Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by murdoc9

The rising oil prices is the best thing that has happened to this country in decades.

I'll try to remind myself that the next time I fill up at $4 a gallon.

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by murdoc9

The rising oil prices is the best thing that has happened to this country in decades.

Wow- thats pushin it for a silver lining. From a consumer perspective it hurts, but from an anti sprawl perspective I kind of agree. This may be the much needed kick in the pants to diversify our energy portfolio.

[Comrade]

Rising gas prices won't stop sprawl. They'll just create more avenues to create it, that's what they do.

And for it being the best thing to happen to this country, that's a pretty myopic view of things.

Oil prices rise and the cost of gas shoots up, which means the price of food goes up because it costs more to make and transport. Then even if you don't drive, you're paying for it through other means. And for those who do actually drive, it's killing them from all sides. It's killing the working families in areas of this country without mass-transit. It's killing the truckers who drive the food and other goods because they can't afford to fill up their trucks anymore. It's killing the airline industry, laying off thousands of workers and it's forcing up the price of everything from a can of Coke to clothes.

Oh, but hey, you can get an SUV $2,000 cheaper than you could 3 years ago!

[NYC Rick]

Originally Posted by delts145

I'm sure downtown will continue to add many more attractive towers such as the Chase, Westgate, Wells Fargo, Zions, new Tower 1 and Hamilton, etc. Like RC14 and SLC Projects, I'm very anxious to see the Downtown break the barrier and move up to the 500-650 ft. height range. I think that will happen soon, especially with the Sandy and Gehry projects pushing the envelope.

As far as the COB, I'm sure the LDS Church will update their offices sooner rather than later. Be patient, I mean, it's not as if they don't have enough projects on their plate right now. Keep in mind that the COB, while definately dated, is surrounded by one of the most beautifully landscaped urban plaza's in the world. Also, they've recently completed a very attractive make-over at the north entrance. As far as the tower itself,(I especially dislike the north side of the tower) I've seen far worse towers in just about any city I've visited. Infact Iftowner, I'm curious as to why you're using that particular Avatar? I've googled as many images as I could, to get a feel for it from every angle. Frankly IMO, it's much less attractive than the COB by a long shot, but that's just my opinion and I'm sure there are those who like it, just as there are those who like the COB. Is their a plan to give that particular building a reclad in the near future? Again, please don't think I'm being overly critical, as I also look forward to a reclad of the COB as soon as possible. I think we all have buildings in downtown areas, which we would like to replace. I'm just curious as to why you chose that particular tower as your avatar?

Regarding 550-600 foot towers, it will happen but you have to really have the tenants that will occupy the space.

The only saving grace would be the idea of building those towers before the cost just skyrockets.

It is amazing to see these towers going up in Louisville...even far from urban places like Omaha and Des Moines. Weber and Davis have more people than Des Moines.

The thing is that SLC does not have the major financial core groups willing to headquarter in SLC.

I can only wonder why. SLC has a very strategic location.

[delts145]

Very much agree Rick, The other day RFPCME made an observation about a particular Boston company, which a few years back, the CEO desparately wanted to relocate and headquarter in the Salt Lake Valley. Most of this desire was due to his love of Snowbird and the proximity of the ski resorts in general. He was overuled because too many executives in the company were against the idea of moving to a provincial place, such as SLC. That image of 'Provincial Only Please' is changing rapidly. I know personally, how I felt about SLC in the 80's and 90's has changed dramatically over how I look at this metro of the Wasatch today. Hardly a week passes that new announcements of major expansions and regional relocations is not announced for the area. Proctor & Gamble, Hershey, Chase, etc. are but a few of what we're going to be seeing alot of in the next few years. Many of these new and or expanded relocations are choosing Class A office parks scattered throughout the Metro. However, this will change, and more and more we'll see the evolution of Salt Lake's Downtown continue to accelerate.

