Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2 - Page 29

cololi · #**561** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 10:06 PM**

Everyone has there right to comment on anything. I value the opinions of others, whether they are out of towners, suburbanites, or city dwellers. This place would be pretty bland if only downtowners commented. I particularly like it when people from far away post something, whether it is ripping on our architecture or asking a simple question. Please carry on. One voice does not speak for the rest of us who post on this forum.

Plus, I have done my fair share of blasting places that I am not nearly as familiar with as those that live there.

scottharding · #**562** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 10:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Because it's where a lot of the crime is centered. It seems if you live in places like downtown Seattle or Denver, etc. you're in one of the nicest places in the city, yet SLC feels like the nicest parts are the ones away from the downtown core.

I think you are entirely wrong. But you do help to illustrate Urbanboy's point. There is no more crime here downtown than many other parts of the metro. I've lived smack downtown for a good six years now, and guess what? I've not been victim or witness to any crime in that entire time. The worst I've seen is grafitti and jay-walking. Yeah, it's a hard knock life.
However, I read the paper daily, and recall several headlines from the past six years, like a woman being shot in the face in a church parking lot in Lehi. Or two instances of gang-related homicide in the Heber valley. I'm not saying the suburbs is where all the crime is, and there's none in SLC. But you're stating that all the crime is downtown was a very ignorant comment.
As to the nicest places in the city, well that's a matter of opinion of course. If you're idea of beauty is the endless big box stores, car dealerships, and tract housing that dominates everything south of Murray, then yeah, I suppose most of the appeal is in the suburbs. Course, if you value art, sculptures, fountains, parks, street-life, architecture, and history, then you may find that downtown does offer the nicest places in the valley.

SLC Projects · #**563** Posted **Jul 8, 2009, 10:48 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Rather than using this thread to vicariously visit/learn about downtown, I wish that people on here would actually visit downtown and it's neighborhoods in person and become more acquainted with it, and then use this thread to discuss new ideas of how to improve Salt Lake City.

What doesn't make sense to me is when people, who are so unfamiliar with downtown Salt Lake City and it's neighborhoods, have strong opinions about what we should value or disregard, preserve or destroy. If any of you really love Salt Lake City, consider moving here. I'm not talking about the suburbs, I'm talking about Salt Lake City proper. Learn about the City's history (not just how it was "settled" because most people already know this), visit all the museums, do your shopping here along with all your other daily activities, spend as many nights as you can out on the town, create memories, meet the people here, and call it home. Only then will your good intensions result in something great for everyone.

And for those of you who prefer reverse psychology: Don't you ever visit or live in Salt Lake City, especially Downtown!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I think the visitors should also have a say. Coming from someone who has never lived in downtown or Salt Lake City myself I may not know everything about downtown, but I am willing to learn about it by not only going downtown, but to also come on this forum. That's one of the main reason why I even come on this site is to learn from you guys about things that maybe I didn't know before about SLC. I can't begin to count all the things that I have learned on this site from you guys. Not just about projects, but maybe about other facts about downtown and it's history. I didn't even know where that building was in West's photo that he posted. But with replay to his question now I know. That's what I like about this forum. I'm always learning about the city.
My point is as a visitor of downtown I still want to see Salt Lake improve and develop. And we too should have a right to comment on issues even if we are right or wrong. I don't know if I would ever live downtown or not. But as of right now I live in West Jordan and am happy where I'm at.

DMTower · #**564** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 2:41 AM**

At no point in Urbanboy's post was there any sort of ultimatum telling people what they have to do. He simply encouraged people to make an effort to visit downtown... It was harmless.

urbanboy · #**565** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 2:46 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by WeST

I guess this diatribe was in response to my ignorance regarding this picture.

Nope, just something I've wanted to say for a while now

I'm sorry you thought it was some elitist comment.

urbanboy · #**566** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 3:05 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Because it's where a lot of the crime is centered. It seems if you live in places like downtown Seattle or Denver, etc. you're in one of the nicest places in the city, yet SLC feels like the nicest parts are the ones away from the downtown core.

I think you will be suprised to see how fast salt lake city neighborhoods are being revitalized.

