Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Am I the only one who thinks the parking structure/office on the corner of 200 S and West Temple, across from the Salt Palace, would be the best location for a convention hotel? I've noticed, in everyone's drawings of what the area should be, people leave that ugly thing in there. Why? I bet it's possible they could demolish it, right?

I agree I don't like that parking structure and that space would work for a hotel.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Am I the only one who thinks the parking structure/office on the corner of 200 S and West Temple, across from the Salt Palace, would be the best location for a convention hotel? I've noticed, in everyone's drawings of what the area should be, people leave that ugly thing in there. Why? I bet it's possible they could demolish it, right?

LOL, I would bet a lot of us have been thinking the same thing Comrade, but somehow we just haven't vocalized it yet. Hey, if they can demolish the shubrick, they can certainly demolish that piece of blandness, and replace it with an attractive tower.

[urbanboy]

Yes, the Salt Palace has a big bootey, and might I add, something needs to be done to conceal it. The "Japantown" block is key to creating continuity between the east and west sides of downtown. I am thinking a convention hotel would not only help to conceal the backside (seems logical that the convention center's backside be concealed with convention things, such as a hotel), but also create this continuity. I agree that the location you point out Comrade, is a great place for a convention hotel, but I think the building currently in that spot is sufficient for right now. If the convention hotel were built in the spot I designated, an even newer convention hotel could be built on the location you point out at a later date, unless you are thinking of a convention hotel/broadway scale theater combo being built there, then they should build it right away. I do think that is also a great idea. However, if this were to happen, what do any of you suggest be used to not only conceal the backside of the SPCC, but also get the county behind rebuilding Japantown?
Also, the distance from each location to the entrance is not dramatically different. Yes the entrance to the SPCC would be closer to the location Comrade suggested, but not enough to give much credit to that argument.

[Future Mayor]

I have to disagree with you on the distance argument UrbanBoy. Having attended several convention, often times the "convention center hotel" is connected and often times has part of the conference in the hotel. While I like the idea of having the county help with the rebuild of JapanTown I don't think conventions will look at a hotel on that site without a connection or a short walk several hundred feet across a simple street with hotel and convention center entrance within site of each other.

I think another hotel, not the 1200 room "convention center" hotel would be great in the Japan town location and would be a great connector to overcome the bootey of the CLRSPCC.

[urbanboy]

Not even if there were a skybridge across 200 West? I mean, there's already one spanning that street anyway...

Have you forgotten about this entrance?



The red lines are the same distance


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[delts145]

That's a good point though Future Mayor... 200 West is one location where an attractive skybridge could be utilized. Perhaps one in appearance like the bridge at the Wells Fargo tower would fit quite nicely.

Hey!!..... Urbanboy, how would a sky bridge in the most elegant of Japanese traditional design work?

progressiveliving.org


peaceofanglorweb.com

Imagine building something like this to disguise that boring convention center span over where 200 west goes under the salt palace. It would serve as a Northern Gate to Japantown. People would pass under that span into an enchanting little world of our own little pre-colonial Tokyo.

strengthandhonour.co.uk

I kept looking at this photo taken by LoneStarMike of that particular stretch of 1st South. The fact that it was taken in the evening hides alot of the blandness, but also makes me long for some development projects to redeem it's potential. This western entrance to 1st south could make a great 'Japanese Themed Gateway.'

LoneStarMike

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[delts145]

Salt Lake projects boost economy

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695263358,00.html

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[delts145]

Future Mayor, I found this on another thread, but I wanted you to see it. It's not so much the architecture that I like, but the entrance arrangements with stairs etc. The facades definately won't due for what I think you probably demand for downtown, but the direction is aimed right.


Named by the National Association of Home Builders as “America’s Community of the Year” in 1999, Orenco Station is a transit-oriented community located in Hillsboro, Ore. Just west of Portland, Orenco Station is adjacent to a light rail station to provide residents with an alternate commuting option. At the heart of Orenco Station is a seven-acre mixed-use Town Center with shops, restaurants, service businesses, a specialty grocery store as well as lofts and luxurious row homes. The neighborhoods surrounding the Town Center are made up of a diverse collection of housing types, including condominiums, town and row homes and single-family homes with optional carriage homes. Two large neighborhood parks and smaller pocket parks provide opportunities for outdoor recreation and relaxation. In addition to the easily accessible light rail, this transit-oriented community’s streets and paths are designed to slow automobile traffic and promote walking and bicycling.

[urbanboy]

I like the architecture, I think those would look great in my brownstone project Could you imagine, looking down that street and seeing the City and County building's clock tower?

[Future Mayor]

I like them too Delts, I also don't mind the architecture, I think it is a nice blend of modern architecture and classic brownstones. I guess we'll just have to see which brownstone project gets off the ground first; My Brownstones at Library Square or UrbanBoys Brownstones at Washington Square. A little healthy competition is always a good thing.

[urbanboy]

Yaay, both our brownstone projects would do wonders for that area.


Here is how a Convention Hotel, located on the Japantown block, could connect and provide better access to the Convention Center. I'm not sure about the direct connection in yellow, since I like seeing people on the street.



Oh, and Delts, a skybridge designed with a traditional Japanese theme would provide a great gateway for the Japantown district.

[arkhitektor]

I noticed this morning on my way to work that the Walker Center sign is back in business:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2903661

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I like them too Delts, I also don't mind the architecture, I think it is a nice blend of modern architecture and classic brownstones. I guess we'll just have to see which brownstone project gets off the ground first; My Brownstones at Library Square or UrbanBoys Brownstones at Washington Square. A little healthy competition is always a good thing.

Yeah, The architecture is fine. I actually meant to say the materials used more than anything. For this style of project that is so reminiscent of the old-style Brownstones, I would prefer to go the direction of the more authentic materials.

Oh, and I hope that both your Brownstones fly. Definately, Two projects are better than one!!

[urbanboy]

This is how the pagoda would fit in the skyline :



Brought to you by LoneStarMike (pic) and urbanboy (doodle)

[delts145]

Excellant location!...........Oh, In case everyone hasn't noticed, LoneStarMike's Pics are running over on the U.S./Canada City Photos forum. A lot of great comments.


z.about.com

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[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I noticed this morning on my way to work that the Walker Center sign is back in business:

I was wondering just yesterday as to when it would be "back in business"

[delts145]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I noticed this morning on my way to work that the Walker Center sign is back in business:

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=2903661

Yaaaaay.....

[SLC Projects]

Glad to see the "Walker Sign" is back on.

[urbanboy]

I think it would be cool to have both traditional and modern Japanese architecture throughout Japantown.

[delts145]

^^^
I agree, some very innovative Japanese comtemporary would be great. As long as it has a definite sense of Japan, and not something that seems like a Japanese architect copying something American. My bank in L.A.(Koreatown) is very beautiful and comtemporary, yet it has a definate sense of Korean style about it.