Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[(Eco)nomy_404]

Originally Posted by StevenF

I don't think the numbers will look as nice with the Hostess plant shut down. losing 600 jobs in 1 day isn't good. I am pretty sure the opening of Adobe is the largest contributor for the last month or two's job growth.

I would disagree that such isolated events tipped the overall trend one way or another. 600 job cuts will not tip Utah back into recession by any means. Likewise, even if Adobe added 1,000 jobs, the state still would have created more than 4,000 just this month without those. Over 35,000 jobs have been created in Utah so far this year, with positive net job growth every single month of 2012. I am pretty confident that next month`s numbers will not dramatically alter course as a result of either event.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Makid

SLC Council seeks to reduce surface parking lots downtown.
SLC » City Council aims to trim numbers, create a vibrant core.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55245021-78/parking-lots-downtown-surface.html.csp

Sorry Makid, I now realize that you had already posted this article last night. Oh well, it's one of those topics that bears repeating over and over again, until it's resolved.

SLC Council seeks to reduce surface parking lots downtown

SLC » Council members hoping to ban destruction of buildings for surface lots.

By Christopher Smart| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Nov 20 2012 08:59 pm • Updated 7 hours ago

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55245021-78/parking-lots-surface-downtown.html.csp

In its quest to make downtown more vibrant, Salt Lake City is opening another front on its war on blight — taking aim at surface parking lots.

About 20 percent — some 55 acres — of downtown’s central business district is paved over for surface parking lots that planners say suck the life out of the city’s pedestrian experience.

PhotosAt a glance—

Online: What’s in demolition, parking lot ordinances?

Read the Salt Lake City Council’s demolition and parking lotordinances. > bit.ly/slcparking

Earlier this fall, the City Council began to formulate a pair of ordinances that would make it difficult for building owners to demolish structures without plans to replace them. The newest proposal would prohibit demolition of buildings to make way for surface parking lots...

(Al Hartmann | The Salt Lake Tribune) The Salt Lake City Council is formulating an ordinance that would disallow building owners to tear down their structures for the purpose of creating surface parking lots. The city block of 400 South to 500 South between Main Street and West Temple is a pay parking lot with plenty of space but not many cars on the south end of the lot where the Hotel Newhouse used to stand. It was torn down in 1983. A quarter century later, the entire block is still a parking lot.

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[Lilljemalm]

Originally Posted by delts145

SLC Council seeks to reduce surface parking lots downtown

SLC » Council members hoping to ban destruction of buildings for surface lots.

By Christopher Smart| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Nov 20 2012 08:59 pm • Updated 7 hours ago

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Bravo!!!

[CountyLemonade]

Oh. My. Heck. The comments on that Trib article are dizzyingly, breathtakingly stupid. I really got dizzy reading them. I cannot fathom how people can be so, so naive.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by CountyLemonade

Oh. My. Heck. The comments on that Trib article are dizzyingly, breathtakingly stupid. I really got dizzy reading them. I cannot fathom how people can be so, so naive.

Boy no kidding. You'd think if people hate Salt Lake, Mormons and Utah as a whole then why the hell are they even living here? Do these idiots really believe that nobody goes downtown anymore?

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

I would disagree that such isolated events tipped the overall trend one way or another. 600 job cuts will not tip Utah back into recession by any means. Likewise, even if Adobe added 1,000 jobs, the state still would have created more than 4,000 just this month without those. Over 35,000 jobs have been created in Utah so far this year, with positive net job growth every single month of 2012. I am pretty confident that next month`s numbers will not dramatically alter course as a result of either event.

I totally agree that 600 jobs wont tip us back into a recession and never said it would. I just stated that the numbers wont be as nice. Even with Hostess cutting 600 jobs in Utah, I totally believe we will still create more jobs than are lost. Where I am working it is one of Utah's fastest growing companies. After a client announces their partnership with them on Tuesday it is going to grow even faster.

