Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Page 395

ski_steve · #**7881** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 4:45 AM**

Farmington OKs development near FrontRunner station

By María Villaseñor
The Salt Lake Tribune

Farmington » In a 3-2 vote, the City Council here approved a 13-acre, mixed-use development Tuesday.

The project, west of Interstate 15 near the FrontRunner station, had frequently been discussed in Planning Commission meetings and was rejected by the Farmington City Council in August.

"I still feel the original decision was correct," said Councilman Cory Ritz, who voted against the measure, citing the earlier reasoning that there was too much housing.

The August decision led to a complaint filed in September, in which the project's developer Ron Martinez sued the city, alleging "backroom" dealings were involved in the rejection of his plan.

But the $25 million, high-density development -- to include office space, a restaurant, credit union, up to 191 apartment units and a trail along Clark Lane -- was ultimately approved by the City Council.

"I believe that puts an end to a long chapter," said Jeffrey Appel, the attorney for the America West Development project.

That end came with a change to the project: Altering the number of apartment units from 264 to 191.

The smaller number was part of the original plan -- "it was never supposed to be 264," Appel said, adding there had just been a typographical error.

The decrease in housing units was Councilman Sid Young's reason for approving the development. When the council first saw the proposal with the 264 homes, it exceeded the limits allowed on the transit-oriented development.

But with the change, "the lower density met the ordinance," Young said.

Before making their decision, council members held an hour-long closed session in which they discussed the pending litigation.

So will the lawsuit be dropped?

"We'll see," Appel said.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_11248692?source=rss

DMTower · #**7882** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 6:27 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by RFPCME

Urbanboy: Nice work on the rectangles. Makes the point nicely about the Arrow Press property being the same size as the vacant land at the convention center. A question, though...both parcels of property seem awfully small for a 1,000 room hotel, even a high-rise.

It looks small but it's not. The Marriott on the north side of the street is the same size and not nearly as tall is it could be.

TANGELD_SLC · #**7883** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 7:36 AM**

Glad to see frontrunner moving along

delts145 · #**7884** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 11:48 AM**

Yeah, I'm wondering what the attitude is right now from the lending institutions when it comes to projects centered around FrontRunner or TRAX. I would imagine that the right formula of housing would get the green light, if the developer is fairly solid.

delts145 · #**7885** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 1:54 PM**

Broadway theater? Study tells S.L. County to hold off

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11245738

Dueling plans for a mega Broadway-style theater can take an intermission. There are 15 other cultural projects in Salt Lake County that ought to grab the spotlight first.

So says the much-anticipated, $300,000 Cultural Facilities Master Plan released Tuesday by the county...

Related:
Cultural study
Dec 16:
From Magna to Midvale to the U.: Study calls for cultural hubs, film center, theater upgrades

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11245687

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eastidaho · #**7886** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 3:49 PM**

This question probably should be brought up in the Transit thread, but did anyone else find something weird about this...

Quote:

When the council first saw the proposal with the 264 homes, it exceeded the limits allowed on the transit-oriented development.

But with the change, "the lower density met the ordinance," Young said.

Is this just a Farmington ordinance? Or does this apply to all potential TOD's on FrontRunner? And then, of course WHY? Why the fuss over 73 more units next to a multi-million dollar investment in transit?

cololi · #**7887** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 3:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastidaho

This question probably should be brought up in the Transit thread, but did anyone else find something weird about this...

Is this just a Farmington ordinance? Or does this apply to all potential TOD's on FrontRunner? And then, of course WHY? Why the fuss over 73 more units next to a multi-million dollar investment in transit?

This is A farmington issue. In utah, there are two things people can't stand: sprawl and density.

DMTower · #**7888** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 4:23 PM**

As long as Sandy is pushing for a Broadway theater there is no way Salt Lake should hold off... maybe there are other projects that need to come first, but it would be worse in the long run to let Sandy have the theater. Hopefully Becker can find a way to make this a win win situation.

UTPlanner · #**7889** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 4:56 PM**

After reading the recent articles about the proposed Broadway style theater I really hope that this theater is not being being built, just for the sake of having a Broadway style theater. (I hope that statement makes sense.)

I have a hard time thinking that spending taxpayer's money to fund a theater is appropriate if it comes at the demise of other theaters in the city or if it will not prove to be successful. SLC does not need a theater that continually needs to be subsidized. If Sandy can find a private developer that is willing to participate in the funding I certainly hope that SLC can do the same thing.

Now I am not an arts expert and frankly I'm a bit biased because I have absolutely no interest in Broadway style music or theatrics, but I hope that the city is carefully producing their own studies to ensure that this facility will work. If not there are plenty of other downtown projects that could utilize the funding.

