Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by DMTower

Local news is so hard up for a real story it's sad. I swear they already showed that story months ago.

Lame.

[RFPCME]

Delts' post on the Western Energy thread about a KSL/TV report on a new oil find in Sanpete Co. led me wonder where traditional crude oil production in Utah is headed. A quick trip to the Utah Geologic Survey site provided some interesting data.

Conventional crude oil production is Utah is rising fast. Although overall production is still quite small, about 19M barrels a year in 2007 (about 52,000 barrels a day), the production has risen about 40% since 2000. Recent finds, like the one in Sanpete Co. will further accelerate the growth. But what does this mean for overall development in Utah, especially along the Wasatch Front? Can Salt Lake look to becoming an energy center, like Calgary?

Conventional crude oil production in Utah is still very small. 19M barrels a years sounds like a lot. Even if the production doubles or triples in the next 10 years, which is quite possible, the overall economic impact will be good, but not earth shaking.

By comparison, Alberta now produces over 1M barrels a day (about 400M a year) and that figure will increase to 2.5M barrels a day by 2025 (about 1B barrels a year). Canada is already a large net exporter of oil and will continue to grow economically as the production figures rise. No other alternative energy source will grow fast enough to offset this trend.

If production from oil shale in Utah toddles along on a similar path as production from conventional oil sources, Utah might reach the 100 to 150K barrels a day level by 2020, certainly by 2025. This amount of production, from both conventional and oil shale sources, will require significant back-office infra-structure to support it, most likely located in SLC for a variety of reasons (such as SLC International). Don't know the exact number of jobs or types of jobs associated with the engineering and finance of this production, but it is a pretty safe bet that we'll see at least one, possibly two, high-rise energy-related centers within the next 10-12 years.

If oil shale gets a break in technology or if the fields in central Utah greatly expand, then all bets are off. The SLC skyline will change dramatically and fast within the next 10-15 years.

[delts145]

Like you RFPCME, one of things that impressed me about this, what seems to be very large discovery, was the new technological advancements. To think that in the 70's this area was passed over as non productive. Now their talking of rumors in the billions of barrels, and the most significant discovery in decades in the Mountain region. All because their methods of detection and extraction have improved dramatically.

Also, I would put my bet on Huntsman, as far as pushing Utah's energy production potential to the max. I do think that Utah in general and Salt Lake in particular is headed for a golden age of economic expansion, partially fueled by it's vast and varied energy resource.

[Future Mayor]

I actually think the design of the new buildings at Trolley Square does a pretty descent job of complimenting the existing barns. They use a similar color brick as well as some concrete work around the edges, with some similar angles. I don't in anyway see that they are trying to mimic it. If they were trying to mimic it there would be identical arches and the Whole Foods building would have several sloping roofs, like the main barn.

My personal opinions is it will be very complimentary, the architecture of the new buildings is not nearly as dramatic as the original, thus not drawing the attention away from the historic structures.

[SLC Projects]

Wow, way to stay on top of things KSL. LOL. That tour has been on the downtownrising.com site for months now. Nice to see they are just catching on.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Wow, way to stay on top of things KSL. LOL. That tour has been on the downtownrising.com sit for months now. Nice to see they are just catching on.

This just underscores my belief that KSL is actually run by high school students:

"Look at this cool thing I just found on the internet. Let's make it the news."
"Yes! we could run it after Mary's story about golf course raccoons*."

*A real story from KSL.com

[T-Mac]

Salt Lake City to revamp N. Temple into 'grand boulevard'

By Frances Johnson
The Enterprise

Visitors entering Salt Lake City from the west will soon have a brand-new view, as plans are under way to turn North Temple into a grand boulevard as part of the installation of the TRAX airport extension line.

"This is a great entryway into our city," said Karen Hale, director of communications in the Salt Lake City Mayor's office. "It's something that will really provide a regeneration for that area as well."

The extension line will join North Temple at 400 West and travel westward to the airport. The double-track light rail, the same kind of rail currently in use downtown, will travel down the middle of the road, said Timothy Harpst, city transportation director. Traffic lanes will be reduced from three in each direction to two.

"The traffic studies that were done, and they were quite extensive, show that the two lanes will be able to handle the traffic on that road," Harpst said.

The lanes previously dedicated to car traffic will be converted to bike lanes, Harpst said, and the sidewalk will also be widened to accomodate additional cyclists who prefer not to ride in the street.

"That helps bicyclists of different proclivities," he said.

The widened sidewalk will be designed in such a way, Harpst said, so as to allow plenty of seperate space for bikers and pedestrians.

In addition to improving the walkability of that part of the city, the widened sidewalks and bike lanes are also a critical connection point from downtown to the Jordan River trail system. Bids are currently being sought for the portion of the trail that runs under I-80, Harpst said. The city is also examining ways to complete the section of the trail that crosses the Union Pacific Railroad lines at South Temple. The final section of the Jordan River trail is on the north end, and would run from Redwood Road to the new Legacy Highway, Harpst said, where it will connect with a seperate system of trails.

The North Temple project will also include beautification of the area, with new traffic signals, decorative lighting and landscaping.

The project's design and construction consortium will start meeting this month, and final completion of the project should come within four years. North Temple will be open "at all times" during the construction.

"What we want to do is create a great street," Harpst said. "That means that it not only functions well for all those users, but we want it to be impressive and look good, too."

