Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[DENrising]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

That would be the Buddhist Temple...

Maybe I missed it somewhere, but the Buddhist Temple is located on 1st South and 2nd West. It's just adjacent to the Salt Palace and the 2nd West tunnel. Anyhow, I'd still love to see some development between the Palace and Gateway, this just be what the doctor has ordered.

Thanks for the info...

[UTvision]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

I'm not trying to create enemies, Really, it's not that difficult to specify which church is being discussed. In this particular case, all that is needed is "LDS."

I have always felt the same way about "The Lion House". How arrogant is that!?!

Anyways, that good news about the possible W Hotel and stuff, wherever its located. I am glad theres finally some development to spice up the last few dry days.

[SLC Projects]

That is awesome news about the "W" could be coming to downtown. So much is going on now.

[DMTower]

So this development would likely take place east of the Gateway where that power station now is? That would be a perfect spot. My favorite part about this is the division of the block to make it walkable.

[delts145]

I very much agree DMTower, this is very exciting indeed. It's just more proof that not only can Downtown Salt Lake City keep it's elegant, iconic blvd's, but at the same time add density, intimacy and charm throughout the core area.

[Cottonwood]

Here is the definition of Boulevard from Wikipedia:


Boulevard (French, from Dutch: Bolwerk – bolwark, meaning bastion) has several generally accepted meanings. It was first introduced in the French language in 1435 as boloard and has since been altered into boulevard.

In this case, as a type of road, a boulevard (often abbreviated Blvd) is usually a wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare, divided with a median down the center, and "roads" along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery. The division into peripheral roads for local use and a central main thoroughfare for regional traffic is a principal feature of the boulevard. Larger and busier boulevards usually feature a median.



Not meaning to start a tiff, and it isn't my intention, but I did live in Salt Lake for many years and the only street anywhere near Downtown or the city that I would classify as a Boulevard is Foothill Boulevard. The only street downtown that would come close, and still isn't technically a Boulevard is South Temple street.
Most streets downtown Salt Lake lacked and still lack (I have a little sis in Tooele and visit on occasion) above average landscaping. A good example of a "Boulevard" is Capitol Boulevard here in Boise which has above average landscaping and bike lanes, trees separating most of the sidewalks from the street, and the way the Boulevard forks in front of the statehouse. The Boulevard is framed by the Depot on the Bench on the South side and the Capitol Building on the North side.
Park Center Boulevard is another excellent example with extreme -above average landscaping, landcaped median strips, also there is Harrison Boulevard, and a few others scattered around Boise.

So, which streets are you considering Boulevards in downtown SLC? Especially ones considered "iconic" or in your opinion "iconic"--- Just curious. Have some of the streets added landscaping and grass in the last year? State Street has the potential to become a true Boulevard much like Capitol Blvd here in Boise. North Temple could even join in on the action.

[DMTower]

I would say 3rd south is turning into a boulevard, and Main Street is slowly taking that direction. Fourth South Along the Trax route also has great potential but is some ways off.

[Makid]

They do plan on making North Temple into one starting when they add the Trax line. I also think 5th South and 6th South are in the plans.

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by DMTower

I would say 3rd south is turning into a boulevard, and Main Street is slowly taking that direction. Fourth South Along the Trax route also has great potential but is some ways off.

True, 4th South has potential too. A major factor for a Boulevard is to have a lot of trees lining the streets with manicured grass and plants.

[skyguy414]

Originally Posted by DMTower

I would say 3rd south is turning into a boulevard, and Main Street is slowly taking that direction. Fourth South Along the Trax route also has great potential but is some ways off.

Well if we are going off the definition of it being a 'wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare', I would not classify 3rd south or Main Street as a Boulevard.

[urbanboy]

300 South (Broadway) is one of the widest streets in Downtown. Hence the name. Next time you go down Broadway, notice how far apart the buildings are from each other on each side of the street.

Also, are there really plans for a TRAX line to go up the eastern portion of South Temple Street?

[Scraperdude801]

DMTower: I couldn't agree more. The walkability factor will be nice. We will have 2 developments right next to eachother that will be very walkable. I just hope the other parking lots follow suit.

