Salt Lake:Official development news thread - Part 2

[urbanboy]

Here is a conglomerate of my ideas for the theater district:

[Future Mayor]

I like the overall design of the theater district UB.

As for SLC hitting 200,000. I honestly don't think that is that far of a stretch in the next 10-15 years. As the economy recovers and Utah and SLC have always been one of the strongest economies in the nation and as more companies start moving here combined with all the development in downtown and with the future of N Temple, I really don't think it's a stretch. It's really only 2,000 or 1,500 people a year. One major company relocating their regional or corporate headquarters to downtown could easy account for a large portion of that one year growth needed, and as the demographic needs change for the generation starting to reach their 20's, not to mention the price of transportation, and SLC investment in transportation, there will be a huge influx of city dwellers, not to mention the boomers that will want to live in a more walkable vibrant community.

SLC proper, especially the CBD, needs a much larger variety of housing options, particularly in the rental market. Young professionals, even young marrieds and those just out of college need to be able to find an apartment in downtown that is reasonably priced, and reasonably nice. I like what the Immigration court has added to east downtown, Another couple of large complexes like that in areas around Trolley, mixed in with some smaller projects with 3 -5 stories around strategic neighborhoods, like 9th and 9th, and with the eventual rebuilding of sugarhouse, it could easily reach that population.

I would be willing to wager a bet that by 2025, SLC will be at or above 200,000 people.

[delts145]

I agree with everything your saying Future Mayor, but it still miffs me when the powers that be in SLC proper don't pursue a positive, beneficial program of future annexation for areas such as Millcreek.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I would be willing to wager a bet that by 2025, SLC will be at or above 200,000 people.

If the economcy grows next year, I think SLC will top that in about 5-7 years. That is about a 10% growth rate, which is high, but SLC is poised for it. The biggest thing is that this economic situation is starting to get a lot more people thinking about where they live, how they move around, how they spend their money, etc. As it continues through at least this year, a lot more people are going to have new priorities and those high priorities will include reducing house sizes, reducing transportation costs, reducing utility costs, etc. They will end up moving to those places that can provide these things but also provide a high quality of life. SLC, probably more than anywhere else in the state, is already working towards these goals and will be way ahead of the curve.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by delts145

... it still miffs me when the powers that be in SLC proper don't pursue a positive, beneficial program of future annexation for areas such as Millcreek.

They can't simply annex property just because they want to, they have to collect signatures, even if the city initiates the annexation. I am dealing with dozens of property owners in some potential annexations and that is a headache in itself. The property owners I deal with most own at least 5 acres and most of them own more. I can't imagine how much leg work will be involved if the city initiates the annexation. The have to have signatures supporting the petition from 51% of the total acres and 33% of the total value of all properties in the annexation. That's a lot of door to door, neighborhood meetings, not to mention all the land owners that may live out of state.

[delts145]

LOL, I know, and no one ever said it would be easy. Bottom line, people will vote/sign their pocket book. If in the past, it had been pursued in a reasonable and positive manner, perhaps the people of the Millcreek area, etc. would have been clamoring to be included as a part of SLC., and what should have been a situation viewed as tax and service beneficial for them. Sure, there are many facets to the challenge, but how seriously has SLC really pursued it. I mean, is the real problem that a number of politicians are worried that the inclusion of Millcreek would upset the political balance in SLC proper??

[Future Mayor]

I never thought of it changing the balance of politics in the City, that is a good question. With the new Sheriffs fee that the county has imposed, it may be the residents that may want to pursue an annexation into the capital city.

[UTPlanner]

Annexations are extremely difficult and frankly having more residents is not necessarily a good thing. If you add the citizens of Millcreek to SLC then the city now has an obligation to provide services to these new residents. It's a lot more complicated than just moving a line on the map. There are a lot of factors to consider police and fire, water and other utilities, library system, different school districts, RDA's, just to name the few that jump immediately to mind. I'm not saying it couldn't happen or shouldn't happen I just want to point out that it is nothing to take lightly.

[Future Mayor]

I agree 100%. It is a time consuming, lengthy, often times maddening process.

[NYC Rick]

QUOTE=Future Mayor;4738493]I like the overall design of the theater district UB.
As for SLC hitting 200,000. I honestly don't think that is that far of a stretch in the next 10-15 years. As the economy recovers and Utah and SLC have always been one of the strongest economies in the nation and as more companies start moving here combined with all the development in downtown and with the future of N Temple, I really don't think it's a stretch. It's really only 2,000 or 1,500 people a year. One major company relocating their regional or corporate headquarters to downtown could easy account for a large portion of that one year growth needed, and as the demographic needs change for the generation starting to reach their 20's, not to mention the price of transportation, and SLC investment in transportation, there will be a huge influx of city dwellers, not to mention the boomers that will want to live in a more walkable vibrant community.