[arkhitektor]

Good to hear more about plans for enhancing N. Temple. I've always been somewhat embarrased to take people into the city from the airport via N. Temple, even though its the most direct route. Not exactly a great first impression for the city. Hopefully this will change that.

[Callasphile]

Originally Posted by RFPCME

Delts' post on the Western Energy thread about a KSL/TV report on a new oil find in Sanpete Co. led me wonder where traditional crude oil production in Utah is headed. A quick trip to the Utah Geologic Survey site provided some interesting data.

Conventional crude oil production is Utah is rising fast. Although overall production is still quite small, about 19M barrels a year in 2007 (about 52,000 barrels a day), the production has risen about 40% since 2000. Recent finds, like the one in Sanpete Co. will further accelerate the growth. But what does this mean for overall development in Utah, especially along the Wasatch Front? Can Salt Lake look to becoming an energy center, like Calgary?

Conventional crude oil production in Utah is still very small. 19M barrels a years sounds like a lot. Even if the production doubles or triples in the next 10 years, which is quite possible, the overall economic impact will be good, but not earth shaking.

By comparison, Alberta now produces over 1M barrels a day (about 400M a year) and that figure will increase to 2.5M barrels a day by 2025 (about 1B barrels a year). Canada is already a large net exporter of oil and will continue to grow economically as the production figures rise. No other alternative energy source will grow fast enough to offset this trend.

If production from oil shale in Utah toddles along on a similar path as production from conventional oil sources, Utah might reach the 100 to 150K barrels a day level by 2020, certainly by 2025. This amount of production, from both conventional and oil shale sources, will require significant back-office infra-structure to support it, most likely located in SLC for a variety of reasons (such as SLC International). Don't know the exact number of jobs or types of jobs associated with the engineering and finance of this production, but it is a pretty safe bet that we'll see at least one, possibly two, high-rise energy-related centers within the next 10-12 years.

If oil shale gets a break in technology or if the fields in central Utah greatly expand, then all bets are off. The SLC skyline will change dramatically and fast within the next 10-15 years.

I like the idea of salt lake becoming an energy hub and think it has great potential as an economic engine. However I would be interested in seeing salt lake become a hub of renewable energy sources as well as traditional fossil fuel sources.
I have been doing some research on the renewable energy industry and it is has been exploding in the last few years the amount of energy produced doubled from 2004-2007 and according to world watch report is currently valued at more than 100 billion dollars. Renewable energy sources also require a lot of research and developments jobs that would be great for salt lake, think of what a bunch of young, creative high paid professionals would do for downtown salt lake

[Callasphile]

http://www.sltrib.com/utah_ci_10028467?source=rv

Here is a article in the Trib talking about the correlation between walk able communities and health. I thought it was interesting.

Think of all the gas there saving too.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Callasphile

I like the idea of salt lake becoming an energy hub and think it has great potential as an economic engine. However I would be interested in seeing salt lake become a hub of renewable energy sources as well as traditional fossil fuel sources.
I have been doing some research on the renewable energy industry and it is has been exploding in the last few years the amount of energy produced doubled from 2004-2007 and according to world watch report is currently valued at more than 100 billion dollars. Renewable energy sources also require a lot of research and developments jobs that would be great for salt lake, think of what a bunch of young, creative high paid professionals would do for downtown salt lake

Very much agreed Callasphile, Gov. Huntsmen is also of the same focus.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

This just underscores my belief that KSL is actually run by high school students:

"Look at this cool thing I just found on the internet. Let's make it the news."
"Yes! we could run it after Mary's story about golf course raccoons*."

*A real story from KSL.com

Must of been a slow news day for them.

[SLC Tortfeasor]

I'm thrilled to hear about the emphasis on dedicated bike lanes for North Temple. Let's get more people out of cars and onto bikes!

[ski_steve]

I heard on the news at noon that the new Utah Natural History Museum broke ground today.

[ski_steve]

U. study finds the perks of living in old, walkable urban areas

By Brian Maffly
The Salt Lake Tribune



Mark Vlasic and his family weren't thinking about walkability when they moved into Salt Lake City's east Liberty Park neighborhood several years ago. But its pedestrian-friendly, tree-lined streets and proximity to work, parks and local businesses have enhanced the family's life.
"We've been recreating by biking around the neighborhood. We've discovered a new way of enjoying the city that is becoming part of our family entertainment," said Vlasic, a landscape architect with two teenage daughters. His Browning Avenue home is midway between his office in Sugar House and his wife's downtown workplace. With spiralling gasoline prices driving up the cost of commuting, they have stepped up their use of leg-powered transportation to get to work...

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10028467?source=rss

[Comrade]

They needed a study to figure that out?

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

They needed a study to figure that out?

Yes , and if you read the article, they just received another $400,000 for further research.

[SLCforme]

that's because people won't generally believe anything unless a figure of authority tells them so. It amazes me that the general populous can't think "hey, maybe if I walk more I won't be such a fata$$. I'm going to start walking more" But if a doctor says it's so, then they say "hey, a doctor said if I walk more I won't be such a fata$$, I'm going to start walking more!"

[urbanboy]

I think obesity also may have to do with the amount of sugar and carbs in the average American's diet.

[cololi]

Here is a fun website that gives you a very general walkability score for just about anywhere http://www.walkscore.com/