Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Page 97

ctobsl · #**1921** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 4:17 AM**

Wow, even the freeways are high rises compaired to ours.

delts145 · #**1922** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 12:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedikermit

And done beautifully, I must say. Phoenix's freeways are breathtaking. Especially compared to the nastiness we have up here. They're learning, but they're learning about ten years too late.

I like the lone star, but imho the overall design is pretty grotesque. The Olympic memorabilia on the new overpasses of I-15,such as Bangerter or the period lighting and iron fencing on the 6oo so. off ramp are infinitely more attractive.

Houston is a great city, but for me personally I'll take urban views like those below over the above any day. Granted, we definitely need to finish the landscaping on interchanges such as 106th so. to resemble more of what we find at the new Pleasant Grove interchange or the University interchange in Orem/Provo, or what I'm use to in San Diego and L.A., but the design of the new I-15 itself and the many new interchanges with it are excellent.

Even in urban San Diego, there is nothing that surpasses the urban-design-by-nature of I-215's eastbound view of the Wasatch as you approach State,Union, or 20th, or any one of a million other views along the urban interstate from North Ogden to Santaquin.

Yeah, we have it real nasty,

.

delts145 · #**1923** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 1:44 PM**

USSA breaks ground on state-of-the-art training facility

http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_6409285?source=rv

The U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association breaks ground Wednesday on a new $22.5 million training and education center in Park City. (Leah Hogsten/The Salt Lake Tribune)

jedikermit · #**1924** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 2:37 PM**

This isn't about the view from the road, it's about the road. Because yeah, the view along the Wasatch Front is breathtaking. We all know that.

Delts, I agree that both the Bangerter/I-15 and the new Pleasant Grove interchanges are very nice. They're beautiful, in fact. But by and large the freeways here simply utilitarian and ugly. And the walls they've put up, boxing in the roads, block the gorgeous views you just posted along much of the freeway. So you're driving down the trench of the Death Star instead of looking at "the finest scenery ever put on this Earth," or whatever you're apt to say.

I have high hopes for the designs of the new work on I-80....like I say, I hope we've learned our lesson.

jedikermit · #**1925** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 2:38 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ute_City

Even little details to the SLC Freeways would do much to improve them. I like the character it gives to these new Houston freeways just by adding a 'Lone Star' to the freeway supports in the picture below.

I like that--yeah, it doesn't have to be something dramatic or cost a lot of money--but a smidgen of thought would be nice.

Future Mayor · #**1926** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 2:45 PM**

Jedi, I'm not sure I understand what lessons we need to learn from the I-15 reconstruction other than landscaping on the off ramps. The fact that the entire reconstruction took a 1/3 of the time than that a similar reconstruction on I-17 in Phoenix is rather impressive. I too like the ornamental lighting on 400, 500, and 600 south, as well as the consistant color scheme that the overpasses were painted rather than just the concrete color. I don't really have any complaints about I-15 in SL County, except that they should have planned for a HOV flyover ramp to connect to I-80 HOV, east of I-15.

I would imagine that the the new I-80 will actually have even more aesthetically pleasing design features due to the fact that it runs through a much more residential/nicer area than I-15 does.

Future Mayor · #**1927** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 2:49 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Viperlord

We have a logo

Viper and anyone else, what details do we know about Utah World Trade Center? Is the site at 200 S and State a definite, is anything a definite or is everything still a pipe dream at this point? Have other potential sites been identified?

I know the UWTC is part of the vision plan recently released but I was just curious if there is anything else.

delts145 · #**1928** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 3:13 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by jedikermit

This isn't about the view from the road, it's about the road. Because yeah, the view along the Wasatch Front is breathtaking. We all know that.

Delts, I agree that both the Bangerter/I-15 and the new Pleasant Grove interchanges are very nice. They're beautiful, in fact. But by and large the freeways here simply utilitarian and ugly. And the walls they've put up, boxing in the roads, block the gorgeous views you just posted along much of the freeway. So you're driving down the trench of the Death Star instead of looking at "the finest scenery ever put on this Earth," or whatever you're apt to say.

I have high hopes for the designs of the new work on I-80....like I say, I hope we've learned our lesson.

Jedi, for the sake of discussion and perhaps we respectfully disagree on just a few points. Okay, so we agree that the interchanges such as the new one at Pleasant Grove is beautiful. My point was that the interchange at 106th is very well designed,but definately needs landscaping. I also feel that the new I-15 is as well designed as any, and I'm familiar with quite a few. I for one have no problem with the new sound walls along I-15. And I think the etched mountain relief on the walls is a very nice detail. However, I do have a problem with the sound walls on say I-215 Westside or up around Olympus Cove. But even on these older soundwalls, the right kind of landscaping would go a long way.
The short of it would be that in my opinion the problem is not with the design of the freeway, but the lack of, "appropriate to this area landscaping." Appropriate landscaping, along with the almost always prevelant views, has a lot more of an impact than a Star or Beehive, although yes that is always nice too.

i-215 · #**1929** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 3:45 PM**

Does that green ivy vine-like stuff grow here? I could see growing that over some of the ugly walls on the 215 to help "green up" the place.

