Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[SLC Projects]

We should hear something about the "Gehry project" Later this month or early next month. Unless they push it back again.

[leerjet]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

I always assume a lot of projects are announced as floating potential ideas, seeing if enough investors get onboard to make them really happen. Which is why we take everything with a grain of salt until we see steel rising. For example, with the Market Station project--I'm very excited about the potential there, but until I see them capping off that twenty story building, I'm not going to believe it. I want them to make me eat those words. And I want them to be delicious.

I can definitely relate to your skepticism on this project jedikermit. While I do believe this project will come into fuition, they are certainly running way beyond their original schedule and have continually underestimated how long it will take before they break ground.

On the flip side, they have already invested a lot of money into purchasing the land and getting it entitled... it would be a real shame if nothing happened! Word is they plan to break ground in May, kicking it off with a fashion show in conjunction with Elite Models... we'll look forward to that.

[wrendog]

I'm not holding my breath for the gehry project. I'm guessing it won't happen. Market station is underway. That I find pretty amazing. It's a huge expensive project and it took no time at all to go from proposal to approval to groundbreaking.

[delts145]

^^^
I agree on the Market Station project Wren. Has everyone noticed how streamlined these projects that are TRAX related, seem to get up and going without a lot of delay.

[arkhitektor]

This is a made up project I created while training someone to use Google Sketchup. I thought I'd post it here and see what ya'll thought. Its a model for a passenger terminal at Salt Lake Airport 2 in W. Jordan. It was mostly just an exersize in how to use Sketchup. I don't claim to know anything about airport design, this was just me playing around.

Overall view:


Passenger Terminal:


Concourse:


Terminal Entrance from TRAX platform:


Passenger Pick-Up/Drop-Off Area:


Do you ever see a need for a second airport with scheduled commercial service for the Salt Lake Valley?
Would the current Airport 2 location work? I have no idea how long its runway is or what is required to land a commercial airliner.
Thoughts???

[leerjet]

^^^
^^^
I agree that Market Station will be amazing when complete. Even with it being under way though, and as easy as South Salt Lake is to work with vs. downtown, let's not forget that this project has been on the radar and in planning stages for more than 3 years (which is still fast for something this big!).

They have been postponing their groundbreaking for some time. They used Central Pointe to test the market and stated back in 06 that they planned on breaking ground in Feb of 07' but ran into delays in negotiating the purchase of Manny's bar (I imagine and they also wanted to see how the tax budget would work out/sharing tax revenues, etc).

I can't wait to see those old blighted parcels transform!

[Comrade]

Prior to September 11th, I think there may have been a need for a second airport within 20+ years, but the airline industry is in such a mess as is, I doubt Salt Lake can support two airports. As for the location, it's not ideal because it sits right in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Even in your renderings, you see homes not too far from the main terminal.

I think the runway is big enough for an emergency landing, but I'm not sure about it being used continuously as a second passenger airport. And really, I don't think Salt Lake needs another airport. It isn't like the valley is massive, this airport would only be 15-20 minute drive to SLC International. If the area were to get a new passenger airport, I think Utah County would be the most logical place to build.

[skyguy414]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Do you ever see a need for a second airport with scheduled commercial service for the Salt Lake Valley?
Would the current Airport 2 location work? I have no idea how long its runway is or what is required to land a commercial airliner.
Thoughts???

I like your sketches, they are cool and creative. Unfortunately, Airport 2 will likely never see any commercial airline service. Some reasons include:

1. The residents around the airport would never allow it. The airport is landlocked and surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
2. The runway is not adequate for commercial airline operations. It cannot support the weight of commercial airliners and is too short and has too many obstacles around it to allow a commercial aircraft to safely take-off and fly to another city with a decent payload. Even if you were to only use aircraft with short take-off and landing capability, atmospheric conditions would need to be ideal to even get a flight to say, Denver or Las Vegas with a plane full of passengers, bags, and cargo.
3. It only has one instrument approach (GPS). It would need more than that to be attractive to any airline.
4. The purpose of the airport is simply for general aviation aircraft. Utah National Guard also uses the airport for Apache and other helicopters.
5. There isn't really a need for a second commercial airport in Salt Lake. SLC Int'l has room to grow, and does a good job at moving the amount of traffic they do get with few delays related to the flow of traffic.

The more likely places to ever see commercial airline traffic are Provo, Ogden, and Logan. All three of those airports have expressed interest in gaining airline service. The problem is, people are willing to drive a little further to SLC international because they will get more competition (thus lower fares), more non-stop flights, and more flights to choose from.

I still like your designs though.

I would like to see them maybe put in a golf course or something along those lines around the airport (like in the empty area north of the airport). Buildings are not likely because they create obstacles for aircraft, so thats why I think a golf course would be more appropriate and would have some purpose, rather than an empty field.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by skyguy414

The more likely places to ever see commercial airline traffic are Provo, Ogden, and Logan. All three of those airports have expressed interest in gaining airline service. The problem is, people are willing to drive a little further to SLC international because they will get more competition (thus lower fares), more non-stop flights, and more flights to choose from.