TonyAnderson · #**567** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 5:35 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

I think you are entirely wrong. But you do help to illustrate Urbanboy's point. There is no more crime here downtown than many other parts of the metro. I've lived smack downtown for a good six years now, and guess what? I've not been victim or witness to any crime in that entire time. The worst I've seen is grafitti and jay-walking. Yeah, it's a hard knock life.
However, I read the paper daily, and recall several headlines from the past six years, like a woman being shot in the face in a church parking lot in Lehi. Or two instances of gang-related homicide in the Heber valley. I'm not saying the suburbs is where all the crime is, and there's none in SLC. But you're stating that all the crime is downtown was a very ignorant comment.
As to the nicest places in the city, well that's a matter of opinion of course. If you're idea of beauty is the endless big box stores, car dealerships, and tract housing that dominates everything south of Murray, then yeah, I suppose most of the appeal is in the suburbs. Course, if you value art, sculptures, fountains, parks, street-life, architecture, and history, then you may find that downtown does offer the nicest places in the valley.

Now by stating what I did, I was just making a general statement that I believe a lot of people would also agree with, and also a reason for why I think many everyday people aren't interested in living in SLC proper or downtown.

There's no way I'm 'entirely wrong'. Here's links to research from the FBI on crime:

Sandy: http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Sandy&state=UT
South Jordan: (typical Salt Lake suburb): http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=South+Jordan&state=UT
Lehi (since you brought it up): http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Lehi&state=UT
Salt Lake City: http://www.cityrating.com/citycrime.asp?city=Salt+Lake+City&state=UT

Murder, Forcible —, Robbery, Aggravated Assault, All Violent Crime, Burglary, Larceny or Theft, Car Theft, Arson, All Property Crime (every category they had) are all ABOVE the national average for Salt Lake City.

I also never said that the nicest places in the area were the suburbs, I said the nicest places in big cities like Seattle and Denver, for instance, where downtown. I said that people liked the suburbs in the salt lake area because Salt Lake proper is where a lot of the crime and deterioration is situated.

With that said, I totally agree with Urbanboy and the idea that downtown SLC is being revitalized and restored to a much nicer form. There's also a lot of new residential building occurring in downtown proper, and along with CCC and other nice developments, will help deter crime in those areas. I think the more nice developments made downtown and the more residents living there will help steer off a lot of crime to more secluded areas.

The main point I was making is that I think SLC, being the center of culture, employment, etc. for the entire state, should be at the point where you should be FORTUNATE to be able to live there. I don't think that's even remotely the case right now, though think it's what we'd all like and look forward to.

Zionide · #**568** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 7:04 AM**

While you may not be "entirely wrong," TonyAnderson, I don't think your generalization (or the stats you post to back it up) is particularly accurate.

As has been mentioned multiple times on this forum, SLC proper's population is technically much smaller than the number of people who are actually in the city on any given day; i.e., the daytime/commuter population is much larger than the ~184,000 listed on the stats you posted.

As such, the per capita crime rates should really be compared with that larger population (or at least an average of the two) rather than the smaller "overnight resident" population. That's a very real reason why, per capita, it appears SLC has a higher-than-average crime rate: we're taking the 24-hour crime numbers for the surrounding metro/suburbs without having the population numbers to balance it.

I certainly can't say that explains it all, or that SLC's crime is definitively comparable to surrounding areas, but I will tell you, completely unscientifically, that in my experience as a 911 operator for various entities along the Wasatch Front (Salt Lake County only), SLC isn't crime-ridden in the least.

I consider WVC and Kearns comparable to westside SLC for gang-related crimes. Property crimes are much higher in affluent areas like Cottonwood Heights and Holladay (property thieves go where the money is). I hear more domestic violence calls in Sandy and West Jordan than anywhere in Salt Lake proper. And South Salt Lake tops the charts for lewdness, —, and drugs crimes (though SLC is close for drugs).

delts145 · #**569** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 10:47 AM**

Salt Lake City's Gillmor Audubon Sanctuary
2700-acre wetland/upland sanctuary for birds becomes a reality

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/70531...-marks-birth-of-sanctuary-for-birds.html

...Ella Sorensen, the National Audubon's sanctuary
manager — described by many as the driving force behind this effort —
called the day a "big moment" and a milestone for nature lovers everywhere...

