Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[Sight-Seer]

Kamin's remarks got me thinking. What does it take to build a skyscraper that "works"? What style has been most successful? It's hard to say what style stands the test of time, because most of them aren't that old. It's hard to find any that aren't disliked by somebody. It certainly helps to be extremely tall. Kamin seems to like older stuff, except the library. Everything else is "junk". I'd like to see some of his work.

[leerjet]

oops

[leerjet]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

They are -- demolition and foundation work is complete--they may even have the first two floors up. Or more.

Jedikermit, let me clarify. I believe you are referring to Huntington Downtown which is around the corner on 500 e and about 550 south. Huntington Park is the second phase of that project and it looks like their website is still under constuction; they haven't even started preparing the actual parcels yet.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by delts145

SLC skyline 'pretty disappointing' - But Pulitzer winning architecture critic finds many downtown buildings to love during his visit


http://origin.sltrib.com/news/ci_8969107?source=rv


Blair Kamin, Pulitzer Prize-winning architecture critic from the Chicago Tribune does a small tour of downtown Salt Lake City to offer some opinions on buildings, before his talk about preservation at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday. (Francisco Kjolseth/The Salt Lake Tribune )

"It's amazing for an outsider to walk down your Main Street," he said gazing into a dirt construction pit as a TRAX train zipped by. "It feels like China." Still, he called the scale of development, all at the same time, remarkable.
"I don't mean that it's good, but it's bold."

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If you read the whole article, he was pretty harsh, though I must admit that I agree with much of what he said. But did he really have to be so mean about it and call our skyline junk? For what its worth, I think that his trenchcoat makes him look like a dork. So take that Mr. Fancy architecture critic who thinks that my city looks like junk!

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Sight-Seer

Kamin's remarks got me thinking. What does it take to build a skyscraper that "works"? What style has been most successful? It's hard to say what style stands the test of time, because most of them aren't that old. It's hard to find any that aren't disliked by somebody. It certainly helps to be extremely tall. Kamin seems to like older stuff, except the library. Everything else is "junk". I'd like to see some of his work.

I had many of the same questions Sight-Seer. While I totally agree on his positive assesment of the many beautiful buildings downtown such as those on Temple Square and the Library, Alta Club and City Hall, to name a few, I would have to qualify much of what he said regarding towers, such as Westgate, etc. I would sincerly like to see some pics of towers that he is especially fond of, so as to appraise how we feel they might fit into the downtown mix. Also, I disagree in part with the assessment of the Conference Center. I personally like everything about it, the terraced and lushly landscaped east and north sides, the roof-top garden and the west side and southwest corner. I applaud the designers and officials for their success in building such a large structure between an iconic historic square and an historical neighborhood of housing. I appreciate that they went for a minimalist approach in order not to overwhelm the surroundings. My only suggestion would be to warm up the south side with a tasteful choice of several,(not too many) granite matching, sculptural relief panels applied to the south walls. Perhaps, it could be just a moderate application of historically significant depictions, or something of an artistically sculpted touch in certain areas of trim. Not too much of anything, but enough to tastefully warm-up the harshness.

I do think that much of what he said was pretty well in line with what we have all voiced at one time or another. I also think the downtown is being guided toward that positive direction, without sacrificing the monumental elegance that sets Salt Lake above so many other downtowns.

[NYC Rick]

I travel to Cologne, Berlin and Munich a few times each year. The difference in the last 10 years is quite palpable. There is a cleanliness and preservation of open space that was just not there 10 years ago.

The "windmill" energy source is widely used. They may be tearing down nuclear reactors but they are also building much more efficient ones.

I used to hate going there...I mean that I REALLY did not like it. What a change. I do not think they are going overboard, I think they have the right idea but not yet totally focused.

Their fossil fuel prices make us look extremely fortunate here. Their trains and urban mass transit (ie light rail/subways)are as good as it gets.

We can learn a lot from Germany and the UK for sure. France and Italy are a nightmare compared to what is going on in Germany.

Now that I looked at where this is posted...sorry...this was a reply to a post from about 3 pages ago by sight-seer on 4/15.

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by stevena07

So I guess the Central Warehouse on 2nd South is going to be demolished.



I thought that building was on the historic registry and had to be preserved. They should just incorporate it in whatever sport thing it is

Dude that sucks! I love that building. Sometimes I really question the wisdom of SLC's leaders. They write all these great ideas into their masterplans, (ie; preservation of historic structures, no skybridges, ect) and they don't end up following their own advice! I'm sure we paid consultants millions just so we could ignore them and continue the disposable architecture carnage that has wrecked (and is STILL wrecking) downtown.