It seems to me that many of the cities I've been to that have smaller secondary airports have them because they are cheaper to fly in and out of for low-cost airlines. (Like Houston-Hobby, Dallas-Love Field NY-Stewart or Chicago-Gary) Do you think that Ogden or Provo could ever attract a Southwest or Skybus to their airports? I live in Clearfield so Ogden would be convient anyway, but even if I lived in SLC, I think I'd be willing to drive to Ogden for a cheap flight.

[skyguy414]

Since we are on the subject, the Provo airport made up a master plan several years ago to include a passenger terminal. The airport would most likely revise the plan before they actually built something, but this is what they originally planned:

Current airport (as of about 5-6 years ago, some additions have been made since then):


What they had planned for:



Provo has been wanting commercial airline service for a long time, and actually used to have some limited commercial airline service. There is definitley enough population there to warrant it, but as I mentioned in my previous post, most people don't mind the drive to SLC in order to have more choices. With the airlines struggling to make money and operational costs higher than ever, the chances of airline service to anywhere except SLC are slim.

[DENrising]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

It seems to me that many of the cities I've been to that have smaller secondary airports have them because they are cheaper to fly in and out of for low-cost airlines. (Like Houston-Hobby, Dallas-Love Field NY-Stewart or Chicago-Gary) Do you think that Ogden or Provo could ever attract a Southwest or Skybus to their airports? I live in Clearfield so Ogden would be convient anyway, but even if I lived in SLC, I think I'd be willing to drive to Ogden for a cheap flight.

It all depends on the growth of the Wasatch Front. Most of these cities you mentioned have many millions more than live here, it might be fun to investigate an SLC airport expansion with your ideas, I like the idea of TRAX going right up to the terminal. I know UTA is planning a TRAX extension to SLC, but maybe you might be able to influence them with similar designs for the extension. Check the UTA website, they may be having a hearing on the airport line soon.

[skyguy414]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

It seems to me that many of the cities I've been to that have smaller secondary airports have them because they are cheaper to fly in and out of for low-cost airlines. (Like Houston-Hobby, Dallas-Love Field NY-Stewart or Chicago-Gary) Do you think that Ogden or Provo could ever attract a Southwest or Skybus to their airports? I live in Clearfield so Ogden would be convient anyway, but even if I lived in SLC, I think I'd be willing to drive to Ogden for a cheap flight.

Southwest, JetBlue, and Frontier already fly to SLC so they wouldn't likely leave to fly out of Provo or Ogden instead and they probably wouldn't fly to both. SLC has relatively low landing and operating fees for airlines considering its size, so it hasn't had a problem attracting the low cost airlines.

There was talk several months ago about Logan trying to bring in Frontier's commuter airline, Lynx. Logan wanted them to fly their 70 passenger prop aircraft to Denver. So far, that hasn't progressed much. There was also talk about Ogden wanting Allegiant Airlines to fly from Ogden to Las Vegas.

Also see:
http://www.ksl.com/index.php/index.php?nid=148&sid=2663868
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=1237848

[Future Mayor]

Another low cost carrier that flies into SLC with a partnership with Frontier is Airtran Airways, They fly out of several smaller airports and that could be a possibility for Ogden of Provo.

[arkhitektor]

Its highly unlikely because recently they have actually been eliminating destinations, but I'd like to see Skybus fly from somewhere on the Wasatch Front. Tickets on each flight are as low as $10, and they charge for every other service (Food, baggage, boarding) to make money.

http://www.skybus.com

It used to be that I would fly Southwest or Frontier if I wanted to get somewhere cheap and with one of the legacy carriers when I wanted to treat myself to something nicer. But anymore, its just as miserable to fly with Delta or American as the cheaper alternatives, so why pay so much for it? I'd much rather pay a lot less and know not to expect much than pay through the nose and have a horrible experience anyways.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by wrendog

I'm not holding my breath for the gehry project. I'm guessing it won't happen. Market station is underway. That I find pretty amazing. It's a huge expensive project and it took no time at all to go from proposal to approval to groundbreaking.

I know the demolition's already happening for Market Station, and that the groundbreaking will happen next month (yay!), and I'm sure the smaller elements will all get into place. I'm just skeptical about the tower. I want to see that baby go up.

[ski_steve]

I hope the Gehry Project is happening! I would think that it would take quite a bit of time to plan out the whole project. So I think there still finalizing things. And I hope to hear more about it this month. After all it was just announced a just over a year ago.

[SLC Projects]

arkhitektor I really like your idea for airport #2. However Comrade is right about it being too close to houses. I don't live far from there. lol

[Viperlord]

Developer unveils plans for Sandy project that includes Broadway-style playhouse

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8773101

The Proscenium also features three, 30-story-plus towers that would dominate Sandy's skyline, 600 condos, 800,000 square feet of offices and 400,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space, including the Broadway theater.








and you thought the gateway looked fake.

I think i just threw up in my mouth.

[Comrade]

Those towers are horrible and I doubt they'll ever get built, at least at that size. As for the broadway theatre, hopefully Salt Lake now moves quicker and releases its plans.

Gotta love the fact it's located right in the middle of suburbia -- with no true urban development anywhere to be seen. I bet that would be a driving nightmare.

[Viperlord]

City Creek Center is scaling back on its condominiums, what makes this developer think that he will sell his 600 out in sandy, come one get real