Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[delts145]

Architects gather public input for new performing arts center

Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker makes an announcement regarding the new Utah Performing
Arts Center proposed to be built on Salt Lake City's Main Street between 100 and 200 South in Salt Lake City on
Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. HKS Architects will design the center and Layton Construction will build it. (Laura Seitz,
Deseret News)

By Wendy Leonard, Deseret News, September 14, 2012

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86556...nput-for-new-performing-arts-center.html

SALT LAKE CITY — Thoughts of street-level rehearsal spaces, a vibrant roof terrace and eclectic sidewalk cafes
took center stage Thursday as members of the community began building a vision for the city's new performing arts
center.

In addition to a state-of-the-art venue for first-run touring Broadway shows and other events, city officials want the
$110-million project to not only invite patrons, but activate an otherwise expressionless portion of downtown, between
Main Street and Regent Street and 100 and 200 South...

...Residents and stakeholders who participated in the community workshop want the 2,500-seat theater to
compliment cultural art options that are already present downtown, but also bring something new to the city. The
possibility of street performers, art galleries, restaurants and shops, as well as other social opportunities and
aesthetic properties were all part of the discussion.

The ideas will help architects begin the modeling process and move the project forward. Future workshops will be posted
on the project website, at www.newperformingartscenter.org.

"We are thrilled to be at this stage," said city spokeswoman Helen Langan. She said community members also played a
key part in the design and development of the city's Public Works Building that is now under construction...

.

[Orlando]

Somebody please attend the meeting and advocate for the office tower to be built straddling and above the performing arts center. Here are the advantages of doing so:
1- a taller tower for a more prominent Salt Lake skyline
2- it has a smaller footprint and reduces the amount of buildings to be knocked down especially the Tribune Building
3- it would unify the design and especially the lobby/entrance of both buildings

[DMTower]

^^^ Can the tower structurally handle being on top of such a large open space?

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by DMTower

^^^ Can the tower structurally handle being on top of such a large open space?

Yes. It would be a little unusual. But, it can be done, and would actually be a cool building.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Somebody please attend the meeting and advocate for the office tower to be built straddling and above the performing arts center. Here are the advantages of doing so:
1- a taller tower for a more prominent Salt Lake skyline
2- it has a smaller footprint and reduces the amount of buildings to be knocked down especially the Tribune Building
3- it would unify the design and especially the lobby/entrance of both buildings

The forum was last night, and I did attend.
1- The tower is planned for the corner of 100 S and Main
2- The Tribune building is not part of the site plan, it is not being knocked down, the property isn't even controlled by the same group, and except for one incorrectly drawn map, has NEVER been part of the plan.
3- Both pieces are being designed in conjunction with each other

Regent St will not be ignored in the design process and is actually one of the main talking points at the meeting last night. There was suggestions of some shared lobby space with the tower and the theater, the shared space could also include a mid-block walkway from Regent to Main. The architects, city and county are all very aware that Regent is a critical connector for Salt Lake, from City Creek to Gallivan.

There are many issues that would arrise from placing the tower above the auditorium, here are a few I can think of: 1) structural support for a tall tower would be nearly impossible over such a large expansive open space (as has been brought up). 2) The tower would look odd placed in the middle of the site, or if placed at the edge of the sidewalk, where would the lobby be? 3) The theater will be owned and operated by the county, and the tower will be owned and opperated by a private developer.

The architect will take the suggestions made in the meeting last night and come up with some initial concepts and massings and will have another public meeting in November.

One cool suggestion that one of the groups had was to include some housing on Regent St above retail that could be used either exclusively or partially for visiting cast, such as directors, and leads. To make this a destination theater that tours want to come to because of the many benefits it has for the show.

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

The architect will take the suggestions made in the meeting last night and come up with some initial concepts and massings and will have another public meeting in November.

I am going to take that as a really good chance at some renderings in November.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by StevenF

I am going to take that as a really good chance at some renderings in November.

Some very rough renderings, and massings but at least it will be something.

[Lilljemalm]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Some very rough renderings, and massings but at least it will be something.

