Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2

[PHX31]

I hate to chime into discussions, but while the concensus is that Phoenix's Sheraton — balls to look at, the inside is —. It is really nice, there is a popular restaurant/bar, etc. I'm sure most conventioners couldn't care less about the appearance from the outside, but they want the amenities inside, and I think Phoenix's Sheraton nailed this. The best of both worlds would be the ultimate, but if money is an issue, it's smart to put the money into the inside.

[urbanboy]

"— balls" is not a pejorative. Also, "—" aren't appealing to everyone, so you might want to use an entirely different vocabulary next time.

[Future Mayor]

You must be careful and your analogies, maybe some people think that if the building "— balls" is a good thing and "is —" is a bad thing.



Sorry I just couldn't resist. Sometimes I crack myself up.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

"— balls" is not a pejorative. Also, "—" aren't appealing to everyone, so you might want to use an entirely different vocabulary next time.

LOL.. I knew that was coming.

[urbanboy]

[urbanboy]

sorry, wrong thread.

[T-Mac]

Ok, now that was really funny. I can't stop laughing.

[TonyAnderson]

Salt Lake City budget: 'It's beyond bad'
Record deficit » Officials project nearly $20 million gap for fiscal 2011 due to nosedive in sales tax.

By Derek P. Jensen

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 03/02/2010 11:16:08 PM MST

Salt Lake City's budget is barren, bleeding and bleak. And now, it includes a record deficit.

Two months before Mayor Ralph Becker will present his "balanced" fiscal-year 2011 budget, the city's financial team is projecting nearly a $20 million gap, meaning severe service cuts, employee sacrifices --and perhaps a tax hike -- are in the offing.

The culprit, like last year, is a combination of plummeting sales tax and peaking tabs in health care and retirement costs. The city's key money maker -- tax revenue based on eating and drinking -- is reeling as discretionary income dries up and the recession rages.

Nobody on the sullen City Council has seen anything like it.

"It's beyond bad," says Councilwoman Jill Remington Love. "The biggest gap I've seen in my eight years was $4 million, and that was last year. Before that, it was $1 million and we had layoffs. Everyone's going to have to make a sacrifice."

Becker's chief of staff David Everitt says everything from capital projects to salaries to fund balances will be considered as the Mayor's Office strains to plug the hole. That includes a property tax increase. "It's definitely not off the table," Everitt says.

Budget director Gina Chamness outlined what led to the challenge, noting City Hall wrongly assumed the recession would hit bottom last summer. "Our assumptions have not proven to be correct," she told the council Tuesday. "They've proven to be optimistic."

Full: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14502747?source=rss

[urbanboy]

Im thinking Salt Lake City could really benefit from an announcement from the GOP awarding Salt Lake City the 2012 GOP convention. Hopefully we will get it!

Also, the last paragraph in the full article gives readers a "ray of hope."

[VelvetElvis]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

"— balls" is not a pejorative. Also, "—" aren't appealing to everyone, so you might want to use an entirely different vocabulary next time.

Really, it depends on the building's gender. This could be a win win for everybody. -Unless you are female. Sorry ladies.

[NYC Rick]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Salt Lake City budget: 'It's beyond bad'
Record deficit » Officials project nearly $20 million gap for fiscal 2011 due to nosedive in sales tax.

By Derek P. Jensen

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 03/02/2010 11:16:08 PM MST

Salt Lake City's budget is barren, bleeding and bleak. And now, it includes a record deficit.

Two months before Mayor Ralph Becker will present his "balanced" fiscal-year 2011 budget, the city's financial team is projecting nearly a $20 million gap, meaning severe service cuts, employee sacrifices --and perhaps a tax hike -- are in the offing.

The culprit, like last year, is a combination of plummeting sales tax and peaking tabs in health care and retirement costs. The city's key money maker -- tax revenue based on eating and drinking -- is reeling as discretionary income dries up and the recession rages.

Nobody on the sullen City Council has seen anything like it.

"It's beyond bad," says Councilwoman Jill Remington Love. "The biggest gap I've seen in my eight years was $4 million, and that was last year. Before that, it was $1 million and we had layoffs. Everyone's going to have to make a sacrifice."

Becker's chief of staff David Everitt says everything from capital projects to salaries to fund balances will be considered as the Mayor's Office strains to plug the hole. That includes a property tax increase. "It's definitely not off the table," Everitt says.

