Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[RC14]

If I'm not mistaken, Utah is like the 7th most urban state in America by percentage. With about 85% of the population living in urban areas. One of my friends worked for Jon Deer a while back and he clamed Utah was not a good market for them since most of the farmers in Utah are "Hobby Farmers".
I'm wondering if there is really a need for tens of thousands of square feet for our farmers market when we probably don't have nearly as many farmers as Ohio. (I'm guessing this based on our small state population, large percentage of urban dwellers and the desert climate we live in.)

[Old&New]

Well since we're mentioning other possible locations for the public market, what if it were placed in the large warehouse just west of the tracks near the inter-modal hub (salt lake central station). That warehouse building would look super neat with large public market-place signs on the exterior. An elevator and bridge across the tracks could connect the market to the hub. Does anyone know what the large warehouse is currently being used for?

[TedBell]

Originally Posted by Old&New

Well since we're mentioning other possible locations for the public market, what if it were placed in the large warehouse just west of the tracks near the inter-modal hub (salt lake central station). That warehouse building would look super neat with large public market-place signs on the exterior. An elevator and bridge across the tracks could connect the market to the hub. Does anyone know what the large warehouse is currently being used for?

I was at the Intermodal Hub on Thursday night. Couldn't believe how busy that place was. Trains coming and going (and there will be even more trains in December), people everywhere. Seems like a great place for a farmers' market/market-place/public market.

[T-Stan]

Originally Posted by SLCdude

Here are two Youtube videos that are gaining popularity. Both filmed in the Salt Lake area.

Downtown parkour...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAhPaiajwDY&feature=g-all-u

Shooting the tube (under I-215) base of Parleys Canyon.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W0Hzl_KCX2k&list=UUwgURKfUA7e0Z7_qE3TvBFQ&index=2&feature=plcp

That is very cool. I first saw his stuff a few years ago when he and a friend made a parkour video that won the national PTA reflections contest. It is filmed in Bountiful and SLC.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-WGoChvm8I

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by Old&New

Well since we're mentioning other possible locations for the public market, what if it were placed in the large warehouse just west of the tracks near the inter-modal hub (salt lake central station). That warehouse building would look super neat with large public market-place signs on the exterior. An elevator and bridge across the tracks could connect the market to the hub. Does anyone know what the large warehouse is currently being used for?

There are plans to relocate the Central Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility to that site on the other side of the FrontRunner lines from the Intermodal Hub. So the Farmers Market would not work there.

Here is a link to the environmental assessment from May of this year. http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/CentralBusOperationsEAMay2012WithoutAppendixCWithSignature.pdf

[Future Mayor]

Are you talking about the large brick warehouse that is right by that bedspread place? Isn't there also a large metal warehouse on or near there?

[TedBell]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

There are plans to relocate the Central Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility to that site on the other side of the FrontRunner lines from the Intermodal Hub. So the Farmers Market would not work there.

Here is a link to the environmental assessment from May of this year. http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/CentralBusOperationsEAMay2012WithoutAppendixCWithSignature.pdf

I haven't thought this through yet, but here is my initial thought: If UP and D&RGW are willing to give up (sell) this land, it seems very unfortunate that UTA would rather occupy it than make it available as a destination to the many Bus, TRAX, FrontRunner, Greyhound and Amtrak passengers who pass through this area every day.

[chad.farnes]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

There are plans to relocate the Central Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility to that site on the other side of the FrontRunner lines from the Intermodal Hub. So the Farmers Market would not work there.

Here is a link to the environmental assessment from May of this year. http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/CentralBusOperationsEAMay2012WithoutAppendixCWithSignature.pdf

The plan is to demolish the large warehouse to the west of central station. I think that that could make an awesome farmers market, plus it would be a great location next to the central station and frontrunner. I would prefer this a thousand times more than it be demolished and replaced is bus parking.

[Old&New]

Another great place for a year round public market would be on Regent Street in the old newspaper press buildings. This may still be a possibility since moving the theater across the street is a real possibility at this time.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by Old&New

Another great place for a year round public market would be on Regent Street in the old newspaper press buildings. This may still be a possibility since moving the theater across the street is a real possibility at this time.

I don't agree with this location. I like it better closer to the hub of transit, also this location would be too close to Harmon's in my opinion.

[Old&New]

Good point

[scottharding]

I recall having a discussion on here (probably years ago now) about how the city needed to draft some ordinances to entice property owners to either sell or redevelop, rather than sit on their rotting properties or demolish them and make parking lots for tax purposes. Anyone else remember this conversation? We talked mostly about the big parking lot block north the Little America, and the old buildings on the corner of third south and West Temple, and the old Burger place that's been vacant forever across the Gallivan Plaza, and that building was brought up again recently.
Well, it seems like the city is thinking the same thing (or lurked on here and agreed!):
From the Trib:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54842676-78/ordinance-buildings-demolition-proposed.html.csp

Interesting points and counterpoints in there as well.

