Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[urbanboy]

The viaduct is a mono-modal road. And because this is the gateway from the airport into downtown suggests that only cars are welcome. Although the road has some life still in it, it does not serve our communities current needs. The new viaduct will not only include light-rail, but bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways as well. This will help connect the east and west neighborhoods in Downtown Salt Lake City which is needed. West High students will especially appreciate the upgrade.

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by WeST

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.

True the current viaduct has a lot of life left in it, even so I still don't think its right to leave it darkening the Gateway for another 20 years. Besides, when those 20 years are up, the neighboring TRAX bridge will most likely have 40 years of life left in it- leaving these 2 structures that should be one in the same continually cut up. Remember the viaducts that ran past Pioneer Park? Probably had plenty of life left in them, but the right thing to do for the city was to take them down, and their replacement was tacked onto the I-15 rebuild. Urban boy is right on- the current viaduct is a nightmare to cross on foot. I've done it once, and only once. It is a hike from the East side and drops you off right under the viaduct too- not very pedestrian friendly.

To sum it up- although ithe viaduct could survive 20 more years, I think it is now obsolete in light of our new goals of a transit, pedestrian oriented downtown. And since the money is going to be pumped into the economy no matter what, why not pump it into our economy and implement the right infrastructure for an awesome downtown?

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

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.

I don't recall ever saying Salt Lake should ban bigbox retail. I think they're a necessary evil and while I'd never shop at Wal-Mart, I understand some people do. I just suggested the way 300 West is being developed is very similar to what you get out in suburban Salt Lake and that is what I don't like.

[blazefirelight]

If any kind of big box retail is to go somewhere downtown, they shouldn't have the store being one level, occupying an entire block. They should really play it up: make the building a couple levels high, with large freight elevators for shoppers to go up and down floors with their carts. Make the parking a larger, decorated structure attached to the store.

That's my two cents.

[Justnslcsugarhood.]

Originally Posted by blazefirelight

If any kind of big box retail is to go somewhere downtown, they shouldn't have the store being one level, occupying an entire block. They should really play it up: make the building a couple levels high, with large freight elevators for shoppers to go up and down floors with their carts. Make the parking a larger, decorated structure attached to the store.

That's my two cents.

I totally agree with you!

[shakman]

Would you not consider the two department stores within CCC as big box?

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by Comrade Reynolds

I don't recall ever saying Salt Lake should ban bigbox retail. I think they're a necessary evil and while I'd never shop at Wal-Mart, I understand some people do. I just suggested the way 300 West is being developed is very similar to what you get out in suburban Salt Lake and that is what I don't like.

Comrade, Comrade- always afraid of people putting words in your mouth. Funny because I don't recall say or implying that you think big box retail should be banned. No need to get so defensive. If you'll re-read the post you might discover I agree with you and don't like the way 300 West is turning out either.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

Comrade, Comrade- always afraid of people putting words in your mouth. Funny because I don't recall say or implying that you think big box retail should be banned. No need to get so defensive. If you'll re-read the post you might discover I agree with you and don't like the way 300 West is turning out either.

All I can do is go by with what you put in your reply to my post. Had you not quoted me, I wouldn't have assumed you were singling me out on this and implying I was for the banning of this type of retail.

It's no big deal...

[delts145]

I think it would be fair to say that we would all wish those resposnsible would just be a little more sensitive or excersise simple good taste when planning the placement of these projects. I'm not anti-big box in the least, but it would at least have been nice if they could have developed that Walmart in the same mode as say Sandy's on 1300 E. or Cedar Hills, and even denser. Infact, at the very least, curb side and surrounding pods could have been developed into something much more engaging, higher, w/residential etc. Something much better suited for that location, yet still accomodating the auto.

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by delts145

I think it would be fair to say that we would all wish those resposnsible would just be a little more sensitive or excersise simple good taste when planning the placement of these projects. I'm not anti-big box in the least, but it would at least have been nice if they could have developed that Walmart in the same mode as say Sandy's on 1300 E. or Cedar Hills, and even denser. Infact, at the very least, curb side and surrounding pods could have been developed into something much more engaging, higher, w/residential etc. Something much better suited for that location, yet still accomodating the auto.

I haven't seen the Sandy Walmart- what is it like? I was wondering what yall think of the Smith's on 5th South and 5th East.

Things I like about it:
1. multi level shopping
2. multi level parking (both combine for better use of land in central SLC).
3. TRAX access
4. close to neighborhoods

Things I don't like about it:
1. pessimal street interaction (although I think most big box stores are even worse)
2. despite the multi level parking, there is still tons of asphalt! I think parking should be located below these big stores. You can already take an elevator to the second level, why not just ride it down to below grade parking? I've seen this configuration before (although not in the United States) and it was awesome! It was like the perfect marriage of conservation and convenience.

