Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[DCRes]

Fantastic pics, thank you! So nice to have the inversion gone, hopefully it stays that way.

[UtahProjects]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

I always had my hopes on a few of these local companies/church to one day out grow the buildings they're in right now.
Here are a few to keep an eye out for.......

1. Zions Bank: Moved into the former Gateway East tower back in 2003ish. Not sure how many floors they take up in the rename 19-story Zions bank tower, but being one if not the biggest bank here in Utah I can see them out growing that tower in the future that could lead them to build a taller tower of their own. Kind of like what they are doing in Boise, only twice as tall.
2. LDS Church HQ : We've all known for sometime that the church has out grown it's 28-story church office building. Since then the church as brought out a few other buildings around downtown and the valley to make room. Rumors are that the church will one day building a 2nd church office building tower somewhere near it's first.
3. UWTC : Utah World Trade Center group just brought the former 19-story Eaglegate tower at City Creek Center so it will be awhile before they will want to build their own. Not sure how many floors they take up, but again we have a fast growing company/ies in a limited 19-story building, so I could see them one day building their own skyscraper.
4. Goldman Sachs: Right now they take up 7 out of 21 floors of 222 South Main. Again another company that could out grow and would may want it's very own building.

Just a few right off the top of my head. Maybe there's others out there as well. But those are the biggest four that I can think of. Out of those four I just listed my guess would be that the LDS Church could be the first to to build their own. Why?.......they have the money AND they already outgrown their tower, plus they have offices in several other buildings. Timeline is anybody's guess.

Zion's has office space spread across the valley as well. If they consolidated all their employees in one building, plus banks like to lease out a good portion of the buildings they're in (property is an investment), I could very well see them building SLC's new tallest in the future if they wanted. They're building a new tallest in Boise right now and that's just a regional hq.

[Future Mayor]

What time where you walking around, that all the bars/taverns were also closed? I know for a fact that while not overly busy, most of the bars downtown do a decent amount of business on Sundays. There just isn't a huge need for them to be open much earlier than late afternoon, unless they are one that serves food, such as Gracies, and Maxwells, or one of the other dozen or so bars that are open.

It's not as if nothing was open at City Creek, the full service restaurants (Cheesecake Factory, and Texas de Brazil, and Brio soon) are open on Sundays.

It's not as if nothing ever happens in Downtown Salt Lake City on a Sunday. The Gateway still does a fair amount of business, including all the restaurants and the theaters. Downtown does have occasions when there are large crowds gathered on Sundays, such as The Arts Festival, The Jazz Festival, the Pride Parade, and many other gatherings throughout the year. Of course winter is going to be less busy, but that happens in all winter weather cities in the US. Downtown Cleveland is much more quiet on a winter Sunday than it is on a spring summer of fall Sunday.

[UTPlanner]

I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities for Zions Bank to build a new building in the near future. They do not own their current property, it's owned by City Creek Reserve Inc. which is a for-profit arm of the LDS Church. They do happen to own a large amount of property at the SW corner of 100 S. and Main St. I wouldn't be surprised to see a company like Zions Bank wanting to own their own property.

Also on a different note, the DA's Office is going back to the County Council this week to discuss their proposed new office building on State Street. Hopefully they can get moving on that project.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

What time where you walking around, that all the bars/taverns were also closed? I know for a fact that while not overly busy, most of the bars downtown do a decent amount of business on Sundays. There just isn't a huge need for them to be open much earlier than late afternoon, unless they are one that serves food, such as Gracies, and Maxwells, or one of the other dozen or so bars that are open.

It's not as if nothing was open at City Creek, the full service restaurants (Cheesecake Factory, and Texas de Brazil, and Brio soon) are open on Sundays.

It's not as if nothing ever happens in Downtown Salt Lake City on a Sunday. The Gateway still does a fair amount of business, including all the restaurants and the theaters. Downtown does have occasions when there are large crowds gathered on Sundays, such as The Arts Festival, The Jazz Festival, the Pride Parade, and many other gatherings throughout the year. Of course winter is going to be less busy, but that happens in all winter weather cities in the US. Downtown Cleveland is much more quiet on a winter Sunday than it is on a spring summer of fall Sunday.

There are certain Sundays where there are people downtown - but no, on the whole it's pretty dead ... even in the spring and summer months. Gateway sees traffic, but it's absolutely not comparable to Saturdays and weekdays - especially in the summer.

[UtahProjects]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities for Zions Bank to build a new building in the near future. They do not own their current property, it's owned by City Creek Reserve Inc. which is a for-profit arm of the LDS Church. They do happen to own a large amount of property at the SW corner of 100 S. and Main St. I wouldn't be surprised to see a company like Zions Bank wanting to own their own property.

Also on a different note, the DA's Office is going back to the County Council this week to discuss their proposed new office building on State Street. Hopefully they can get moving on that project.

Are they looking or planning to change the design?