I wonder what Mr. Kamin would think about a sports complex replacing the Central Warehouse. Despite the "dorky" trench coat, I have to agree with the majority of his assessments on Salt Lake City. Kind of astonishing that he has been allover China but never SLC. If downtown does look like "China" to him, that could be a good thing because last I checked China is in the middle of an economic explosion. But despite the positive spin, I doubt any of China's modern architecture will stand the test of time either.

[SLC Projects]

sports complex? I didn't that part of down was getting a sports complex. Also is that the warehouse near the gateway mall?

[DMTower]

Has anybody been by the Cottonwood Mall site lately? I was by there a few weeks ago and it looks like they've already redone the stream and a lot of demolition but I'm sure a lot has changed since then.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by leerjet

Jedikermit, let me clarify. I believe you are referring to Huntington Downtown which is around the corner on 500 e and about 550 south. Huntington Park is the second phase of that project and it looks like their website is still under constuction; they haven't even started preparing the actual parcels yet.

oops! I was confusing the two. Sorry about that.

[T-Mac]

Spoke with a friend of mine at Ernst & Young, which moved into the new Gateway office building on 200 South, and he said that the building is fully leased. No more room. I thought that was a bit of good news.

[RFPCME]

Originally Posted by Sight-Seer

Kamin's remarks got me thinking. What does it take to build a skyscraper that "works"? What style has been most successful? It's hard to say what style stands the test of time, because most of them aren't that old. It's hard to find any that aren't disliked by somebody. It certainly helps to be extremely tall. Kamin seems to like older stuff, except the library. Everything else is "junk". I'd like to see some of his work.

Sight-seer:

I could have a field day with Kamin's comments because he seems to be an insufferable snob, very much like someone else I know very, very well...me!

The point is that Kamin won a prize for his writing, not his designs. He doesn't design. He critiques.

I'm with Delts on Kamin's comments on the Conference Center. It could have easily overwhelmed its surroundings, but it doesn't, which is much to its credit.

I do agree with Kamin's comments about many of our post 1950's buildings, Church Office Building included. They do lack inspiration. But no one gets it right all the time. There are some horrible buildings in Chicago. The BP Center on the lakefront makes some of our high-rise boxes look interesting.

At best, Kamin does offer a counterpoint to some accepted taste. Doesn't mean the taste is bad; just means there is another way of looking at or experiencing something, which is generally a good thing to consider...not necessarily accept, just consider.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by T-Mac

Spoke with a friend of mine at Ernst & Young, which moved into the new Gateway office building on 200 South, and he said that the building is fully leased. No more room. I thought that was a bit of good news.

A building that small doesn't take long to lease out.

[Viperlord]

Neighborhood surrounding TRAX, FrontRunner hub is still mired in blight

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8976716


Developers argue the gritty strip is gold. They have pledged hotels, restaurants, night clubs, a Starbucks and even a Ferris wheel - designed after the famous entertainment hub in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, called Tivoli Gardens.

"And a boutique hotel, perhaps a W, is planned by a Las Vegas development group that recently bought three acres on the block's northern end. Gordon says the goal is to make the once-impenetrable parcel walkable. "We'll tie comfortably into the mall and the convention center and the arena," he predicts, "so it ties these four blocks together."

some interesting things in this article.

[Scraperdude801]

yeah lots of good info indeed.

Perhaps the boldest change could come east of The Gateway on the block bordering the new 400 West Planetarium TRAX stop and 300 West.
Property-owner Richard Gordon, who is unveiling the Westgate Lofts on 200 South, is working with city planners to dice the block into four chunks - complete with two new through streets. He wants to add shops, bistros, offices and more lofts when Utah Paperbox makes its move to Glendale in four years.
And a boutique hotel, perhaps a W, is planned by a Las Vegas development group that recently bought three acres on the block's northern end.

that sounds awesome! So it looks like that "W" hotel rumor we heard about like a year ago had some truth to it. ... I'm hoping that these developments can come to fruition. ... it is really hard having the homeless shelter right there, but where are they to go? Whereever we put them it will become undesireable sooner or later in some ones mind ... I am one of the people who has quite a lot of compassion for the homeless. ... but I think that it should be moved, just because it is so close to pioneer park that the homeless population congregates there during the day(and night when they don't get in the shelter) and you have a concentration of them there and they rule the park along with the drug dealers who come because the homeless are there who want to forget they are homeless and because everybody knows that is where you could get drugs, if you took away half of the drug dealers clientale then maybe it would help. ... they should put the homeless shelter right next to the police station (whever the police end up). Maybe that would keep the drug dealers away and keep the black mafia gang from running their illegal drug trades at the shelter.

I don't know, the homeless/drug problem in that neighborhood is a very complicated problem that deserves more attention from our community and elected leadeers. ... In november of 07 during one week's time there were 650 drug related arrests in and around pioneer park. Last week in 4 days there was like 250 arrests... those #'s are staggering when you consider how small of an area it really is.

