Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[UTPlanner]

FutureMayor, I agree it is good to see more development in the Granary area. I don't necessarily agree with some of the residents that want it to stay "gritty" but I also don't think it needs to gentrify too much either. Perhaps my idea of "gritty" and their's is different.

Here is a link to the staff report written by Doug Dansie for 101 South 200 East: http://www.slcclassic.com/boards/plancom/2012/August/00412.pdf He is recommending denial of the Planned Development as it has been proposed. The developer is requesting the approval of a Planned Development, which means that they are seeking to construct a project that does not fully meet the standards listed in the Zoning Ordinance. The staff report states clearly the portions of the Zoning Ordinance that they are requesting variances from.

Just an FYI-- but if the developer wanted to, they could just submit building plans that meet the ordinance, and the Planning Commission or City Council would not have a say in the project.

[SLC Projects]

Every time this time of year I go nuts. ( even more so then every other day. ) Each year when the outdoor retail show comes to town I hear countless complaints about how there isn't enough hotel space downtown or nearby. As long as we have these shows and how much bigger it's gotten the demand for the 1000+ room Hotel has been around for at least five years now, probably longer. Yet we have heard little to nothing on this. Hell we don't even have a site picked out yet. You'd think by now there would be big chain hotel companies that would look at SLC as a no brainer. Maybe there are companies looking at Salt Lake and we just don't know it yet. Who knows what goes on behind closed doors. However this is just driving me nuts. We have til 2014 til the outdoor retail could leave Salt Lake and that isn't even enough time now even if we break ground tomorrow. Come on Salt Lake county leaders, city leaders, business leaders and other.......Let's get the ball rolling. Time is running out.

[RiceXIX]

Whats taking so long? Every time I stay the night in Salt Lake all the hotels are full or close to full and that's when no events are taking place? Whats the hold up???

[Old&New]

I think, and I could be wrong, the Holding (sinclair/grand and little america/sun valley/snow basin) loby has been the thing preventing a 1000 room convention hotel from being built.

[DCRes]

I drove through downtown yesterday evening. A few random thoughts:

- I think the new building at 200 E and 100 S will look nice. When a new building is announced we would all like it to be taller but considering how far east it is i think it will fit in well in that area. I agree that there needs to be retail fronting 200 E
- The Chalk Garden is open. I didn't go inside but i like the main entrance on main street. There is still work ongoing on the rest of the building.
- The OR show started and there is a definate increase in the amount of people walking around downtown.
- The restaurants accross from the Marriot on 100 S (ie Naked Fish, Cafe Molise) were packed and had sidewalk seating. Not to re-open the Convention Center Hotel location debate but i think i'm leaning more towards RWP over Arrow Press Square. There are some cool buildings in the Arrow Press area that i would hate to lose. Some of them are run down but think everyone there is on hold waiting to see if they're going to get torn down. If it was for sure that they weren't i think the area would be revitalized, especially since it is so close to CCC and with the recent success of Main Street

[Future Mayor]

If I remember correctly I believe I heard that a developer is interested in building the Convention Hotel, but they want the county to pay for the parking portion, because the county wants to be able to control the pricing, sometimes free for the parking space. Something along those lines.

The fact that the county had a vote on wether or not to fund a consultant, who would be responsible for figuring out how to fund the project. Make note that the proposal before the county council regarding the consultant was regarding how to fund, not if they should fund.

So it seems as if there has been much more movement in the past year. I doubt that they would make the announcement regarding the hotel at the OR show, unless OR was announcing a new contract to continue to bring the show here for several more years. To announce it without that would almost scream of despiration, "We know you're only contracted to be here for a couple of more years, but we're finally building a hotel, that was needed at least 3 years ago, Please stay"

[UTPlanner]

From what I know about the convention hotel debate the issue has nothing to do with Earl Holding and/or his entourage. The biggest obstacle right now is that it's an election year and the Salt Lake County officials that are up for election don't want to be seen utiling tax funds for a project like this. Even if it is low risk, the general populace won't understand that. They will only hear that the county is building a hotel using tax payer funds. Politicians that are up for reelection don't want to deal with that issue. I think, depending on who is elected county mayor, you will hear more about this in early 2013 or you won't hear about it for at least another 4 years.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by DCRes

I drove through downtown yesterday evening. A few random thoughts:

- I think the new building at 200 E and 100 S will look nice. When a new building is announced we would all like it to be taller but considering how far east it is i think it will fit in well in that area. I agree that there needs to be retail fronting 200 E
- The Chalk Garden is open. I didn't go inside but i like the main entrance on main street. There is still work ongoing on the rest of the building.
- The OR show started and there is a definate increase in the amount of people walking around downtown.
- The restaurants accross from the Marriot on 100 S (ie Naked Fish, Cafe Molise) were packed and had sidewalk seating. Not to re-open the Convention Center Hotel location debate but i think i'm leaning more towards RWP over Arrow Press Square. There are some cool buildings in the Arrow Press area that i would hate to lose. Some of them are run down but think everyone there is on hold waiting to see if they're going to get torn down. If it was for sure that they weren't i think the area would be revitalized, especially since it is so close to CCC and with the recent success of Main Street

Everyone please read this!