[VelvetElvis]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

What time where you walking around, that all the bars/taverns were also closed? I know for a fact that while not overly busy, most of the bars downtown do a decent amount of business on Sundays. There just isn't a huge need for them to be open much earlier than late afternoon, unless they are one that serves food, such as Gracies, and Maxwells, or one of the other dozen or so bars that are open.

It's not as if nothing was open at City Creek, the full service restaurants (Cheesecake Factory, and Texas de Brazil, and Brio soon) are open on Sundays.

It's not as if nothing ever happens in Downtown Salt Lake City on a Sunday. The Gateway still does a fair amount of business, including all the restaurants and the theaters. Downtown does have occasions when there are large crowds gathered on Sundays, such as The Arts Festival, The Jazz Festival, the Pride Parade, and many other gatherings throughout the year. Of course winter is going to be less busy, but that happens in all winter weather cities in the US. Downtown Cleveland is much more quiet on a winter Sunday than it is on a spring summer of fall Sunday.

If you take the time to read my comments, I said the bars and taverns WERE open. I think you are being a bit defensive. Also, I thought the Cheesecake Factory would be open, so I walked over to it. Nope, it wasn't open in the late afternoon. Nothing on the CCC blocks, facing in or out, was open.

[VelvetElvis]

One other thing Mayor, I didn't leave my comments because I have any particular ax to grind. But it sounds like you would be just as surprised as I was if you found yourself near CCC on a Sunday. Check the CCC website. None of the full service restaurants you mentioned are opened on Sunday. The website lists their Sunday hours as "closed." See what I mean. Like I said, perfectly okay to close on Sundays. But it seems that even residents aren't totally clued into the realities of their own city.

[DMTower]

Cheesecake Factory is open on Sunday. I've eaten there several times.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by StevenF

LEGO STORE LEGO STORE LEGO STORE

Oh, hells yeah!!

I'll give you full credit.

I do think they may have been a better fit at Gateway, but I like the general upgrade thats been happening at Fashion Place. It will find customers there just fine. Like me.

[UTAZLoVer]

Originally Posted by VelvetElvis

If you take the time to read my comments, I said the bars and taverns WERE open. I think you are being a bit defensive. Also, I thought the Cheesecake Factory would be open, so I walked over to it. Nope, it wasn't open in the late afternoon. Nothing on the CCC blocks, facing in or out, was open.

Sorry, I worked at that Cheesecake Factory, and the only days of the year it is closed are Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was open I guarantee it - though you may have tried a wrong door (the one facing 100 South is not the main entrance and sticks sometimes due to settling - they are working on it). The main entrance is on Regent Street facing in to the mall - it opens at 10am on Sunday and has brunch available until 2 and the rest of the full menu available until 10pm.

[UTAZLoVer]

Originally Posted by VelvetElvis

One other thing Mayor, I didn't leave my comments because I have any particular ax to grind. But it sounds like you would be just as surprised as I was if you found yourself near CCC on a Sunday. Check the CCC website. None of the full service restaurants you mentioned are opened on Sunday. The website lists their Sunday hours as "closed." See what I mean. Like I said, perfectly okay to close on Sundays. But it seems that even residents aren't totally clued into the realities of their own city.

From Cheesecake Factory website:



I actually agree with you about the Sunday thing - I had friends in, one from Phoenix and one from Boston, skiing in Park City a few weekends ago....they flew out Sunday and were excited to have me show them SLC before they left. I was so embarrassed, and they were not impressed. Fact is, a lot of people who visit Park City fly out on a Sunday and probably try to do the same thing. They probably also never try again, which is so unfortunate.

But yeah, don't make stuff up about Cheesecake not being open - it is. Texas de Brazil, however, is not.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by UTAZLoVer

I actually agree with you about the Sunday thing - I had friends in, one from Phoenix and one from Boston, skiing in Park City a few weekends ago....they flew out Sunday and were excited to have me show them SLC before they left. I was so embarrassed, and they were not impressed. Fact is, a lot of people who visit Park City fly out on a Sunday and probably try to do the same thing. They probably also never try again, which is so unfortunate.

That's how I look at it. If this was just a passing problem, and not such a big deal, outsiders wouldn't pick up on it, or their view would change with experience. But I've had friends come in, and I've met people who have visited, and the first thing they talk about is how things roll up on Sunday there ... it's almost universal and a lot of it is not hyperbole or done with malice. It's just their view and not something they're used to in their city. And no, I don't think it's just them overreacting, because I've had friends who were under the impression Utah was a dry state and were blown away when they realized how easy it was to get an actual drink here - though, some of the quirks were not unnoticed.

Bottom line, the stereotypes about Utah, and Salt Lake, can be misleading. But on the whole, the Sunday thing really isn't. Downtown is deserted most Sundays. If there's an event, whether it's the Art's Festival or the Gay Pride, it's definitely an exception to the rule ... but generally, it does often look like a post-apocalyptic city on Sundays. The fact City Creek is closed exacerbates this because it is a major draw downtown on the weekend and other days. The Gateway, and maybe sight seeing, is the only legitimate reason to go downtown on a Sunday outside an event that might be hosted down there. So, people do stay away. I see more people out in the 'burbs and on the major streets in the city beyond downtown than I actually ever do downtown on Sundays.