Idea for Regent Street between 100 S and 200 S: retractable roof like City Creek has. It could be a draw as people would think it is a continuation of the City Creek environment and draw people southward to Gallivan. Line Regent with cafes and a few shops (both sides of the street).

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Some very rough renderings, and massings but at least it will be something.

How tall did it look?

[Future Mayor]

the massings will be in the next meeting, as for the tower though, that may not be included in the massings as nothing has officially been announced, I think lobby area's may be included.




While I like your enthusiasm, I would hate to see a retractable roof over Regent St. With the right layout of the theater and potential retail opportunities (as you mentioned, on both sides of the street), including open space, pocket parks, even including lights strung across the street and banners and blade signs, sidewalk dining, those are things that can draw peoples eyes. I think Regent simply needs to visually catch someones attention. People are drawn to activity.

One thing that I suggested as that Regent should really reflect the atmosphere of a festival street and then when a show is in town it can step it up a notch. Such as when Wicked is in town, Regent street has banners that promote the show and at night, the street would be illuminated green. Or if Avenue Q was at the UPAC, store fronts on Regent could mimick the back drop of the show, things like that.

One major point that came up at the table I was at, was Regent needs to have a more "adult" theme, bars, late night restaurants, lounges, things like that. A place that people will go both before and after the show.

Another suggestion that came out of last night is that UPAC is tagged as the center piece of the performing arts community, so not only would the theater and Regent St promote the current UPAC show, it could also have promotions (banners, posters, etc) for shows at the other locations, this would help to promote Capital, Rose Wagner, even Kingsbury, Pioneer and Grand. People are going to know about UPAC performances, and this cross marketing would then inform them of all the other goings on in the performing arts.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

the massings will be in the next meeting, as for the tower though, that may not be included in the massings as nothing has officially been announced, I think lobby area's may be included.

Whoops... I read your previous post as meaning you had seen massings and renderings at the meeting.

[scottharding]

Future Mayor, I like everything you said in your last post very much. I think those are excellent ideas.

[delts145]

Photo bump, A few nice pics I ran across this morning

Link: http://newd7000user.wordpress.com/tag/jarviewalk/

Posted by newd7000user in #jarviewalk, 52 Week Challenge 2012, City Shots, General, HDR, Macro, Nikon D7000, Photo Tips, Photowalk, Portrait, Urbex

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

The forum was last night, and I did attend.
1- The tower is planned for the corner of 100 S and Main
2- The Tribune building is not part of the site plan, it is not being knocked down, the property isn't even controlled by the same group, and except for one incorrectly drawn map, has NEVER been part of the plan.
3- Both pieces are being designed in conjunction with each other

Regent St will not be ignored in the design process and is actually one of the main talking points at the meeting last night. There was suggestions of some shared lobby space with the tower and the theater, the shared space could also include a mid-block walkway from Regent to Main. The architects, city and county are all very aware that Regent is a critical connector for Salt Lake, from City Creek to Gallivan.

There are many issues that would arrise from placing the tower above the auditorium, here are a few I can think of: 1) structural support for a tall tower would be nearly impossible over such a large expansive open space (as has been brought up). 2) The tower would look odd placed in the middle of the site, or if placed at the edge of the sidewalk, where would the lobby be? 3) The theater will be owned and operated by the county, and the tower will be owned and opperated by a private developer.

The architect will take the suggestions made in the meeting last night and come up with some initial concepts and massings and will have another public meeting in November.

One cool suggestion that one of the groups had was to include some housing on Regent St above retail that could be used either exclusively or partially for visiting cast, such as directors, and leads. To make this a destination theater that tours want to come to because of the many benefits it has for the show.

Did you suggest having the eat-a-burger building ripped down by the end of the month?

[Old&New]

A large theater in its current proposed location and a vibrant Regent Street is an oxymoron: loading docks, loading docks, loading docks. Don't forget them. Also, I love how the Deseret News article chose the words "eclectic sidewalk cafe's" to describe what would be tiny retail spaces.

[Makid]

A large theater in its current proposed location and a vibrant Regent Street is an oxymoron: loading docks, loading docks, loading docks. Don't forget them. Also, I love how the Deseret News article chose the words "eclectic sidewalk cafe's" to describe what would be tiny retail spaces.