Also, I'd love to see pictures of chalk garden and the OR crowds if anyone is up to it.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

From what I know about the convention hotel debate the issue has nothing to do with Earl Holding and/or his entourage. The biggest obstacle right now is that it's an election year and the Salt Lake County officials that are up for election don't want to be seen utiling tax funds for a project like this. Even if it is low risk, the general populace won't understand that. They will only hear that the county is building a hotel using tax payer funds. Politicians that are up for reelection don't want to deal with that issue. I think, depending on who is elected county mayor, you will hear more about this in early 2013 or you won't hear about it for at least another 4 years.

Which contestant running for County Mayor would be more likely to build the Convention Hotel?

[Makid]

I work right across the street from the Convention Center and that place is packed right now.

Regarding the convention hotel, the funding for the study needed to come from something other than the TRT to appease the current hoteliers as that is collected from their current guests.

For construction, they can use the TRT to pay for the structured parking provided but that might cause an issue with some of the hoteliers.

What I expect to happen is that the study will recommend using the TRT to assist with some of the parking but most of the TRT going to other projects to free up money from the general fund to fund the majority of the parking. This will appease the current hoteliers while also helping with parking.

I also think we will hear about some upgrades to the Convention Center for expansion soon. Even if it is just filling out the back of the convention center and removing some of the parking/outside storage space.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Old&New

Which contestant running for County Mayor would be more likely to build the Convention Hotel?

Crokett isn't a supporter, and sent a letter to the county council asking them to vote no on the project. I wasn't able to find a statement on Ben McAdams website regarding his stance, but I sent an e-mail and a tweet asking what it was. I will post the response when I hear back.

[Makid]

Crokett is against the Convention Hotel and has made statements that he wants to sell off the Salt Palace and then use the TRT to augment the general fund (which it can't be used for legally) and he wants to get rid of the Convention Bureau, which would end Ski Utah and a couple other tourism boards.

McAdams I have heard supports the Convention Hotel and expanding the Salt Palace and doing what he can to increase tourism to better the local economy.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

From what I know about the convention hotel debate the issue has nothing to do with Earl Holding and/or his entourage. The biggest obstacle right now is that it's an election year and the Salt Lake County officials that are up for election don't want to be seen utiling tax funds for a project like this. Even if it is low risk, the general populace won't understand that. They will only hear that the county is building a hotel using tax payer funds. Politicians that are up for reelection don't want to deal with that issue. I think, depending on who is elected county mayor, you will hear more about this in early 2013 or you won't hear about it for at least another 4 years.

Thanks for the Info. You always have great info to share.
As for this comment, This is why I hate it when politics gets in the way of development. These officials are selfish if all they can think about are themselves and not the greater good for Salt Lake City and Utah. Wish they would just grow a pare and take the risk, not just hide under a rock til the elections are over. I think in the end people will see that it is a good investment.

[SLC Projects]

This is making me very nervous.

Outdoor Retailer Summer Market outgrowing Salt Lake City
By Dennis Romboy
KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY — With the annual outdoor retailers show apparently Utah's to lose, the head of the Salt Lake convention bureau says the outcome hinges more on business than politics.

Should the outdoor retailers decide to go elsewhere after the current contract expires in 2014, four cities are waiting in the wings. Show organizers have narrowed their list to Denver, Las Vegas, Anaheim and Chicago. Beck said that is for the summer show only, not the smaller Outdoor Retailer Winter Market.

After meeting with Gov. Gary Herbert on Wednesday, Hugelmeyer said he expects the state to set up a process to talk about solutions in 30 days.
"We need certainty and we need it soon," he said.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=2153519...-summer-market-outgrowing-salt-lake-city


Dear City, County and Business leaders.......please don't f**k this up. I will be very pissed if we end of losing the OR to Denver. ( Not that I hate Denver ) But this is OUR show. KEEP IT HERE.

[jedikermit]

If we do lose it, it'll be due to the shortsightedness of our leaders...that'll be millions of dollars lost every year. But we'll blame someone else, and keep electing the same morons anyway.

Crockett would be a disaster as County Mayor. I really hope people can look past the little elephant logo and realize that. It was interesting a few weeks back that most of the other (Republican) mayors in the valley got together and said "vote for McAdams--Crocket doesn't know what he's doing"...but I'm guessing most voters who vote strict party lines didn't see that particular news blurb.

[T-Mac]

More to come tomorrow night once I get them processed.



Future home of the new Broadway theater.



Across the street from the Lotus site on South Temple.

[SandSailor]

Bring it to Denver! We are a better choice anyways!

[TonyAnderson]

Tmac. Wow. That is all.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by SandSailor

Bring it to Denver! We are a better choice anyways!

It's "anyway," not "anyways."

How is Denver a better choice for the ORS?

Thank you T-Mac! Looking forward to seeing the rest of your photos!

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by SandSailor

Bring it to Denver! We are a better choice anyways!

Denver is actually a pretty bad choice. The retailers have product demos at various outdoor recreation centers and Denver's mountains are not within 20 minutes of downtown, like ours are.