Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[TANGELD_SLC]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

The Ken Garff Building has grown on me. I think it fits in wonderfully with Salt Lake City's diverse architecture portfolio.

You know what? I used to find the Ken Garff building an absolute eyesore. I hated it with a passion. I prayed that somehow when Keybank got blown up the KGB(lol) would maybe fall over as well.... But I've come to appreciate the international style more and more.

But I still hate the Kirtland condos. Colors clash. Angles are awkward. They could have used better building materials.

[delts145]

Zephyr Club eyed in possible Broadway-style theater deal

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn



The Zephyr Club building at 301 S. West Temple has been vacant since November 2003. Landowner David Bernolfo wants to build a surface parking lot at the building's location. (Geoffrey McAllister, Deseret News)

The Zephyr Club, shuttered since November 2003, again is being talked about as a downtown hot spot — this time as part of a real-estate deal that would allow a Broadway-style theater to replace the parking lot behind the Peery Hotel, 110 W. 300 South.

Landowner David Bernolfo is willing to part with the nearly 1.4-acre Peery Hotel parking lot, as long as Salt Lake City approves the Zephyr property on the corner of 300 South and West Temple for use as a surface parking lot, according to Bill Becker, chairman of the Downtown Theater Action Group.

Also as part of the deal, Bernolfo would acquire 2 acres on the southwest corner of 300 South and West Temple, currently a parking area for the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Becker said.

The developer wants to build a 600-car structured parking garage at the latter site, with the understanding that if he doesn't do so in six years, the city could buy the property and additional land to the south for construction of a 900-space parking garage for the proposed theater, Becker said.

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[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by delts145

Zephyr Club eyed in possible Broadway-style theater deal

http://www.deseretnews.com/dn


Salt Lake City Weekly

The Zephyr Club, shuttered since November 2003, again is being talked about as a downtown hot spot — this time as part of a real-estate deal that would allow a Broadway-style theater to replace the parking lot behind the Peery Hotel, 110 W. 300 South.

Landowner David Bernolfo is willing to part with the nearly 1.4-acre Peery Hotel parking lot, as long as Salt Lake City approves the Zephyr property on the corner of 300 South and West Temple for use as a surface parking lot, according to Bill Becker, chairman of the Downtown Theater Action Group.

Also as part of the deal, Bernolfo would acquire 2 acres on the southwest corner of 300 South and West Temple, currently a parking area for the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center, Becker said.

The developer wants to build a 600-car structured parking garage at the latter site, with the understanding that if he doesn't do so in six years, the city could buy the property and additional land to the south for construction of a 900-space parking garage for the proposed theater, Becker said.

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That is truely a dilema in my mind, I would love to see the new theater but I don't want to see anymore surface parking lots and parking structures, why is this guy set on making the Zephyr a surface lot?

If the city is going to allow him to acquire the land on the SW corner of 300 S and W. Temple and allow the surface parking on the Zephry lot in exchange for the parcel next to the Peery, why not just use the SW corner of 300 S and W. Temple for the theater instead? This way they wouldn't have to allow for another surface parking lot in the cbd.

Ok we often times complain about how large the blocks are in SLC, here a positive thing to that. The blocks are large enough that they could require any new multi-deck parking structure to be in the interior of the block rather than on the corner of a prime intersection. I really don't like the thought of the Peery (a great looking historic building) on one corner, Chase Bank (nothing fancy) on another, and then a surface lot and parking structure on the south side. That concept really destroys the walkability they are trying to create with the mid street island parking effect. At least an ordinance to not permit parking structures on corners.

However, we really need that theater to get rolling.

Who knows maybe the structure wouldn't be built. Afterall the Zephyr has now been vacant nearly 5 years.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by aspiringArchitect

OK, I have an idea. It may sound crazy, but here it goes....

What if Salt Lake were to expand it's downtown?

I think that the area west of the Gateway Mall, and between the highway, has a ton of of potential to become the next hot spot. Build mid-rise, mixed use, condos and office buildings, fill up th ground levels with unique stores and restaurants, add some cool parks and mass transit, and voila!

Yes, this may sound much like what Portland has done with it's Pearl District. And, yea, that's where I got the idea from. I love what the city has done by turning a bunch of run-down warehouses into one of the most happening neighborhoods in the country. I think SLC has a bunch of potential, and if they worked at it, they would be able to pull something like this off.

I made up a map on Google Earth to show you guys what area I'm talking about, but I don't know how to post the pictures from my computer onto this website. Can someone please tell me?

In the mean time, if you're not familiar with the Pearl, here is a thread someone started here on SSP that has a bunch of pictures:
http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=154578

This is pretty much what both the downtown master plan and the gateway plan call for. Maybe not to the intensity of the CBD, but the desirable direction for growth of downtown is to the west and south.

[Justnslcsugarhood.]

A PARKING LOT!
We already have an excess of empty parking lots all I see when I go downtown west of main street is just dilapidated old worthless parking lots!

[Viperlord]

Driving into downtown to work this morning.....

the crane on the kirtland condos is coming down as we speak.

