quarter of what they are now in the district (4 block in one current one)

[Comrade]

I see no reason to stake this building's design on something that could maybe potentially possibly happen 30 years from now. When that 🞵🞵🞵🞵 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵, we can address the barrier this building creates. Until then? I don't find it that big of a deal.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Comrade

I see no reason to stake this building's design on something that could maybe potentially possibly happen 30 years from now. When that 🞵🞵🞵🞵 🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵🞵, we can address the barrier this building creates. Until then? I don't find it that big of a deal.

This doesn't really make sense. Change the design now, when it's easy. The architect will do whatever they ask.

UTA hasn't taken public feedback on this since at least 2018, and it shows.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Atlas

This doesn't really make sense. Change the design now, when it's easy. The architect will do whatever they ask.

UTA hasn't taken public feedback on this since at least 2018, and it shows.

It makes perfect sense if you realize I don't have a problem at all with the design. In fact, I like it. It's silly to change the design on the off chance that in 30 years I-15 might maybe be buried or that that area is somehow going to grow into a walkable, extended portion of downtown where this will create a magical divide.

If your argument is that you don't like the style - that's one thing. If your objection to the design is because 30+ years from now it might, maybe possibly prove an issue, well that just makes me laugh.

[mattreedah]

Originally Posted by Comrade

It makes perfect sense if you realize I don't have a problem at all with the design. In fact, I like it. It's silly to change the design on the off chance that in 30 years I-15 might maybe be buried or that that area is somehow going to grow into a walkable, extended portion of downtown where this will create a magical divide.

If your argument is that you don't like the style - that's one thing. If your objection to the design is because 30+ years from now it might, maybe possibly prove an issue, well that just makes me laugh.

I kind of like it. the only issue I have with the new headquarters is they need to put in a nice canopy or something over the train tracks. denver's is great. I was there recently.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Comrade

It makes perfect sense if you realize I don't have a problem at all with the design. In fact, I like it. It's silly to change the design on the off chance that in 30 years I-15 might maybe be buried or that that area is somehow going to grow into a walkable, extended portion of downtown where this will create a magical divide.

If your argument is that you don't like the style - that's one thing. If your objection to the design is because 30+ years from now it might, maybe possibly prove an issue, well that just makes me laugh.

What I'm saying is that it does not make any sense to intentionally design a building that blocks a street, especially when there is a $4 million study active right now about the East-West divide and how the railroad interrupts the street grid. The Rio Grande Plan and burying I-15 are part of that study. Underpasses are part of that study.

Why not break up the massing and design a taller structure with the same square footage? Why not make it easier to access the platforms from 300 S?

[MountainSkyline]

Originally Posted by Atlas

What I'm saying is that it does not make any sense to intentionally design a building that blocks a street, especially when there is a $4 million study active right now about the East-West divide and how the railroad interrupts the street grid. The Rio Grande Plan and burying I-15 are part of that study. Underpasses are part of that study.

Why not break up the massing and design a taller structure with the same square footage? Why not make it easier to access the platforms from 300 S?

It's kind of the nature of a train station to be a long building. If the main floor is open to the public and is rich in amenities then it wouldn't be too different from European style trains stations.