QUOTE=Future Mayor;4738493]

Let's face it, SLC is the heart of a 2 million plus populace in a very small area. Hell, the whole state populace is basically Ogden to Provo.

SLC has to be one of the few cities that never annexed. If it did the city would be well over a million people by itself.

Now I read about the 200,000 people potential. That just cracks me up.

Every major city in this country proclaims their city populace to be well beyond SLC. The truth is that the contiguous populace of SLC dwarfs many of them.

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

SLC proper, especially the CBD, needs a much larger variety of housing options, particularly in the rental market. Young professionals, even young marrieds and those just out of college need to be able to find an apartment in downtown that is reasonably priced, and reasonably nice. I like what the Immigration court has added to east downtown, Another couple of large complexes like that in areas around Trolley, mixed in with some smaller projects with 3 -5 stories around strategic neighborhoods, like 9th and 9th, and with the eventual rebuilding of sugarhouse, it could easily reach that population.

I think there's been some good strides with dense housing in Salt Lake recently. In fact, it seems the majority of major dense developments has been in the last 10ish years. Think Brigham Apts, Palladio, Emigration Court, bridges at Citifront, the many apartments around Gateway, a number of developments along W. Temple adjacent to the Trax line. The condo market seems to have been a lot of updating to warehouse areas, conversions, etc. Now City Creek...

[Sight-Seer]

NYC Rick, I totally agree. Salt Lake's population numbers are misleading and gives people the wrong idea. Boise Idaho has a bigger population and is growing, whereas SL has remained pretty stagnant for decades. SL's unofficial Ogden to Provo metro is four times as big as Boise's and compares with many medium-sized US cities. It's interesting that Boise passed Spokane and is the 3rd largest city in the Pacific NW.

[jtrent77]

I am surprised that no one has put this article in yet...

Without blushing, organizers call it "the Super Bowl of conventions."
Don't look to Scott Beck, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Convention & Visitors Bureau, to diminish the claim, not after the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) announced that its 2016 meeting will take place in Utah's capital city.

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14642693?IADID

[delts145]

Ultimately, I agree with both UTPlanner and Future Mayor, about the difficulty at this juncture in annexing Millcreek or any county township into SLC. Also, nobody gets more frustrated when some ignoramous spouts off about SLC only being a small city. It's definately very misleading in relationship to it's large CSA. As Future Mayor and many others on the Forum have previously stated, I think that Salt Lake City proper will now begin to see a spike in growth. UTPlanner, Future Mayor, Cololi or anyone who follows this more closely. Is there a sizable, relatively vacant area adjacement to Salt Lake Proper, which is now County land, that should be considered for annexation? Also again, what is the population projection for the already existing, but undeveloped northwest sector?

[cololi]

Annexations are tricky, particularly in counties of the first class, which Salt lake County is. Municipalities in SLCO can have an annexations plan. However, they cannot actively go out and seek areas to be annexed (am I spelling this right, who cares really). this law was enacted a few years ago to protect the commercial areas of the county, which were being gobbled up by cities left and right, usually without any real connection to the city. So officially SLC cannot seek out an annexation of anywhere. the process needs to be initiated by property owners. At that point, the City can particpate in the process once they receive notice that some parties want to be annexed.

This law makes some sense, but also is very difficult for cities. There is some debate whether the City even has the option to say yes or no. If they don't than it can be a real burden to provide service to an area. Some politicians say no, some say yes. There hasn't been a major annexation since this law was enacted, so it hasn't been tested.

[Future Mayor]

I am not as familiar with the annexations laws that apply to counties of first class, which only SLCO is. But I know that in other areas, if property owners submit a petition for annexation that the City Council can accept or reject the petition for further review. If accepted, the rest of the requirements must be met and completed by the applicant, including the effect on city services, how much is would cost for the city to service those new areas, including fire, police, and utilities that are managed by the city. After all the studies are done the City Council has a public hearing regarding the annexation in which the petitioners and any other member of the public have a chance to express their opinions regarding the annexation. The City Council can still reject the annexation if they feel it isn't in the cities best interest.

[cololi]

Just double checked the state code for annexations; it looks like the legislature updated the statute last year and city's can reject an annexation request.

[urbanboy]

Just had the perfect idea for a Salt Lake City signature Tower!!!!

THE GREEN JELLO MOLD:





or...

THE SALT CRYSTAL:

[TonyAnderson]

They should do the salt crystal idea, but make it a tv tower of some sort, or some monument. Think something memorable like the CN tower in Toronto, or Space Needle in Seattle.

[leerjet]

What about this one?