Water from the Jordan River flows Wednesday to create the 2,700-acre South Shore Preserve, a refuge near the Great Salt Lake. (Laura Seitz, Deseret News)

Pictured, "A Wilson's Phalarope," one of the many important species which will thrive at Salt Lake's new Gillmor Sanctuary

by im pastor rick

.

VelvetElvis · #**570** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 7:29 PM**

I keep seeing that image of Gallivan's summer concert series in my head! What Casey Jarman and company has done with that is amazing. It also speaks to the SLC market that people are excited to be a part of it. If you aren't familiar with the series, you should look into it. They bring some pretty good acts and attendance is free! I know they've brought in upwards of 60 grand in beer sales for some nights so that certainly helps support the series but they are probably paying 15-20k per act. I used to walk down 2nd s for those concerts when attendance was more in the 500-1000 range. Boy do I miss it. I can't tell you how excited I would have been to see Martin Sexton at the Gallivan for free!
The Idaho Falls Arts Council has a river concert series (a very distant step-child in concept to the Gallivan series.) It is held every Tues. on the Snake River downtown. It is free and attendance is growing. This week there were about 700 concert goers. Here's hoping that IF can be like SLC in a relative sense.

scottharding · #**571** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 8:00 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

The main point I was making is that I think SLC, being the center of culture, employment, etc. for the entire state, should be at the point where you should be FORTUNATE to be able to live there. I don't think that's even remotely the case right now, though think it's what we'd all like and look forward to.

Again, I disagree. I've lived many places, both in Utah and out. I've lived in the second largest city in the country, and also in one of the smallest towns in Utah. I've lived in suburbs, and now I live in downtown SLC. I love it here. I feel very FORTUNATE to live here, because it beats all the other places I've lived easily.
Just a few weeks ago, I was at a meeting at the Broadway Theatre downtown. I was very fortunate to participate in a lecture conducted by a very successful screenwriter, actor, and director. They had managed to bring him in because he was participating in the Sundance Lab. I thought it was so cool that they had managed to bring him in. The meeting was excellent, and I left on a high. I walked out the front doors of the Broadway and found the sidewalks filled with people. I had forgotten it was the Gallery stroll. The streets were filled with people, artists, musicians. I walked home, taking my time to listen to music and look at the artwork. I even bought a peice. When I reached the corner of 2nd east and 3rd south, I heard drums. I local dance company was performing there on the corner. They taught a dance to the crowd, and literally, hundreds of people were dancing in the street. There's an experience you won't get living anywhere else in Utah. A week later was the Arts Festival at Library square, which I attended every night, able to use my bounce back pass, because it was a two block walk for me. Tonight, I'm heading over to Gallivan Plaza for the Twighlight concert series.
Sorry, I realize this is a long reply. I really just want to illustrate that Salt Lake is CURRENTLY a great place to live, work, and play. It does have a big-city vibe. I feel safe, inspired, connected, and fortunate.

urbanboy · #**572** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 8:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zionide

... And South Salt Lake tops the charts for lewdness, —, and drugs crimes (though SLC is close for drugs).

If we just legalize drugs already, this won't be a problem. The least expensive and efficient way to stop drug trafficking, is to legalize drugs.

urbanboy · #**573** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 8:11 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Chill DMTower, nobody on here thinks that about your boyfriend.

Nope, I'm happily engaged to my partner, and we will be married the 19th of this July.

VelvetElvis · #**574** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 9:04 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Nope, I'm happily engaged to my partner, and we will be married the 19th of this July.

Congratulations!

SLC Tortfeasor · #**575** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

Again, I disagree. I've lived many places, both in Utah and out. I've lived in the second largest city in the country, and also in one of the smallest towns in Utah. I've lived in suburbs, and now I live in downtown SLC. I love it here. I feel very FORTUNATE to live here, because it beats all the other places I've lived easily.
Just a few weeks ago, I was at a meeting at the Broadway Theatre downtown. I was very fortunate to participate in a lecture conducted by a very successful screenwriter, actor, and director. They had managed to bring him in because he was participating in the Sundance Lab. I thought it was so cool that they had managed to bring him in. The meeting was excellent, and I left on a high. I walked out the front doors of the Broadway and found the sidewalks filled with people. I had forgotten it was the Gallery stroll. The streets were filled with people, artists, musicians. I walked home, taking my time to listen to music and look at the artwork. I even bought a peice. When I reached the corner of 2nd east and 3rd south, I heard drums. I local dance company was performing there on the corner. They taught a dance to the crowd, and literally, hundreds of people were dancing in the street. There's an experience you won't get living anywhere else in Utah. A week later was the Arts Festival at Library square, which I attended every night, able to use my bounce back pass, because it was a two block walk for me. Tonight, I'm heading over to Gallivan Plaza for the Twighlight concert series.
Sorry, I realize this is a long reply. I really just want to illustrate that Salt Lake is CURRENTLY a great place to live, work, and play. It does have a big-city vibe. I feel safe, inspired, connected, and fortunate.