[delts145]

Very interesting article Viper, with alot of exciting hints as to what to look for next on the west side of Downtown. One thing is for sure, "growth will come big-time to that area for sure." There's just too much profit potential to be made now with the new transit hub and Gateway coming into full bloom. It's going to take a cartel of well financed developers to bring the security, drug and homeless issues under control though. However, when a large amount of money and profit is at stake, it's alway's interesting how quickly these types of issues seem to resolve themselves. We are definately not going to be lacking for projects to report and keep up on in this forum.

I was especially glad to hear the report of Gateway 2 being fully leased. Now, let's get on with the construction of Gateway 6. That is one office building that seems as if Boyer has really been listening, when it comes to the design aspect and color. I'm anxious for Gateway 6 to take shape. If the actual building turns out to look as good as this rendering pictured below, then this will be a real stunner.

Speaking of the coloring, I'm glad they look a bit of a leap out from all the beige shades on #6. I would like to see them go back onto some of the original Gateway facades on it's Main Street, such as the theatre complex. It would be great if they would shake up the color scheme with some attractive stone and brick veneers. And when I say stone and brick, I'm not talking about more dry-stack and modern brick. (I like dry-stack, just no more of it please,) I mean the type of stone and brick which is being produced again, and replicates the same feel as some of our favorite classics around town.

Gateway 6

Boyer Co.

[delts145]

Megacarrier elevates travel options - and they raised the possibility that the combined carrier might fly nonstop from Utah to Amsterdam and Tokyo.


http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8983129?source=rv

"Amsterdam is Northwest's gateway throughout Europe, and we've connected Salt Lake to Paris. We haven't run the numbers, but I think there is a possibility that when we do run the numbers, we are going to see Salt Lake-to-Amsterdam also works," Bastian told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Bastian said a route to Tokyo's Narita International Airport also is possible but presents a bigger challenge. Delta would need a bigger, more expensive jet to reach Japan from Salt Lake, possibly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is scheduled to enter service in 2009.

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[Sight-Seer]

I read an article in the paper that said Marmalade will be part of a LEED program along with City Creek Center. Evidently the project isn't dead even though nothing has happened there for months.

On the subject of the crime problem in the gateway area: there will be problems as long as there is a collection of homeless services there. It might be true that most of the people are harmless and do nothing except hang out all day in Pioneer Park (which drives away families with children), but many of them are criminals attracted to the area. The city could build the Taj Mahal in the park and the same crowd would still be lounging on the sidewalk and making drug deals. As long as the homeless services are there, they'll have the same problem. The only people who will buy homes there are childless business people who jump in their car and drive through as fast as they can go. That isn't the kind of people that will build the community the city wants and needs.

[RFPCME]

Originally Posted by delts145

Megacarrier elevates travel options - and they raised the possibility that the combined carrier might fly nonstop from Utah to Amsterdam and Tokyo.


http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_8983129?source=rv

"Amsterdam is Northwest's gateway throughout Europe, and we've connected Salt Lake to Paris. We haven't run the numbers, but I think there is a possibility that when we do run the numbers, we are going to see Salt Lake-to-Amsterdam also works," Bastian told The Salt Lake Tribune.
Bastian said a route to Tokyo's Narita International Airport also is possible but presents a bigger challenge. Delta would need a bigger, more expensive jet to reach Japan from Salt Lake, possibly a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which is scheduled to enter service in 2009.

.

If SLC is going to have non-stops to Europe, Asia (hopefully, South America), someone better get cracking on getting the oil out of the ground in Eastern Utah. If not, we'll be lucky to have a non-stop to Grantsville.

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by Viperlord

Neighborhood surrounding TRAX, FrontRunner hub is still mired in blight

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8976716


Developers argue the gritty strip is gold. They have pledged hotels, restaurants, night clubs, a Starbucks and even a Ferris wheel - designed after the famous entertainment hub in the heart of Copenhagen, Denmark, called Tivoli Gardens.

"And a boutique hotel, perhaps a W, is planned by a Las Vegas development group that recently bought three acres on the block's northern end. Gordon says the goal is to make the once-impenetrable parcel walkable. "We'll tie comfortably into the mall and the convention center and the arena," he predicts, "so it ties these four blocks together."

some interesting things in this article.

I am so annoyed at the homeless and drug trafficking problems in that area. It's a very controversial issue to move them, but it has to be done. I think the idea of putting them next to a police station is great! Maybe they could build a permanent police station immediately adjacent to those places or at pioneer park. Or move the whole homeless problem to a warehouse on the west sideof I 215 by the airport. Have the city rent out an unused warehouse, and provide some basic ammenities to them. They can have a space of their own that eliminates the problem they have at Pioneer Park, where the homeless and the drug traffickers present a safety/crime problem to the general publics.