Future Mayor · #**7890** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 5:00 PM**

I agree that SLC can't back down, I also agree that Sundance and independent films need a presence in SLC. I think the best place for that is the Utah/Pantages Theater on Main. I know it's been mentioned before I am just bringing it up again. Maybe Sandy could include the recommendations for the Southeast as part of it's Produecheian project.
Regional cultural center » A regional cultural center with 57,000 square feet of space, including a 500-seat theater and a black-box playhouse. Price tag: $30 million to $35 million.

delts145 · #**7891** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 5:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by DMTower

As long as Sandy is pushing for a Broadway theater there is no way Salt Lake should hold off... maybe there are other projects that need to come first, but it would be worse in the long run to let Sandy have the theater. Hopefully Becker can find a way to make this a win win situation.

I agree with you and Future Mayor.

There is a very specific reason for that amount of seating, in order to accomodate longer running, more profitable, traveling broadway blockbusters. Also, the need to rehabilitate the Capitol is paramount in order to serve a specific niche more profitably. However, that means that the Capitol will be left with allot less seating capacity in order to make it a more viable theater. Therefore, our current crunch for a larger theater would become even more accute. Hence, an even greater need for a full sized theater, with site lines and staging accomodations, which will handle the most profitable genre of the live theater industry.

If we donot build the new larger theater, then a long list of profitable productions must continue to pass SLC by each year. Again, also the Capital Theater project will only be partially effective or mothballed, until a larger theater is built.

In many ways the building of this specific kind of theater is viable for the same reasons that building a soccer specific stadium was necessary. Only this time I would hope that SLC doesnot pass this vision by and let it fall to Sandy to fill the gap.

SLC Projects · #**7892** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 5:46 PM**

Salt Lake has already shown there is a demand for broadway. In fact just last week when the tickets for "Wicket" went on sell those were sold out the next day. People were even willing to camp out in the cold all night in downtown just so they could be the firsts to buy the tickets.

T-Mac · #**7893** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 6:16 PM**

I bought 8 "Wicked" tickets. However, I got mine back on October 31st through some Zions Bank special that never went to the public. They sold out that allotment in the first few hours as well and said they had to cut that off so that they could leave 4,000 tickets for the general public which went on sale last week. I think that we definitely need a larger theater and that the demand will be there for it. I have a lot of friends who flew to LA to see Wicked there. They also said the tickets were cheaper for them there.

SLC Projects · #**7894** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 6:30 PM**

It might give those Broadway big shots something to rethink about the next time they want to skip over Salt Lake City. :}

DMTower · #**7895** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 9:02 PM**

One advantage to bringing large, mainstream Broadway shows to Utah could also be the large LDS population... as long as the shows are relatively non-controversial, mormons will flock to these venues because other entertainment options are limited... they aren't spending their money in bars or clubs, so a date night will probably consist of some sort of show.

wrendog · #**7896** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 9:30 PM**

I went ahead and bought 0 Wicked tickets because I find broadway musicals to be a major waste of money. That said, I hope they build a theater in SLC.

cololi · #**7897** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 9:41 PM**

I think the bottom line is that a theater has to generate enough economic development to make the expenditure worth while. I have yet to see something that says this will pan out without hurting other venues.

eastidaho · #**7898** Posted **Dec 17, 2008, 9:55 PM**

I have a couple tickets to Wicked via U of U Hospital. I would guess the study does not include Idahoans who attend the theatre in SLC. IMO, behind the delta center and temple square; the Capital Theater is one of the most common places Idahoans visit.

And in case you were wondering, I would love it if SLC would build a nice theater downtown even if it uses your tax money.

Future Mayor · #**7899** Posted **Dec 18, 2008, 12:50 AM**

But if you think about it, we would be using your money too because I'm sure when you come down for a show you at least eat out if not stay at a hotel also. My bro in laws parents frequent SLC every year to see shows at capital and Kingsbury. They always stay one or two nights and obviously have to eat while they're here. I would imagine that a longer running show at a larger venue would bring even more people down from our neighbor to the north.

Cottonwood · #**7900** Posted **Dec 18, 2008, 1:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastidaho

I have a couple tickets to Wicked via U of U Hospital. I would guess the study does not include Idahoans who attend the theatre in SLC. IMO, behind the delta center and temple square; the Capital Theater is one of the most common places Idahoans visit.

And in case you were wondering, I would love it if SLC would build a nice theater downtown even if it uses your tax money.

That is true. A lot of poeple from the I-15 corridor in South East Idaho are so close to Salt Lake that they will head there for the theater and concerts.
Boise is 5 hour drive from Salt Lake but Boise has more than enough going with the arts, concerts, and sports that you can fill up your plans just staying in town. The Morrison Center hosts a lot of touring Broadway plays and hosts the major arts groups in Boise---that is our main performing arts hall.
North Idaho is obviously too far away from Utah for people to venture down, plus they(north idaho) hold their own with events anyways.
Idaho Falls is only a few, maybe 3 hour drive away from downtown SLC and S.E. Idaho and the Wasatch Front are connected by proximity and church influence.