Urbanboy: if you are referring to Makid's comment he said North Temple. I believe he is referring to the Airport trax line. ... Although I would love to see trax head east along South Temple then turn south along 1400 E. and meet up at the stadium trax stop and do one big loop. There are so many historic sites along South Temple that are off the beaten path for a pedestrian. It would also add trax access to the lower avenues, and easier access to those who live between south temple and 400 south. would give them more options for where they are going.

[ski_steve]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

300 South (Broadway) is one of the widest streets in Downtown. Hence the name. Next time you go down Broadway, notice how far apart the buildings are from each other on each side of the street.

Also, are there really plans for a TRAX line to go up the eastern portion of South Temple Street?

I haven't heard of anything official. I have speculated on having Trax come from the Medical Center at the U, wind down as close to Presidents Circle as possible, then make its way onto South Temple. Then make its way down to either main and S Temple where Trax already is, or turn onto North Temple before the LDS Church Office Building, then cross the North Temple Viaduct and turn into the Airport line.

Yeah it would create a large loop and give more access to Lower Campus and the Avenues. Which would be amazing!

Eventually it could happen, but I think lines like Sugarhouse trolley, the Airport line, West Jordan and West valley should all happen before a South Temple line is even in planning. Im not sure how much ridership the line would create, because that is what UTA is all about, ridership.

[skyguy414]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

300 South (Broadway) is one of the widest streets in Downtown. Hence the name. Next time you go down Broadway, notice how far apart the buildings are from each other on each side of the street.

300 S. isn't any wider than any of the other streets downtown. According to "Salt Lake City Downtown Transportation Master Plan", all the downtown streets are 132 feet wide. Google Earth measuring tool also confirms 300 S. is no wider than any other street.

Salt Lake City classifies 300 S. as a "local access street", not an arterial street, which I would associate with a Boulevard. With that parking lot running up and down the middle of the street, and people constantly blocking one of the lanes to back out of or pull into parking spaces, I don't see 300 S. ever becoming an arterial street.

For more info, see here: www.ci.slc.ut.us/transportation/DTP/pdf-ppt/StreetsTraffic.ppt

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by skyguy414

300 S. isn't any wider than any of the other streets downtown. According to "Salt Lake City Downtown Transportation Master Plan", all the downtown streets are 132 feet wide. Google Earth measuring tool also confirms 300 S. is no wider than any other street.

Salt Lake City classifies 300 S. as a "local access street", not an arterial street, which I would associate with a Boulevard. With that parking lot running up and down the middle of the street, and people constantly blocking one of the lanes to back out of or pull into parking spaces, I don't see 300 S. ever becoming an arterial street.

For more info, see here: www.ci.slc.ut.us/transportation/DTP/pdf-ppt/StreetsTraffic.ppt

Boulevards are usually arterial streets, but don't have parking in the middle but instead a median strip with landscaping.
I remember that 3rd South was one of the more "dense" streets of all of the wide streets in downtown SLC.

[skyguy414]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

Boulevards are usually arterial streets, but don't have parking in the middle but instead a median strip with landscaping.

Yes, that is my point.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by DMTower

So this development would likely take place east of the Gateway where that power station now is? That would be a perfect spot. My favorite part about this is the division of the block to make it walkable.

True DMTower I didn't even think of that. That would be great if the city can hide that Power station. I always hate looking at that each time I drive by.

[urbanboy]

Are you sure? 100 and 200 South seem to be more narrow than 300 South.

[DMTower]

Originally Posted by skyguy414

Well if we are going off the definition of it being a 'wide, multi-lane arterial thoroughfare', I would not classify 3rd south or Main Street as a Boulevard.

300 south doesn't fit the arterial thoroughfare criteria, but it was the other part of the definition that made me think of it as a boulevard..." "roads" along each side designed as slow travel and parking lanes and for bicycle and pedestrian usage, often with an above-average quality of landscaping and scenery."


If you are going by the full description I'm not really sure what streets meet the criteria... Maybe some sections of 7th east near downtown, but they are not slow moving and definitely not very walkable...

[Cottonwood]

What do you all think about Foothill Boulevard? Does it fit the description?