Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[DMTower]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Sure you could. It would just take forever to get from one end to the other. It would be a great work out.

Not if you are old or handicapped. That would be horrible!

[ski_steve]

Can you believe this is in Salt Lake City limits? Its pretty awesome

[T-Mac]

300 West Reed Ave. Just north of Marmalade.




Hyatt at the Gateway






Marmalade




Broadway Park Lofts

[MetroFanatic]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Which is why Jordan Landing, in my opinion, failed. It failed because it isn't about walking...



You can't walk that.

They started out okay with all the stuff near the theater... but then... it went horribly wrong! :babyeat:

[MetroFanatic]

I went and saw Waltz with Bashir last night at the Broadway, and while at my car at the parking structure next door, I took this random photog.

[TANGELD_SLC]

Cool pic, Metro!



BTW fellow forummers, does anybody know if it is too late to burn down that Hyatt, and is it illegal to save a city from nasty plastic/fake/ugly/cookie cutter buildings?

GAWD it's gonna be ugly

[delts145]

I think the building is an excellent fit for it's space, at least when I saw it in person. For me, it's a little early to say that it's going to be so ugly when we don't have a clue as to the exact exterior treatment. As has been mentioned several times before, the rendering made it look actually quite cool. So anyway, I'm going to wait until some of the exterior is actually applied before I jump to a judgement. If they cover it in Hampton Inn suburbia stucco then yes, it will be ugly.

[jedikermit]

T-Mac's pics of the Hyatt make it look better than I thought it would, and much as I hate to admit it, it does fit in well with its neighbors. Sure, I wish it was twice (or thrice) the height, but that could be a nice boutique hotel that fits into that niche nicely.

Now where's our convention hotel?

[delts145]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

Sure, I wish it was twice (or thrice) the height, but that could be a nice boutique hotel that fits into that niche nicely.

Now where's our convention hotel?

Ditto to that Jedi!

[WASDEN]

I think the Hyatt is sized right for its location, but the materials will most likely mimic it's 'plastic' Gateway neighbors rather than it's more significant neighbors- The Union Pacific Depot and Salt Lake Hardware building.


Saw this in the Deseret News this morning- that some of the 'shovel ready' stimulus money Becker has been so diligently working for could be used to rebuild the North Temple viaduct:
...Late last year, a handful of Utah cities outlined $1.6 billion in "shovel-ready" projects as part of a stimulus wish list. Salt Lake's $780 million request included funding for Sugar House streetcars, light-rail expansions, refugee housing and a geothermal plant.As the specifics of the Recovery Act emerge, those lists have been revised and whittled down. A $65 million rebuild of the North Temple viaduct, which would accommodate a TRAX line to Salt Lake International Airport, remains a "very high priority" for city leaders, Langan said... http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705288074,00.html?pg=1



I think a North Temple rebuild is exactly the kind of project this money is meant for, and would greatly improve the area around the Hyatt and the Western gateway into downtown.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by MetroFanatic

They started out okay with all the stuff near the theater... but then... it went horribly wrong! :babyeat:

I was thinking the same thing. Phase one of the Jordan Landing back in 1999 ( I think ) when they built the theater it was walkable with the plaza and the row of shops leading to the theater. But then after that all the big box stores came in.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

You can't walk that.

I'm not really saying I agree or disagree with Jordan Landing, but some of the stores there, no matter where they are located, should never be walkable--i.e. you don't walk to Lowes, Sam's, or even Wal-mart (or rather you don't walk HOME from them with the things you buy). I realize that some may have problems with Wal-mart's mentality, but home improvement stores have a definite place in society and Bulk club card stores are always popular--especially in Utah.

[SLC Projects]

The building up of the "Delta Center"

• Video Link

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by MetroFanatic

They started out okay with all the stuff near the theater... but then... it went horribly wrong! :babyeat:

Dude that thing biting the baby head disturbs the *#@* outta me! And if we must have a hanging smiley face must it be purple???!!

Horribly wrong indeed!

[MetroFanatic]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

Dude that thing biting the baby head disturbs the *#@* outta me! And if we must have a hanging smiley face must it be purple???!!

Horribly wrong indeed!

Yeah, Why are those even here.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by jtrent77

I'm not really saying I agree or disagree with Jordan Landing, but some of the stores there, no matter where they are located, should never be walkable--i.e. you don't walk to Lowes, Sam's, or even Wal-mart (or rather you don't walk HOME from them with the things you buy). I realize that some may have problems with Wal-mart's mentality, but home improvement stores have a definite place in society and Bulk club card stores are always popular--especially in Utah.

That's not what I'm saying at all.

There is a difference between stores not being walkable and the area still at least offering the opportunity to walk. You can still have an urbanish Wal-Mart (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron), even though I concede most people aren't going to walk to it.

The problem with this development is that you can't walk anywhere, even if the location is walkable. You're not walking to the movies or to even the cluster of buildings in the middle by the movies. It's just not practical.

And as mentioned above, I think this development held some potential when they started out around the theatre, but once you get beyond that, it's a mess.

Hell, even the Wal-Mart in Salt Lake can be easily accessed by foot, even though I bet more people drive there than walk. The difference, though, is that it provides you the chance to walk there and if you live in the area, you might be more inclined to do so.