Budget director Gina Chamness outlined what led to the challenge, noting City Hall wrongly assumed the recession would hit bottom last summer. "Our assumptions have not proven to be correct," she told the council Tuesday. "They've proven to be optimistic."

Full: http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14502747?source=rss

In the scope and reality of everything going on, a 20 million dollar gap is nothing. There are so many cites and states with multi billion dollar gaps.

SLC should be lucky.

Here in NYC and the state of New York, the gaps are very large indeed...humongous would be a better term. Look at California and specifically LA. Yikes!

At least SLC is building for the future and everything is going on should pay of big time. The city and state budgets will reap financial rewards on many aspect levels.

[urbanboy]

Improvements have been made at Reservoir Park at 1300 East and 100 South. The old collapsed tennis courts and reservoir have been removed and filled in with dirt and covered with sod. The historic wall remains, and a new sidewalk running down the hill on 100 South has been added.

[delts145]

^^^
Thanks for the update on that UB. I love that old park, and especially the wall. Glad to see it finally getting the attention it deserves.

[NYC Rick]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

Improvements have been made at Reservoir Park at 1300 East and 100 South. The old collapsed tennis courts and reservoir have been removed and filled in with dirt and covered with sod. The historic wall remains, and a new sidewalk running down the hill on 100 South has been added.

One of the really cool parks that I really loved when growing up.

Is the art museum still there?

[urbanboy]

Yes, the Art Barn is still there It serves as a venue for smaller art shows and the Gallery Stroll, durring which they usually offer a free glass of Martinelli's sparkling cider.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by NYC Rick

One of the really cool parks that I really loved when growing up.

Hell yeah it was. I lived on Butler Ave as a kid and would walk down there all the time. Living with the fraternity and soreity homes was a hell of a place to grow up as a kid.

[TimeSaltlake]

So I noticed that 200s 300e, they started to build the foundation for some sort of building. I had seen the rederings for the building for that was planned to be built, but becuase of the poor quality I did not this it would be more than a proposal. they are pouring the foundation for something but I wanted to know if any of you knew if it was the building in the rendering????

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by TimeSaltlake

So I noticed that 200s 300e, they started to build the foundation for some sort of building. I had seen the rederings for the building for that was planned to be built, but becuase of the poor quality I did not this it would be more than a proposal. they are pouring the foundation for something but I wanted to know if any of you knew if it was the building in the rendering????

Liberty CityWalk Apartments

We have yet to see a rendering. Is there one on site now?

[urbanboy]

Square may loose its trolley
Revitalization » Developers considering historical streetcar's next move.

By Dawn House
The Salt Lake Tribune



One of the last historic streetcars that made Trolley Square famous may be gone when the Salt Lake City shopping mall completes its $60 million revitalization project this summer...

http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_14515269



TROLLEY WING CO Trolley Wing Company is closing, after ten years of operation in a streetcar at Trolley Square. The tavern's future is uncertain as the mall undergoes a $60 million revitalization project. But the mall and tavern owners are discussing where the tavern and streetcar may be located, Sunday 2/28/10. (Scott Sommerdorf / Salt Lake Tribune)




TROLLEY WING CO Di Bristol (cq) who was a regular at the bar, carves a momento of her time there into the bar at the Trolley Wing Company on their last day of operation. Bristol was able to pre-order one of the last baskets of wings made at the bar/restaurant, Sunday 2/28/10. The USA is playing Canada for the hockey gold medal in the background. The Trolley Wing Company is closing, after ten years of operation in a streetcar at Trolley Square...(Scott Sommerdorf / Salt Lake Tribune)




TROLLEY WING CO Bar regulars (left to right)l Chris Kent, John Keane, Debbie Brower, Travis Brower and Sheri Faircloth hang out at the bar at the Trolley Wing Company during the last hours of the bar's operation... Sunday 2/28/10. (Scott Sommerdorf / Salt Lake Tribune)




A 30,000 lb. trolley car is hoisted by crane onto a flat bed truck and moved from its current location near the water tower on the east side of Trolley Square on Thursday March 4th. It was then trucked to the south parking lot until developers know what they're going to do with it. (Al Hartmann / The Salt Lake Tribune 3/4/2010)

[shakman]

I certainly hope the Trolley is somehow integrated with this current revitalization of Trolley Square.