[Justnslcsugarhood.]

So I have noticed that they are sort of clearing out what I thougth was a parking lot by the kirkland condos. Anyone know if they are going to build anything new just east of the Kirkland condos?

[SLC Projects]

"I think that the area west of the Gateway Mall, and between the highway, has a ton of of potential to become the next hot spot. Build mid-rise, mixed use, condos and office buildings, fill up th ground levels with unique stores and restaurants, add some cool parks and mass transit, and voila!"

I do believe that is the City's long term master plan.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by delts145

The developer wants to build a 600-car structured parking garage at the latter site, with the understanding that if he doesn't do so in six years, the city could buy the property and additional land to the south for construction of a 900-space parking garage for the proposed theater, Becker said.[/SIZE]

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A parking lot on that corner? What a waste of good real estate.

[NYC Rick]

Never mind.

[Justnslcsugarhood.]

Any news on a new development? I'm going through withdrawals I need the announcement of something new and exiting besides a terrible parking structure.
If you ask me I think building one parking structure and then getting rid of all the ground level parking lots and replacing them with Retail similar to Pierpont Ave. and Broadway style lofts and apartments in the Broadway area would do so much good for that district. I think we are going to see a huge amount of growth in that area, hopefully with the majority of the buildings being red brick.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by Justnslcsugarhood.

If you ask me I think building one parking structure and then getting rid of all the ground level parking lots and replacing them with Retail similar to Pierpont Ave. and Broadway style lofts and apartments in the Broadway area would do so much good for that district. I think we are going to see a huge amount of growth in that area, hopefully with the majority of the buildings being red brick.

I don't think parking should ever be visible and there is no difference between a 5 story parking structure on the street or a surface parking lot. The same design principle can be applied to a surface lot just as well as a structure Build it entirely behind a new building (or underground)that has a real street prescence and is human scaled.

[leerjet]

It's really disappointing that becker and city officials would even consider a surface lot there. This seems like such a stupid idea on so many fronts; I don't know where to begin... Is there something I am missing here? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by leerjet

It's really disappointing that becker and city officials would even consider a surface lot there. This seems like such a stupid idea on so many fronts; I don't know where to begin... Is there something I am missing here? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!

No I agree 100% that this is a stupid idea. Becker should know better since he was a urban planner?

[Makid]

Remember though, it is Bill Becker, the Broadway Theater Becker, not Ralph Becker the Planer and the SLC Mayor.

[jmonkey]

But is this really that bad of an idea?? The land swap would be almost a zero-sum game. I assume the parking lot they are talking about for the theater is the one north of the Peery?? It has a slight frontage on Broadway, and then is behind the hotel on the corner of West Temple and Pierpont? It is a good spot for a theater--it's connected to Rose Wagner, and just around the corner from the Capital Theater, creating a nice, walkable theater district. The district is enhanced with a hopeful renovation of the Utah Theater.

This could also spur that portion on West Temple to spruce itself up--it's a bit barren. The Chase building needs some updating, as does the Hilton's lobby level. The Shilo Inn just needs to go.

We would lose a surface parking lot for long-awaited broadway theater, and lose a long-vacant building for a slight surface lot extension. I agree that surface parking is probably the worst possible use of the land. I am sure though that the property owner will continue to let the Zephyr building stand vacant and disintegrate for years longer if he doesn't get his way. We lose as much parking lot as we gain, I think.

Zoning for parking in the CBD needs a major overhaul; the city should mandate that any lot or garage maintain certain standards to integrate with the street, whether it be landscaping or retail storefronts. The city should also tax surface lots differently than other property in the CBD, as they are discouraged by the city's own master plan and usually a huge detriment to the walkability of any neighborhood. This land use should be made undesirable through the imposition of higher property taxes.

Glad to perhaps see the unraveling of the Salt Lake's broadway theater blockage. This plan has been a long time coming. Hope we get some concrete answers soon.

[Scraperdude801]

ok since we all don't like it. Who here has written there council man/woman to tell them they don't like the idea?

[urbanboy]

The Shilo Inn does not need to go. Why do some say certain buildings need to go when we have plenty of parking lots to fill? How many times do I have to say/express this? A building should only be replaced by another building if the new building will be better for the community and it's identity.

Here are some Skitches of mine of a possible Broadway Theater:

[leerjet]

Originally Posted by Scraperdude801

ok since we all don't like it. Who here has written there council man/woman to tell them they don't like the idea?

No offense, but I would hope that the city council doesn't have to be told that a surface lot is not ideal for this location. If they need to be written a letter, I think it's safe to say that all is lost. Now if a developer proposes a better option... now that's something worth presenting to them.

I think it would be optimal for the owner to work out a deal and propose a better development there, but I can think of a lot of reasons why a developer wouldn't want to propose a project right now (the biggest one being financing).

Let's just hope that they look at all options carefully before they approve a surface lot.

[RFPCME]

Urbanboy:

Nice job on the theatre "skitches." I like the placement next to Squatters better.