[(Eco)nomy_404]

Originally Posted by StevenF

I totally agree that 600 jobs wont tip us back into a recession and never said it would. I just stated that the numbers wont be as nice. Even with Hostess cutting 600 jobs in Utah, I totally believe we will still create more jobs than are lost. Where I am working it is one of Utah's fastest growing companies. After a client announces their partnership with them on Tuesday it is going to grow even faster.

Don't get me wrong, it's really too bad that those employees at Hostess will lose their jobs. Those in Utah, though, will be lucky to live in such a healthy, rapidly growing labor market. Those 600 jobs will be more than off-set by Adobe's 1,000 easily. We are very fortunate to live in the state with the 5th lowest rate in the nation! Even for those of us who are employed, having a healthy labor market is great for upward mobility to higher-paying jobs!

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

I don`t mean to bring politics onto this blog, but I have recently heard some speculation that the economies of the more conservative "red" states are superior to those of the more liberal "blue" states. Obviously there are many factors that go into what could define a state as having a "strong" or "weak" economy. If you were to look solely at unemployment rates, however, it appears to not have much correlation at all as to how the majority of such states`electorates align themselves politically.

Of the 25 lowest state unemployment rates, 13 voted "red" while 12 voted "blue" the past couple election cycles. Sure Utah, a very Republican-leaning state, has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the nation. Even so, Democratic-leaning states like Iowa also boast some of the best unemployment rates in the country. The South is heavily dominated by conservative political ideology yet has a conglomerate of some of the highest unemployment rates in the nation. Fiercely liberal New England is home to some of the lowest and highest unemployment rates in the nation with Vermont (5.5%) and New Hampshire (5.7%) standing side-by-side some of the highest rates in the country like Rhode Island (10.4%) and New Jersey (9.7%). Nevada currently holds the highest unemployment rate in the nation, yet it is far from being the most liberal state. Looking at this one economic barometer alone, it seems pretty clear to me that factors such as population growth, age distributions, diversification of economic sectors, etc are reflected more in the economic conditions of certain states than political ideologies are. I imagine if one were to look at other economic statistics, the non-political correlation would be similar between states.

Sorry for the tangent, I just found such speculation to be rather ridiculous.

Stats are meant to be manipulated. For instance ...Six of the top seven best unemployment rates by state are red. Six of the bottom seven are blue.

[DMTower]

^^^ and no states are completely red OR blue.

[wrendog]

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Have a great holiday!

[ctobsl]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Happy Thanksgiving, everybody! Have a great holiday!

You Too Wrendog...!

[Old&New]

Happy Thanksgiving!

• Video Link

[delts145]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

Don't get me wrong, it's really too bad that those employees at Hostess will lose their jobs. Those in Utah, though, will be lucky to live in such a healthy, rapidly growing labor market. Those 600 jobs will be more than off-set by Adobe's 1,000 easily. We are very fortunate to live in the state with the 5th lowest rate in the nation! Even for those of us who are employed, having a healthy labor market is great for upward mobility to higher-paying jobs!

There seems to be a lot of interest from other foody giants in buying Hostess, or at least major facets(brands) of it's business. I would hope that a State like Utah, which is far more business friendly and competitive will emerge from a buyout with it's local brands intact. Maybe this will even be an opportunity for Hostess to expand in Utah, under different ownership.

It's crazy some of the stories, like not being able to deliver Wonder Bread, and Twinkies on the same delivery truck. Then, once the truck arrives, the driver is not allowed to unload the product. This kind of costly union inefficiency won't be allowed under new ownership, so States like California will lose the support of the new company, whereas a State like Utah should reap the benefit of relocation. Utah is a very strategically located State for efficient distribution, in addition to it's highly reputable workforce and politically friendly business climate. Of course, it's all contingent on Hostess remaining in the U.S.

[delts145]

Utahns ready to savor a Trader Joe’s of their own



Retail » Organic-laden chain with a cult following set to make SLC debut on Nov. 30.