I feel that from a pragmatic standpoint, I suppose noisewalls are needed - simply to keep traffic from flying off the freeway into adjacent homes. However, I do miss being able to see places as I go - rather than feel like I'm in a "big dig" with no roof (or as Future Mayor so keenly put it, "trench of the Death Star").

But growing some ivy vine over the walls could enhance the landscaping.

Comrade · #**1930** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 4:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by i-215

Does that green ivy vine-like stuff grow here? I could see growing that over some of the ugly walls on the 215 to help "green up" the place.

I feel that from a pragmatic standpoint, I suppose noisewalls are needed - simply to keep traffic from flying off the freeway into adjacent homes. However, I do miss being able to see places as I go - rather than feel like I'm in a "big dig" with no roof (or as Future Mayor so keenly put it, "trench of the Death Star").

But growing some ivy vine over the walls could enhance the landscaping.

You think it would, as it grows on houses all over the place.

delts145 · #**1931** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 4:30 PM**

^^^
You're right 215, more Ivy on those sound walls along with some pinyon or ponderosa, and of course that landscape stone in different colors,(at the interchanges) as with Pleasant Grove would go a long way. I think ultimately its up to the individual communities. Sandy has done a huge amount of streetscape improvement over the past few years along many of it's corridors. I'm surprised it hasn't been more agressive on it's gateways,like the106th or 90th South interchanges. I would bet that if a few calls were made to the Sandy Mayor about 106th,something would be done. Also I would like to see something done on 45th and 33rd. or 215/State Steet off and on ramps, etc.

Comrade, my cousin,who lives up in your area thinks that it would be a good move to give the I-80/1300 east interchange more of the artistic stone arrangement vs. the lawn. She is of the opinion that the stone along with drought resistent vegetation would be nicer looking and also far more conservationist minded. Since they will be giving that area a big over-haul, what's your opinion?

i-215 · #**1932** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 5:42 PM**

I've always loved the lawn at 13th ... I thought it was the nicest looking interchange in the state (a few years back).

But these days I suppose it sets a bad example when they ask people to conserve water, and then they dump 1000 gallons on a freeway interchange that nobody can use.

PhxSprawler · #**1933** Posted **Jul 19, 2007, 7:18 PM**

All these ideas sound like great Eagle Scout projects! Add eco-friendly landscaping to the side of freeways... what a novel idea for your kids or neighbor's kids.

You are lucky to have such a large market of volunteers that have moral duties to contribute to the local community. Use it wisely.

Orpheum · #**1934** Posted **Jul 20, 2007, 5:12 PM**

Hey,
I'm not sure where to post this because it's not really news or anything.. but I thought you guys might like to see an updated model of 222 South Main I drew for Google Earth. Check it out..

I like the front of the building a lot but I'm not at all pleased with how the back looks. Almost the entire glass "crown" is going to be hidden by some other roof structure. I hope the west side of the building looks better when it's built..

Here are some other models I've made.. I'm still learning.. they're by no means 100% accurate..

...

Wasatch_One · #**1935** Posted **Jul 20, 2007, 5:43 PM**

Orpheum, those are awesome!

I as well hope they do something about the west side of the 222 S Main since it will be blocking out One Utah from the freeway view...

i-215 · #**1936** Posted **Jul 20, 2007, 8:07 PM**

Orepheum .....

As Joe Joe Pesci said in "Gone Fishin'"..... HOLY SMOKES GUS!

Those models are incredible!!!!!!

jedikermit · #**1937** Posted **Jul 20, 2007, 9:10 PM**

Wow--very impressive.

arkhitektor · #**1938** Posted **Jul 21, 2007, 12:21 AM**

Yeah Orpheum....

I lurk around on Google's 3D warehouse and your stuff is the best there is for Salt Lake City. Keep them coming!!!

Viperlord · #**1939** Posted **Jul 21, 2007, 7:09 PM**

City Center Shoppes

180 West 400 South

This site is currently home to an old 60's era concrete building. The building is abandoned. So I welcome this preject. It will improve the area.

Logline · #**1940** Posted **Jul 22, 2007, 3:06 AM**

Way cool! I live on that block! The rendering shows several different businesses there, but there's no way they would all fit in that small bldg. on 4th south. Any idea where I could get more info on what is going in that bldg exactly? Start dates? Completion dates? Where did you get this rendering? I'm sure people in the neighborhood would love to know.