Why can't they both be there? The loading docks can be used early morning (4am to 6am) and then Regent St can be used the rest of the time.

Why does it have to be one way or the other?

The Capital Theater uses 2nd South a lot in the early mornings to load and unload items. What you are saying is that we should just give up on 2nd South because there is a theater there?

If the theater is moved across the street, they would need access on 1st South. or they would need to acquire a large right of way from a land banker that wants a large hotel on his lots.

If they can't get the right of way, are we going to abandon 1st South since they will need to use it for loading and unloading?

What about 1st South just east of State St? There is a loading dock there for Harmon's. Lets forget about that area ever being walkable or usable there is a loading dock there. Same with 1st South between 2nd and 3rd west. Lots of loading docks there.

What I am getting at is that loading docks happen to be in more places than people think, yet the areas can be vibrant and many of the areas are vibrant now. Why can't the same be said of Regent Street? Why is it so special that it can't enjoy the same status as other streets? To thin? Nope, other cities manage to do it with small side streets, the same as Europe.

I am sorry that you don't like the current location. I know you want to believe it will be moved across the street but it won't be. No one is going to reimburse the city $18 Million that has already been spent or allocated to the current selected location.

If there was a large push by private developers to move the theater, we would have heard about it in the press by now. No developer nor group of developers would be able to hold that much of a secret without saying something by now.

The city won't change their plans as they are locked into the location. They are forming a CDA on the block of the selected location to assist with funding. If there was really a developer wanting to move the theater, they would have approached the city by now to get a chance at the CDA money to help their construction costs.

Until I see or hear about this from a source that is documented such as the press, city council meetings or the like, I will never believe that there is an alternative plan.

[Stenar]

I think he's just saying that the space is too tight for both loading docks and cafés. I think they can make it work, however.

Originally Posted by Makid

Why can't they both be there? The loading docks can be used early morning (4am to 6am) and then Regent St can be used the rest of the time.

Why does it have to be one way or the other? ...

[Old&New]

Close. Loading docks aren't just that, they include a large drive off of regent street. There will be at least three docks. Touring shows prefer venues with easy drive-up/back-up acces to multiple docks. You can bet if this theater is built in this location that they will make it as convenient as possible, meaning they'll have a large drive, which will be at an angle, taking up too much street frontage of mid-to-south Regent Street. That will be a huge break in the vibe of regent street. I thought the goal was to make a seemless connection between ccc and gallivan center. The current plan simply does not meet those goals.

But enough about Regent street, let's talk about Main street.

All the main street frontage of the new theater will be lobby, meaning that when the venue is not in use, that street frontage will be dead. There is no way to set the theater farther back and put retail up front because the back of the theater is right up against Regent Street, barely saving room for a few, very shallow retail spaces which are about the size of a Java Hut. Main street would be better off if there was retail or a more active use (such as a museum) along that stretch of Main Street.

[Old&New]

But there is a soliton (I'm not just complaining, these are valid arguments) people are working with landowners on the "theater block" across the street to build the theater and a tower there. The theater would face 100 south (closer to the convention center), and the tower would face Main Street between the beer hive and the Zion's bank. Regent street will eventually be developed without the theater, and in a much better way.

[ajiuO]

I don't see a problem with Main Street. The bay leaf cafe and beer hive and all that will still be there... As long as they do something nice looking.

I'm not at all convinced on regent street though. I recently walked down the street to check out the retail in the base of the parking lot... I wasn't to impressed with regent street at all. Half the street has ugly loading docks (the half that is not being ripped down). The parking garage is ugly, closes it in and there isn't much you can do with it.


Short of ripping down the parking lot.. I don't think there is a lot that can be done to make regent street feel welcoming... It's a back alley... It's to bad because it would make a nice connection from city creek to galivon

I don't know... Maybe if the parking garage were Cladded in glass and made to look more like a building... It might help a bit.. But still there isn't the possibility of a lot of viable retail back there... I'm not hanging out there.. That's for sure... And I don't care to go down the street to visit burrito and hotdog stands either... Maybe the architects can make me more optimistic..


I'm totally excited for the Main Street side though