I look at my own L.A., which has a huge metro population and a mammoth international pull of prestige. Yet, it is only now that it's downtown is finally starting to emerge as an exciting core after many, many decades of decay. Fortunately this metro unlike L.A. is not dragging it's feet in regard to it's planning of certain aspects such as mass transit. Can you imagine where Downtown L.A. would be today, if at it's metro poulation juncture of 2.2 million, it had set out with the same goals of mass-transit and downtown renewal that we are now seeing in downtown Salt Lake. Of course, this wave of different national thinking just happens to be occuring at an opportune time for Salt Lake City, and Thank Goodness!!

[T-Mac]

LDS Church History Library





Building on 300 South that is being remodeled. Notice the large holes being cut in the side. It also looks like the metallic finish on the front is being carried around to the side of the building.



Since it has been a topic of discussion, here it is. I think that we all can't wait to see a reclad done on this one.

[i-215]

Maybe they'll add neon lights on the edges ... you know, like the Shiloh Inn.

[delts145]

Actually from that pic, it proves the point to me that I've seen a lot worse in virtually every city I've visited. That said though, I'm anxious to see it updated.

[Scraperdude801]

I thought this was cool.

City plans movie night to help change feel of Pioneer Park.

KSL News Story

[i-215]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Rising gas prices won't stop sprawl. They'll just create more avenues to create it, that's what they do.

And for it being the best thing to happen to this country, that's a pretty myopic view of things.

Oil prices rise and the cost of gas shoots up, which means the price of food goes up because it costs more to make and transport. Then even if you don't drive, you're paying for it through other means. And for those who do actually drive, it's killing them from all sides. It's killing the working families in areas of this country without mass-transit. It's killing the truckers who drive the food and other goods because they can't afford to fill up their trucks anymore. It's killing the airline industry, laying off thousands of workers and it's forcing up the price of everything from a can of Coke to clothes.

Oh, but hey, you can get an SUV $2,000 cheaper than you could 3 years ago!

I think you nailed it. High energy prices are bad for everyone.

As far as sprawl, it will continue because of the "multiple-node" effect ... in that most people shop at the closest commercial node rather than downtown.

What will change is people will start living closer to their node of employment than far away (ie: less people living in Lehi and working in West Valley).

[DENrising]

Anyone heard of any news on the Courthouse expansion? I thought there were some drawings on the forum posted months ago, can't seem to find them.

So, it sounds like the Fed's are going to tear down the historic Shubrick bldg. Again, I'd like to know why they can't build the expansion on the mega parking lot across 4th S and leave our historic buildings alone?

http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=84483090-bb50-45a1-b89b-0f273a5c95e3&rss=20

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by SLCrising

Anyone heard of any news on the Courthouse expansion? I thought there were some drawings on the forum posted months ago, can't seem to find them.

So, it sounds like the Fed's are going to tear down the historic Shubrick bldg. Again, I'd like to know why they can't build the expansion on the mega parking lot across 4th S and leave our historic buildings alone?

http://www.abc4.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=84483090-bb50-45a1-b89b-0f273a5c95e3&rss=20

This is such BULL S#%*, TOTAL BULL SH#@! Yes I used to frequent Port O' Call but that is not the reason I am pissed off, it's the fact that the feds can pretty much do whatever they want. I sent an e-mail to the historical society regarding putting the Shubrick on the historical register in an attempt to save it or make the feds move it. The response was something like along the lines of, even if the owner decided to place it on the register it wouldn't matter, because the feds have decided they need that space and that's that. Register or not, the building would be demolished because they decided they need to take up an entire F*#%ING BLOCK for the borg cube. So the corner of 4th and W. Temple will go from having to decent looking corners with character with the Bay/Splash/Vortex/whatever it is now building on one corner and the Shubrick on the other (to me these two buildings give the corner some definite character and warmth) to a really boring and cold intersection with a tire store, parking structure and parking lot. (wow that's pedestrian friendly)

I think this nags at me more than anything else regarding downtown right now.