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by scottharding

I recall having a discussion on here (probably years ago now) about how the city needed to draft some ordinances to entice property owners to either sell or redevelop, rather than sit on their rotting properties or demolish them and make parking lots for tax purposes. Anyone else remember this conversation? We talked mostly about the big parking lot block north the Little America, and the old buildings on the corner of third south and West Temple, and the old Burger place that's been vacant forever across the Gallivan Plaza, and that building was brought up again recently.
Well, it seems like the city is thinking the same thing (or lurked on here and agreed!):
From the Trib:

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54842676-78/ordinance-buildings-demolition-proposed.html.csp

Interesting points and counterpoints in there as well.

Here is eat-a-burger as of 3 weeks ago. I personally don't see any reason to save this one. It would be nice if they had to keep up the property until it is demolished though.


Let us not forget neff floral.. I would like to see this one restored.

[ajiuO]

Here is what I was able to find on the web regarding eat-a-burger..

Built in 1990

1990-1995 Eat-A-Burger
No photos found but here is a different eat-a-burger (the last to close).


1998-2007 Kenji Japanese Grill


2007-2008 Roy Betos Mexican food
Listing photos from 2009



2008-2012 closed / abandoned

August 2012


I wish I would have got more photos. There are broken out windows and the roof on the east side has a pretty big crack.. There is probably a lot of water damage inside.. You can still see the tables that were stacked up for the last time in the windows.

The place was listed until a year or so ago.. I can't find any recent info

[tygr]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

There are plans to relocate the Central Bus Operations and Maintenance Facility to that site on the other side of the FrontRunner lines from the Intermodal Hub. So the Farmers Market would not work there.

Here is a link to the environmental assessment from May of this year. http://www.rideuta.com/uploads/CentralBusOperationsEAMay2012WithoutAppendixCWithSignature.pdf

I think that space, between the intermodal hub and I-15 would be a perfect place for a stadium for either MLB or NFL. It has great easy access to/from freeways, public transit, and the open space between/under the freeway transition ramps could be converted to parking lots for the stadium.

It would also be a great 'gateway' to the city.

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by tygr

I think that space, between the intermodal hub and I-15 would be a perfect place for a stadium for either MLB or NFL. It has great easy access to/from freeways, public transit, and the open space between the freeway transition ramps could be converted to parking lots for the stadium.

It would also be a great 'gateway' to the city.

Only problem is.. There are not any ultra rich guys in the area that are willing to buy an NFL or MLB team.. I don't personally watch either but would opt for an NFL stadium... Because of other large events that could potently be hosted there. That would be awesome for SLC to host wrestlemania or the Super Bowl... The 2 largest attended live events each year.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

Only problem is.. There are not any ultra rich guys in the area that are willing to buy an NFL or MLB team.. I don't personally watch either but would opt for an NFL stadium... Because of other large events that could potently be hosted there. That would be awesome for SLC to host wrestlemania or the Super Bowl... The 2 largest attended live events each year.

Not to mention, home of the 2026 opening and closing ceremonies!

I think I would honestly prefer an NFL or MLB stadium be located in the Grainary District rather than tucked between I-15 and the Intermodal hub. It doesn't allow for a natural flow of pedestrians into the surrounding streets to go to bars and restaurants. I am basing this observation off of my time in Cleveland, Progressive Field (MLB) is right in the heart of downtown while Browns Stadium is between the water front and several sets of tracks, and next to the Rock Hall and a Science Center. The area surrounding Progressive Field is much more developed and active.

As for which I would prefer, I would love an NFL team, but a MLB team would have a much larger economic impact to the city and the surrounding neighborhood. MLB has 81 home games, vs 8 home games for the NFL.

Average Stadium size in the NFL 70,657
Average Attendace 95% 67,124
Total over home schedule 536,990

Average MLB Stadium 43,282
Average Attendance 71.96% 31,145
Total over home schedule 2,522,784

That's over 4 times (MLB over NFL) the amount of people attending games, and putting money into the economy, just based on those actually going to the stadium. Not to mention that NFL has a much more tailgate oriented atmosphere, while that isn't the case for MLB.

[SLC Projects]

I don't see SLC ever having a NFL team. However a MLB team is more realistic.

[SLCdude]

As of yesterday, Salt Lake City holds the Guinness World Record for most people in underwear in one place. After the Utah Undie Run yesterday, 3,316 half-naked people, myself included, gathered at Library Plaza for an official Guinness count!

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by SLCdude

3,316

Yikes, That's alot of garments.