Also what do you guys think about Walmart replacing the defunct Kmart on Parley's Way? I don't think it would be too drastic a change, but I do think it may hurt existing Sugarhouse and East bench retailers. Should it be allowed in the name of free market capitalism? Would it bring prices down for me the shopper at all East bench stores? Or would it be irresponsible to the neighborhood allowing another store to contribute to the abandonment of existing stores (assuming that is a possibility)?

[urbanboy]

Can-do spirit can get the Utah's economy back on track

"...There are eight state building projects, including creation of a Film Center at the Utah Theater on Salt Lake City's Main Street, that have raised millions of dollars of matching funds to augment a state bond. These building projects create immediate construction jobs and support Utah's long-term economic development..."

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_11819447

[ski_steve]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

I haven't seen the Sandy Walmart- what is it like? I was wondering what yall think of the Smith's on 5th South and 5th East.

Things I like about it:
1. multi level shopping
2. multi level parking (both combine for better use of land in central SLC).
3. TRAX access
4. close to neighborhoods

Things I don't like about it:
1. pessimal street interaction (although I think most big box stores are even worse)
2. despite the multi level parking, there is still tons of asphalt! I think parking should be located below these big stores. You can already take an elevator to the second level, why not just ride it down to below grade parking? I've seen this configuration before (although not in the United States) and it was awesome! It was like the perfect marriage of conservation and convenience.

Smiths stopped offering their 5% student discount BOOO! Now I go to Harmon's. I wish they would hurry and build the Harmons at CCC!

That Smiths is ok, but great compared to the others. Its nice that its two levels, but it still takes up alot of space. Plus, as you said, it doesnt interact with the street at all. The could have also done a much better job with making a connection to Trax. Most people walk awkwardly on the parking lot to get to the door.

[Urban_logic]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

The viaduct is a mono-modal road. And because this is the gateway from the airport into downtown suggests that only cars are welcome. Although the road has some life still in it, it does not serve our communities current needs. The new viaduct will not only include light-rail, but bicycle lanes and pedestrian walkways as well. This will help connect the east and west neighborhoods in Downtown Salt Lake City which is needed. West High students will especially appreciate the upgrade.

That will deffinately be a great asset to the city

The current vioduct is crumbling and practically defunct. I would be willing to bet money that the North Temple vioduct would be the first structure to fail when a 7.0+ earthquake strikes the city. I hope it is replaced soon! So I am assuming that it got the stimulus boost from Obama SLC was hoping for?

Originally Posted by blazefirelight

If any kind of big box retail is to go somewhere downtown, they shouldn't have the store being one level, occupying an entire block. They should really play it up: make the building a couple levels high, with large freight elevators for shoppers to go up and down floors with their carts. Make the parking a larger, decorated structure attached to the store.

That's my two cents.

I deffinately support dense, high-rise "big-box" stores. As to freight elevators, I don't think that would be very efficient. The multi-level stores I've been to in California have something between the escalators that you can put your cart onto, then it brings it up along-side you. The wheels hook into little metal notches. Then, you can use the elevator for the big loads (like furnature). I deffinately like the way you think! Multi-level stores would deffinately be an asset to SLC!

[TANGELD_SLC]

There's an escalator with the cart lift in the Salt Lake City Wal-Mart, Urban, but it's not there because it's two levels of shopping, it's because there is two levels of parking

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Can-do spirit can get the Utah's economy back on track

"...There are eight state building projects, including creation of a Film Center at the Utah Theater on Salt Lake City's Main Street, that have raised millions of dollars of matching funds to augment a state bond. These building projects create immediate construction jobs and support Utah's long-term economic development..."

http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_11819447

I wish the news paper would of gone into more detail of what these "eight state building projects" will be other then the main street theater.

[urbanboy]

Yeah, me too Projects.

[TANGELD_SLC]

Oooh maybe we're getting 8 theatres!

[Sight-Seer]

As I drove to work yesterday past the Sears warehouse on Thirteenth South I thought what a great location for some condo's or something. That whole strip from Main Street to Third West has blank walls facing the street and a narrow sidewalk. I expect somebody will do something with it sometime. Probably the corner of Third West and 13th accross from Lowes will be something commercial. What's there is the biggest eyesore in Salt Lake.

[shakman]

I find blank walls along a street to always be an eyesore.

Relative with the topic of retail, where is the upscale retail "district" of SLC?

[DMTower]

Right now Trolley Square would probably have most of the upscale stores, and there are stores along Highland Drive in Holiday. CCC will definitely one-up those when it's finished though.