Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[RC14]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

This is how the pagoda would fit in the skyline :



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

Urbanboy,

I love your ideas for Japantown, I have always thought we needed something on this block. I have always felt this view frrom the 200s skybridge was somewhat disapointing but could become great if there was something to see on that block.

[ctobsl]

Originally Posted by 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.

Hi There Urbanboy,

I like your ideas for the city.

I work in the Semiconductor industry so of course I am not a city planner or anything along the lines, but I was wondering. What is wrong with the Convention Hotel we already have? I don't know the new name of it now, but it was the old Double Tree Hotel that sits on the corner of South Temple and 200 West? I know it is a small hotel but, couldnt that be expanded into a larger hotel, go up? Not that it will ever happen, but what are your ideas on that?

Thanks,
Anthony



Original Photo by skyguy414

[urbanboy]

Yes, I think that could be a possibility as well. However, the Royal Wood Plaza is a terrible suburban style office, and does not interact with the street well. It does not create continuity of interaction for the pedestrian walking along 200 South. 200 South and South Temple are very important corridors that might help connect the east and west sides of downtown, and help soften the edge (barrier) that the Salt Palace is. The Japantown block is, like I said, key to connecting the east and west sides of Downtown. Because of it's close proximity to the Salt Palace Convention Center, I thought a convention hotel might be a good idea. Furthermore I felt the strategy of connecting a new convention hotel to the rebuilding of Japantown might give the county the opportunity to get behind the project, and help finance it.

[gbb]

Urbanboy - I appreciate your zeal for creating some conceptual designs for many of our city's blocks, and completely agree that the Royal Wood Office Plaza is horrifying. I have always disliked that block and the way 200 South is fragmented by it. I work close by and am very aware of the problems of that area.

But I disagree that that is the appropriate location for a convention hotel. While the physical distance is the same to the Salt Palace entrance from that block as the block just east of the center, the feel of walking out of your hotel, around the back of the convention center and into the entrance would be very undesirable. Placing the hotel within direct eye-shot of the convention center would create a much stronger connection to it and increase the potential of really activating the large plaza in front of the center. Let alone the fact that during many of the larger conventions, 200 West is shut down and used as a staging area for loading and unloading goods. Placing a hotel in the location of our beloved Shilo Inn or the office building/parking structure west of the Capitol Theater would be ideal. Visitors would then have a stronger connection to the core of the downtown area.

Additionally, placing the convention hotel on the 'japan town' block would deny that block of having the additional visibility of that southeast corner. It would force the back side of the hotel to face the heart of what could become a unique and exciting block/district. Placing another pagoda type element on that corner would draw convention center visitors into the block, and thus enhancing the experience there.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by gbb

But I disagree that that is the appropriate location for a convention hotel. While the physical distance is the same to the Salt Palace entrance from that block as the block just east of the center, the feel of walking out of your hotel, around the back of the convention center and into the entrance would be very undesirable. Placing the hotel within direct eye-shot of the convention center would create a much stronger connection to it and increase the potential of really activating the large plaza in front of the center. Let alone the fact that during many of the larger conventions, 200 West is shut down and used as a staging area for loading and unloading goods. Placing a hotel in the location of our beloved Shilo Inn or the office building/parking structure west of the Capitol Theater would be ideal. Visitors would then have a stronger connection to the core of the downtown area.

I tried to say something very similar earlier, you have said it more better than I did. My comment was simply brushed aside and the distance part of my comment was the only thing commented on. I agree with you 100% GBB

[Comrade]

Just some fun...

[urbanboy]

(gbb, Future Mayor)

If I remember correctly, when 200 W. is closed of, they still let local traffic through. The streets here in SLC are wide enough to accommodate both. Also, There is no "backside" to the hotel I've proposed, so I'm not sure which side you are referring to as the potential district (hopefully there will be districts on both sides). Furthermore, if you want that plaza to be more lively, we should ask the city to put more benches where people can sit, and maybe a water feature. I would love it, if one day there were a needle-type observation tower and restaurant directly above that plaza. the sight lines from that spot are amazing! Also I think people will be able to find their way to the Convention Center Doors just fine, with just as strong as a connection. Plus, that spot is central to Downtown. It's about the same distance to both City Creek Center and The Gateway shopping centers. Even if Japantown and The Gateway draws visitors one direction, Temple Square, Main Street, City Creek Center, Abravanel Hall, Theater district including a Broadway-scale theater, and Library and Washington squares will pull visitors the other direction. By centrally locating the convention hotel, all businesses in the downtown vicinity can benefit. Even smaller businesses on that side of the SPCC could benefit. Again, I want to hear suggestions that anyone has for this block. If not a convention hotel, what else could we use to strategically get the county involved in the rebuilding of Japantown? What else could have the same draw as a convention hotel for that centralized location of Downtown?