Ditto. Salt Lake is grand. There's definitely room for improvement, but things are great here right now. When City Creek is done things will be even better. I'm especially excited for the new Harmon's grocery that is coming.

One of the reasons I love living downtown is that I work downtown. I feel so smug when I listen to the radio in the morning and hear traffic reports. It seems there's always a crash on I-15 or I-80. My commute to work takes only 20 minutes -- by foot. 10 minutes if I drive or ride my bike. On the rare occasions when I find myself driving the freeways during rush hour, I constantly ask myself, "how do people tolerate this on a daily basis?"

urbanboy · #**576** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 9:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by VelvetElvis

Congratulations!

Thank you VelvetElvis!

Justnslcsugarhood. · #**577** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 9:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by urbanboy

If we just legalize drugs already, this won't be a problem. The least expensive and efficient way to stop drug trafficking, is to legalize drugs.

Mmmm I agree only with Marijuana, though.
lets regulate it and send our cops after the people who sell — like heroin and cocaine.

I love downtown. I agree that after CCC opens up we will have a very classy downtown. If you look at the gateway, City Creek Center, Trolley Square and all of Allen Millo's projects downtown SLC is a very classy place. unfortunatly Main street needs a major make over. We have way too many vacant stores downtown in comparison with some cities.

Stenar · #**578** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 10:16 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Chill DMTower, nobody on here thinks that about your boyfriend.

The rest of y'all are the ones who need to chill. I'm tired of people constantly attacking Urbanboy over remarks that aren't what you all make them out to be.

Stenar · #**579** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 10:19 PM**

Funds for new Utah federal courthouse OK'd
By Lee Davidson
Deseret News

Senate appropriators approved a $211 million request Thursday to build a new federal courthouse in Salt Lake City. Sen. Bob Bennett, R-Utah, had asked for the funding.

"This project is a prime example of a shovel-ready project that will bring hundreds of jobs to Utah and give a much-needed boost to our economy," Bennett said. He added that it could bring an estimated 700 jobs to Utah for the next three years.

Read the rest of the article at: http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705315885/Funds-for-new-courthouse-OKd.html

delts145 · #**580** Posted **Jul 9, 2009, 11:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

Again, I disagree. I've lived many places, both in Utah and out. I've lived in the second largest city in the country, and also in one of the smallest towns in Utah. I've lived in suburbs, and now I live in downtown SLC. I love it here. I feel very FORTUNATE to live here, because it beats all the other places I've lived easily.
Just a few weeks ago, I was at a meeting at the Broadway Theatre downtown. I was very fortunate to participate in a lecture conducted by a very successful screenwriter, actor, and director. They had managed to bring him in because he was participating in the Sundance Lab. I thought it was so cool that they had managed to bring him in. The meeting was excellent, and I left on a high. I walked out the front doors of the Broadway and found the sidewalks filled with people. I had forgotten it was the Gallery stroll. The streets were filled with people, artists, musicians. I walked home, taking my time to listen to music and look at the artwork. I even bought a peice. When I reached the corner of 2nd east and 3rd south, I heard drums. I local dance company was performing there on the corner. They taught a dance to the crowd, and literally, hundreds of people were dancing in the street. There's an experience you won't get living anywhere else in Utah. A week later was the Arts Festival at Library square, which I attended every night, able to use my bounce back pass, because it was a two block walk for me. Tonight, I'm heading over to Gallivan Plaza for the Twighlight concert series.
Sorry, I realize this is a long reply. I really just want to illustrate that Salt Lake is CURRENTLY a great place to live, work, and play. It does have a big-city vibe. I feel safe, inspired, connected, and fortunate.

Very well said Scott. I couldn't agree with you more.