By Vince Horiuchi| The Salt Lake Tribune
First Published Nov 24 2012 01:01 am • Last Updated Nov 24 2012 01:01 am

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/55309553-79/joe-trader-store-lake.html.csp

Jenny Sheets’ patients at the Davis County psychiatric ward will just have to wait if they want a counseling session with her Friday morning. Sheets is going grocery shopping.

You’ve heard of rabid fans standing in line to buy the next iPhone or to see the newest "Twilight" movie. But have you ever heard of anyone waiting in line to be the first inside a new grocery store?

That’s what’s expected to happen when Sheets and other manic followers of the cult grocery chain Trader Joe’s arrive for the chain’s first opening ever in Utah. The doors open at 8 a.m. Friday for the grand opening in Salt Lake City at 634 E. 400 South (inside The Family Center at East Downtown)...

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[delts145]

The J.W.Marriott Convention Center Hotel, Austin, Texas - Under Construction - 408 Ft / 34 Floors

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

The building model that was brought to city hall for their rezoning presentation.


Photo by Greg


Photo by Greg

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[scottharding]

Where is that being built?

[delts145]

Hey Scott, That's the new convention hotel for Austin, Texas. I thought it was interesting, because it pretty much would have about the same application for what Salt Lake would be needing right now. I think I like the exterior treatment a little better than Denver, definitely better than Phoenix.

[Future Mayor]

I would absolutely love it if we got something similar to that. Looks like it would fit perfectly on the RWP site.

I wonder if Marriott would hesitate to be involved considering there are already two Marriott hotels in downtown SLC. Yes I realize the J.W. is the top of the line, but I'm sure it would still be taken into consideration.

[Merewether]

Observed vacant retail-type properties within one block walk of City Creek Center perimeter.

Perhaps this should have been done as percentage of occupied frontage, but this will have to do as a measure of possible impact of City Creek Center. General message: much better than Fall 2011 but still some gaps.

NE sector
36 N State (former Lladro repair)
105 E South Temple (former Italian tailor)
136 E South Temple (Skool Lunch till recently)
141ish E S Temple (long vacant restaurant space east side of Elks Bldg)
160 E South Temple (Mr Mac temp home / long vacant Arents)

SE sector
few building vacancies, large vacant lots on east side of State (parking), east side of Harmon's. Landscaped Harmon's Park west of grocery presumably a place-holder. Have not inventoried Regent St. as unsure of southern extent of Utah Performing Arts Center, although the former Bad Ass Coffee (east of Carl's ) should be noted as part of one of the forum's favorite examples of an underperforming corner.

S sector
Has filled in the most during past year; there is now an almost solid string of retailers on west side of Main St north from Shapiro's at 200 S. Once the presumed UPAC frontage from 101 - 135 S is put aside, and counting the Neumont University and Eva Boulangerie projects in hand,
only real vacancies at 163 S Main (between Bayleaf and Lamb's)
old Utah Theatre
Zion Bank parking , although a few occupants look like place-holders.

I feel sorry for the long-established Bennion Jewelers, displaced when ZCMI Center was demolished and now likely to have their new location taken for UPAC. Hope they can find another Main Street location.

SW sector
parking west of Zion Bank
24 W 100 S (UTA service center until recently)
63 W 100 S former Bennett Paint
107 S West Temple (long vacant Brownstone Clothier)
121 S West Temple DV8 lot
123 S West Temple (various defunct restaurants)
uncertain of status of lawn west of substation.

W sector
old bus station site / recent CCC contractors' yard west of Plaza Hotel .

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I would absolutely love it if we got something similar to that. Looks like it would fit perfectly on the RWP site.

I wonder if Marriott would hesitate to be involved considering there are already two Marriott hotels in downtown SLC. Yes I realize the J.W. is the top of the line, but I'm sure it would still be taken into consideration.

Marriott is interesting that way. They seem to have multiple large hotels these days in just about every downtown in the country. Even if Marriott continued to manage their two larger properties in Downtown SLC, they probably wouldn't flinch at also setting up management of the Convention Hotel.