[delts145]

Agreed big time Future Mayor to everything you said. For me, the only way to calm myself down on this matter, is to personally committ to at least one day build something of equal charm, character and beauty downtown. One of my most cherished ambitions is to take the historic photo's and plans, of many of our lost treasures and rebuild them to their original exterior materials and design spec's. All advanced technologies and energy saving updates will be used wherever feasible. Of course, we can never replace the spirit and history that filled those old buildings, but we can resolve to see to it that their beauty once again graces our downtown streetscape. I certainly hope that this will be the last historic treasure that the bureaucratic idiots in Washington will have any involvement with.

[arkhitektor]

Sources also tell ABC 4 that Port O' Call would then likely move to another location downtown.

Please let them move somewhere on Main St. between 1st and 2nd South!

I noticed the other day that Alphagraphics has left the Kearns building, so there is literally almost nothing left open on that stretch on Main St.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Please let them move somewhere on Main St. between 1st and 2nd South!

I noticed the other day that Alphagraphics has left the Kearns building, so there is literally almost nothing left open on that stretch on Main St.

Thank goodness for Lamb's, Gandolfo's, Murphys, and that little gift shop on the east side, otherwise there would be nothing.

Many years ago, like 9. I was looking at the old bank building(now some museum) next to the former prudential life building and took several looks inside and thought it would make a great club, it still would, but now it and the old Inkleys next door are now a museum.



Delts I to would like to rebuild, without looking like a cheap imitation knockoff, some of the former great buildings that have been lost from DT SLC. Like the former Deseret News building from Main & S. Temple. along with several others.

[PhxSprawler]

Originally Posted by i-215

Maybe they'll add neon lights on the edges ... you know, like the Shiloh Inn.

That would be sweet!

[NYC Rick]

I do not know about anyone else but the color white does not look attractive on high rise buildings.

I mean, the University Club or whatever it is called now just furthers the point.

I mean if the Mormon Church is going to update, the should look at the stone used in their temple. I know there are tons of it...well more than what is needed for a measly high rise.

Then again, there facing has to be worth a fortune. Does anyone know what that material is?

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Please let them move somewhere on Main St. between 1st and 2nd South!

.

That would be a great idea.

[MetroFanatic]

Originally Posted by Scraperdude801

I thought this was cool.

City plans movie night to help change feel of Pioneer Park.

KSL News Story

All the drug dealers that were once at the park have just relocated to 500 West and 200 South. I was working on a film shoot in one of the buildings around there about a week ago and it required filming until about 3:00am.

Firstly, it was terrifying walking to my car. When I drove down 500 West to get to I-15 I would constantly see shifty dudes on the street sides subtly putting their hands up to signal they had the goods.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by NYC Rick

I do not know about anyone else but the color white does not look attractive on high rise buildings.

I mean, the University Club or whatever it is called now just furthers the point.

I mean if the Mormon Church is going to update, the should look at the stone used in their temple. I know there are tons of it...well more than what is needed for a measly high rise.

Then again, there facing has to be worth a fortune. Does anyone know what that material is?

I agree Rick, about the white not looking good on high rises. I was thinking the same thing as far as the granite gray on the Temple being used also on the tower, and perhaps also some sort of applied pop-out elements that compliment and mimic a few of the interesting adornments on the Temple's exterior.

Something else just came to mind regarding your question about the material used on the skin panels of the tower. It's a very rough prefab panel, w/stone fragments/glue/concrete mix to put it in simplistic terms. With this type of textured surface, I think it might actually work to 'stain' the exterior panels in a particular tone of gray. Perhaps, say a lighter shade at the base. Then they could go back with a second stain in a darker shade of gray to highlight the outer edges of the tiny stone fragments, which stick out from the base. If they use a duo or tri-tone effect, I think it could give them the needed texture and quality appearance, without having to go to the extreme expense of replacing the panels themselves. Otherwise, I guess they would just fasten a framework over the existing panels and apply some sort of sheeting similar to the Zions face-lift.