[Lilljemalm]

Now that you're getting a Lego store, time to work on getting an American Girl store in SLC.

[SLC Projects]

Sometimes events keep people from going downtown. Some people don't want to deal with traffic and what not. For me, I like seeing a busy downtown.

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

I don't think it is out of the realm of possibilities for Zions Bank to build a new building in the near future. They do not own their current property, it's owned by City Creek Reserve Inc. which is a for-profit arm of the LDS Church. They do happen to own a large amount of property at the SW corner of 100 S. and Main St. I wouldn't be surprised to see a company like Zions Bank wanting to own their own property.

Also on a different note, the DA's Office is going back to the County Council this week to discuss their proposed new office building on State Street. Hopefully they can get moving on that project.

Does anybody know when the lease is up at the current Zions Bank building or do they own that one?

[scottharding]

I think the problem of a deserted downtown is largely solved the same way most of the other problems are solved... Downtown needs a 24-hour population. If more people live downtown and in its surrounding neighborhoods, and that population is diverse, then places will open on Sunday. City Creek probably never will, but areas around it will, and then City Creek will stand out as the odd hole that goes desolate on Sundays.
But as we say about so many other topics, I think if the population and density increases, more and more places will stay open.

[SLC Projects]

jpstanley's flickr http://farm1.static.flickr.com/26/63045299_10ea756973_b.jpg

The LDS Church Office Building rumor second tower has got me thinking. This is a what if, not what they will do scenario.

Phase One: Tear down the East Wing ( 4-stories ) to make way for a new tower right on state street ranging around say 35-stories.

Phase Two: Tear down the West Wing ( 4-stories ) as well as imploding the 28-story COB.

Phase Three: Build a second 35-story tower on the former West Wing site and then make way for an outside plaza on where the old tower once stood.

Just a idea, though I'm not a big fan of losing skyscrapers this idea saves room and you can then have two towers in the same amount of land then just the one we have now. Not sure how realistic this would be due to the limit parking below ground if it could support having that many workers to what would be a total of 70 floors of office space. Just a fun thought. What do you guys think?

[Makid]

Projects,

Unfortunately, that wouldn't be feasible. The parking is already maxed out and has been for years. They increased parking when they did the Main Street Plaza as well as the Hotel Utah conversion and both parking extensions are full.

The LDS Church provides discounted UTA passes to try to limit the amount of parking needed. I have heard that between 35% and 55% of the employees use UTA daily for work as well as another 5% that carpool.

Now, they could do more to encourage increased UTA and carpooling. That would help but it wouldn't provide enough parking spaces for an additional tower with the existing parking garage size.

Now, there is not parking under the entire existing building. The 2 wings don't have much parking underneath them. The East wing has less parking than the West wing.

If they were to do as you suggest, I would also suggest that they purchase the underground rights for the space under North Temple, that would allow them to increase parking under the street at the same time they expand the existing parking structure for the Projects proposed tower. This would also allow for more parking and a restructuring of the existing parking for the phase 3 tower.

This could also provide better parking access as it could be done in the center of the street as opposed to additional curb cuts.

[slc801]

I got this in an email today. I thought that some people here might find it interesting:

Public input requested on resolutions related to operation, ownership of new Performing Arts Center

The Salt Lake City Council is requesting public input on two resolutions related to the operation and ownership of the new Performing Arts Center. A public hearing on the two resolutions has been scheduled for March 5 at 7 p.m. in the City & County Building, 451 South State Street, room 315.

The resolutions would help create a three-way partnership between Salt Lake County, the City, and the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City, and would create a new interlocal entity (with representatives from the City and County) to manage the facility called the Utah Performing Arts Center Agency (UPACA).

The public is being asked to comment on the creation of an Interlocal Cooperation Agreement that defines the roles and responsibilities of the partners and the new entity in owning and operating the Performing Arts Center (PAC). The proposed agreement is available here in attachments 3 & 4: http://www.slccouncil.com/agendas/2013Agendas/Feb19/021913A4.pdf

The Performing Arts Center will be a 2,500-seat, state-of-the-art theater located in the heart of Utah's Capital City at the 100 South block of Main Street. The performance venue, due to begin initial phases of construction by the end of the year, helps to fulfill community leaders' longtime vision for a vibrant city – rich in the arts – that belongs to all of Utah.

The proposal before the Council would make the Salt Lake County Center for the Arts the PAC operator. The Center for the Arts is currently the primary non-profit operator of the existing cultural venues in downtown Salt Lake City, including the Capitol Theatre, Rose Wagner Theatre and Abravanel Hall.

More information is available here: http://www.utahperformingartscenter.org

Ways to provide comments to the City Council:
Attend the public hearing
Email: www.slcgov.com/councilfeedback
Write: Salt Lake City Council
451 S. State Street, Room 304
P.O. Box 145476
Salt Lake City, UT 84114-5476
Phone: (801) 535-7600 Fax: (801) 535-765124- Hr. Comment Line: (801) 535-7654