Yes! Something like that Comrade!

[UTvision]

I think the convention center hotel would work great on that corner Urban Boy. I would suggest an open air skybrdidge over the street and onto the roof of the parking garage to avoid the enterance/exit of the parking garage. (just like UB had it on his drawing)

photo from google maps

As far as 200 W used for a staging area, that doesn't typically start for 1/3-1/2 down that block. And it does remain open, one lane each direction. Its being used for the Novell Convention right now. And as far as the walking distance, is doesn't matter too much. Its pretty close and convention attendees do a lot of walking inside the Salt Palace anyways. They also walk a lot to get around town.

This also just came to me, what about that location for the World Trade Center? I think that might work good there too.

[Viperlord]

Central Park Condominiums
81 units
3-4 floors
1350 South Main Street
right across the street from Franklin Covey Field

http://www.slcgov.com/boards/plancom/2008/March/sr_4100740.pdf

[Viperlord]

http://www.belmontslc.com/homeflash.html

construction is going nicely on this project. I drove by it today.

Belmont Downtown:

150 East Belmont Avenue (950 South)
Salt Lake City, UT 84111

[Viperlord]

kinda a cute little project..

http://www.capitolhillonecondos.com/

[Viperlord]

World Trade Center Utah Update

Issue Date: March 1, 2008, Posted On: 3/4/2008

http://www.indusbusinessjournal.com/ME2/...er=4&id=8AC7FD3659054B439047695CCACF76C9

At the heart of the trip was a visit to the Mumbai World Trade Center and an agreement signed with the center to take part in the development of the World Trade Center Utah, which is being built now and is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Gov. Huntsman views the World Trade Center Utah as a focal point of the state’s increasing international scope. “It is a fairly sizable building that will symbolize our commitment to globalization,” he said.

[wrendog]

^^^^^^^

Ummm, how is it being built now?

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Viperlord

World Trade Center Utah Update

Issue Date: March 1, 2008, Posted On: 3/4/2008

http://www.indusbusinessjournal.com/ME2/...er=4&id=8AC7FD3659054B439047695CCACF76C9

At the heart of the trip was a visit to the Mumbai World Trade Center and an agreement signed with the center to take part in the development of the World Trade Center Utah, which is being built now and is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Gov. Huntsman views the World Trade Center Utah as a focal point of the state’s increasing international scope. “It is a fairly sizable building that will symbolize our commitment to globalization,” he said.

Getting built now? Has this project broke ground already and we didn't know about it?

[Scraperdude801]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Getting built now? Has this project broke ground already and we didn't know about it?

yeah, and it is going in Sandy

[Viperlord]

Originally Posted by Viperlord

World Trade Center Utah Update

Issue Date: March 1, 2008, Posted On: 3/4/2008

http://www.indusbusinessjournal.com/ME2/...er=4&id=8AC7FD3659054B439047695CCACF76C9

At the heart of the trip was a visit to the Mumbai World Trade Center and an agreement signed with the center to take part in the development of the World Trade Center Utah, which is being built now and is scheduled to be completed in 2010.

Gov. Huntsman views the World Trade Center Utah as a focal point of the state’s increasing international scope. “It is a fairly sizable building that will symbolize our commitment to globalization,” he said.

"being built now and is scheduled to be completed in 2010"

I think there are a few different ways to interpret this. The first would be to interpret the word now as in right at this very instant

I think they mean as in "The present time or moment" as in now is the time to build it.

I think i just confused myself

Also "being built now" could mean plans are being drawn up, because that is part of the building stage. They dont mention ground broken for anything.

[DMTower]

they did give a finishing date of 2010 which doesn't give them a whole lot of time... I think it's misinformation

[MetroFanatic]

I am thinking the same. Maybe somebody should send an email on the regard... I would, but I don't know who to send it to.

[delts145]

Although with this Governor it all will probably come about very quickly. I wouldn't be surprised to see an announcement for a building timeline within the year. I just hope that they capture the same vision as they did with the style of the library. Just the name,"World Trade Center" should signify that it is a new tallest with awesome design, and not just another rectangular box, standing upright.

[delts145]

Odd Fellows Hall packing up and moving

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695263829,00.html


Alan Rindisbacher, marketing director for Layton Construction, stands in front of Salt Lake City's historic Odd Fellows Hall, which will be moved across the street in late May or early June. (Tom Smart, Deseret Morning News)

"We're going to pack it up and move it," said Alan Rindlisbacher, marketing director for Layton Construction, simply yet accurately summing up the formidable task.

.