But if you've read my posts here in the past on this subject, you'd see even I disagree with the development we're seeing on 300 West right now because of this very reason. Instead of building that street up as a possible walkable retail/commercial center for the People's Freeway neighborhood, it's turning into a traditional suburban street and I don't like that.

[TANGELD_SLC]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

Hell, even the Wal-Mart in Salt Lake can be easily accessed by foot, even though I bet more people drive there than walk. The difference, though, is that it provides you the chance to walk there and if you live in the area, you might be more inclined to do so.

But if you've read my posts here in the past on this subject, you'd see even I disagree with the development we're seeing on 300 West right now because of this very reason. Instead of building that street up as a possible walkable retail/commercial center for the People's Freeway neighborhood, it's turning into a traditional suburban street and I don't like that.

Think you don't like it? It's driving me NUTS! The Walmart is HIDEOUS, Much, MUCH worse than any in the 'burbs, the Lowes is DISGUSTINGLY bland, Trax is right there but there's nowhere to walk to except Franklin Covey Field. I'd walk in my 'hood more often, but there is NO buffer between the sidewalk and street so driving is a must-do if you value your life.
It's a good thing the parkway is right there by my house for jogging or I'd me more insane.

I think that the Sign Company needs to GO as well. Demolish that whole hideous corner, build a theatre with residential units as well as commercial space on the ground floor.

The only addition to 300 West that I've liked so far is the stone-stucco business/restaurant area that is somewhat walkable and even attractive with Starbucks, Tepanyaki, Slow Joe's, Bamboo Grill, all that good stuff in there

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

...But if you've read my posts here in the past on this subject, you'd see even I disagree with the development we're seeing on 300 West right now because of this very reason. Instead of building that street up as a possible walkable retail/commercial center for the People's Freeway neighborhood, it's turning into a traditional suburban street and I don't like that.

This is going to sound crazy, but I actually like the idea of having big box retailers in the city, and in a central accessible location similar to 300 West. Some people are going to choose to spend their dollars at Walmarts and the like, and I'd prefer that money still be spent in Salt Lake City. Odds are they're going to use a car to get there (I really think its a low percentage the number of shoppers that use transit/walk to these kinds of stores), so I'd rather that Salt Lakers not be forced to drive as far, and outside the city limits to reach big box retailers. 300 West near the freeway is not the worst spot for them, but on 1300 South with prime time TRAX access- I think that is bad zoning. If Walmart and Lowes were West of the freeway, like on 500 West, they'd still have easy freeway access, a central location, and the land near the TRAX stops could be put to better use.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

That's not what I'm saying at all.

There is a difference between stores not being walkable and the area still at least offering the opportunity to walk. You can still have an urbanish Wal-Mart (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron), even though I concede most people aren't going to walk to it.

The problem with this development is that you can't walk anywhere, even if the location is walkable. You're not walking to the movies or to even the cluster of buildings in the middle by the movies. It's just not practical.

And as mentioned above, I think this development held some potential when they started out around the theatre, but once you get beyond that, it's a mess.

Hell, even the Wal-Mart in Salt Lake can be easily accessed by foot, even though I bet more people drive there than walk. The difference, though, is that it provides you the chance to walk there and if you live in the area, you might be more inclined to do so.

But if you've read my posts here in the past on this subject, you'd see even I disagree with the development we're seeing on 300 West right now because of this very reason. Instead of building that street up as a possible walkable retail/commercial center for the People's Freeway neighborhood, it's turning into a traditional suburban street and I don't like that.

I hope you don't feel like that was a personal attack. I just quoted you to reference back to the topic, not because of your particular post. Again, I can't really pass any judgment on Jordan Landing, I was just commenting on the need for some stores to have good sized parking lots in that most people will be driving there.

Looking, however at the Jordan Landing site, I would be that open parking spaces get filled in time with other stores--I say that only because growing up University Mall had an expansive parking lot and over time more stores have popped up and been added to it, it wouldn't surprise me to have a similar thing happen with Jordan Landing--that isn't to say it will make the site good, but might make it slightly better.

[WeST]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

I think the Hyatt is sized right for its location, but the materials will most likely mimic it's 'plastic' Gateway neighbors rather than it's more significant neighbors- The Union Pacific Depot and Salt Lake Hardware building.


Saw this in the Deseret News this morning- that some of the 'shovel ready' stimulus money Becker has been so diligently working for could be used to rebuild the North Temple viaduct:
...Late last year, a handful of Utah cities outlined $1.6 billion in "shovel-ready" projects as part of a stimulus wish list. Salt Lake's $780 million request included funding for Sugar House streetcars, light-rail expansions, refugee housing and a geothermal plant.As the specifics of the Recovery Act emerge, those lists have been revised and whittled down. A $65 million rebuild of the North Temple viaduct, which would accommodate a TRAX line to Salt Lake International Airport, remains a "very high priority" for city leaders, Langan said... http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705288074,00.html?pg=1



I think a North Temple rebuild is exactly the kind of project this money is meant for, and would greatly improve the area around the Hyatt and the Western gateway into downtown.

I agree Wasden that a new viaduct would be great for that area and I think it could be an interesting adaptation with the light rail line. Despite that I think this actually would be considered a pork project and not smart to use the stimulus money for. That bridge, according to UDOT, has something like 20 years of life still in it. We would tear down a bridge that has many years of usefulness and replace it, while there are vast road and rail needs elsewhere. Two cents.