Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Viperlord]

Resolution opposes tax dollars for hotel

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/55907834-90/america-break-convention-hotel.html.csp
If Salt Lake wants to build a convention hotel downtown, it should do it without taxpayer subsidies, or so says SR1, a resolution approved by a Senate committee Tuesday.

Another bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, promoting the convention hotel, is expected to be released this week.

[SLC Projects]

I wonder how many more years this will delay this development? Come on Utah leaders, let's get on the same page here and get this Hotel funded already or we will lose the outdoor retailer.

[Reachforthesky]

Originally Posted by Viperlord

Resolution opposes tax dollars for hotel

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/55907834-90/america-break-convention-hotel.html.csp
If Salt Lake wants to build a convention hotel downtown, it should do it without taxpayer subsidies, or so says SR1, a resolution approved by a Senate committee Tuesday.

Another bill, sponsored by Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, promoting the convention hotel, is expected to be released this week.

So..Just because the people at the Grand America are jealous that this new hotel will receive tax dollar help to be built they are trying to kill the whole thing!! Ok that make so much sense?? lets see so when the Outdoor retailer convention leaves SLC you guys at the Grand America won't lose any customers right?? Really! I mean look at the bigger picture! These guys are seriously letting their envy get in the way! A new hotel will allow the convention to stay in SLC, Allow bigger conventions to come to town, thus giving Grand America and the surrounding Hotels way more business! You have to prime the pump to get the water to flow!!

[Comrade]

The Utah legislature, folks!

[delts145]

Mega-theater success depends on many shows, large audiences

Downtown » Success of Utah Performing Arts Center may depend on its ability to get big Broadway-style shows.

By Christopher Smart | The Salt Lake Tribune

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/55876352-78/lake-salt-county-arts.html.csp

If we build it, will they come?

The planned 2,500-seat Utah Performing Arts Center (UPAC) represents big bucks and a new chapter in how Salt Lake City area taxpayers support the arts.

Its boosters say the mega-theater, scheduled to open near 100 South and Main in March 2016, will raise Salt Lake City’s status and put it on the A-list for first-run Broadway-style touring shows such as "Wicked," "The Lion King" and "The Book of Mormon" musical.

But UPAC’s success is predicated on big audiences attending a lot of shows. The operating agreement between Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County outlines 100 or more performances annually being filled to 60 percent capacity on average. (A touring Broadway show, for example, may tally seven or more performances within a week, depending on matinees.)...

.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by DMTower

Just because someone is voted into power does not mean they have the right to absolute power. I'm betting you vote conservative, but by your logic you should be perfectly fine with every decision that President Obama and the democrats in power make because they were fairly elected. I'm betting this is not the case and you are being a hypocrite... I would also argue that the state legislature isn't very representative of a large percentage of the population. Utah has been known to redistrict in favor of republican candidates.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/52658048-82/district-gerrymandering-republican-utah.html.csp

http://www.standard.net/stories/2011/11/04/gerrymandering-utah-horrific

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/52652922-90/district-utah-lake-salt.html.csp

DM, you are taking this as I am trying to personally attack you, I am not. Please also re-read what I wrote, I said they have the "right" that does NOT mean you agree with what they do.

Now as far as redistricting, and those awful republicans, that is called politics, and it is done everywhere. Whether one agrees with it being right or not usually depends on whether they agree with the same side that is doing it.

[Makid]

What gets me about the hotel is that people keep thinking it is being built with tax dollars. It isn't.

What would happen is that the State, City, County and School District would continue to see the current tax level they do now. The increase in property taxes would be returned to the developer. This is a tax incentive. An incentive only.

The incentive offered is no different than any incentive to entice a company to move to the state or to a given city. No government budget would take a hit for construction costs as the developer would be paying for it.

The incentive is just a way of saying "Hey, we are going to lock that piece of land at the current tax level for the next 20 years. If you build something big there, your property tax won't increase for 20 years." This allows developers to receive a faster ROI and it does encourage development.

I just wish that SLC Council would do something similar for the surface parking lots.

[DCRes]

I noticed last night that the Burger King on the north-east corner of 200 E and 400 S appears to be closed. The sign is gone and the place is gutted. Does anybody know if the land was purchased? Perhaps some development set to take place?

[TedBell]

Originally Posted by DCRes

I noticed last night that the Burger King on the north-east corner of 200 E and 400 S appears to be closed. The sign is gone and the place is gutted. Does anybody know if the land was purchased? Perhaps some development set to take place?

Good riddance to Burger King and their predatory parking enforcement arrangement.

[Future Mayor]

I saw that too, and was wondering the same thing. I wonder if that could be the downtown Dunkin Donuts that has been mentioned.

I would love it if it became something with more density. However with the size of the site it couldn't be to big. I would be happy with something 7-12 stories there. Maybe a building filled with studio and one bedroom market rate apartments. Something slender and stylish, but not to expensive, with a retail shop on the first floor and a floor or two for resident parking.

I know, wishful thinking.

I realize SLC isn't NYC, but as I was watching a Law and Order over the weekend, a murder had been committed in a building that was only 6 or 7 stories high and there was just one apartment on each floor. That would be a great way to encourage more density in small spaces, not that we are short of large spaces right now.

[H4vok]

Originally Posted by DCRes

I noticed last night that the Burger King on the north-east corner of 200 E and 400 S appears to be closed. The sign is gone and the place is gutted. Does anybody know if the land was purchased? Perhaps some development set to take place?

According to the business permit history for that address:

02/25/2013 BLD2013-01042 Commercial Building Permit BURGER KING TRANSITION TO DUNKIN DONUTS

[scottharding]

Originally Posted by jtrent77

Also as far as everyone railing against the liquor laws and how crazy they think the are, remember that there are still very much dry counties in the US to this day that you can't buy liquor at all, thus clearly they are not the "craziest thing around."

I don't think any of those dry counties across the US are home to a major metropolitan area which is also the state capitol, and home to the region's largest entertainment and convention venues.
You can't spin it any other way. Our laws are a joke.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by TedBell

Good riddance to Burger King and their predatory parking enforcement arrangement.

Amen. I went there once for lunch and my car got booted. Never gave my business to them again after that. Good riddance indeed.

[Twothirty8]

It looks like Gateway may be headed in the right direction. Has anyone been able to check out this new gallery? Seems to me like we be gettin' some character in there. And, look at the comment, where the person says they need to turn the kiddie water feature into a parisian style seating area. That wasn't one of you was it? ha.

Read the article

[scottharding]

Originally Posted by H4vok

According to the business permit history for that address:

02/25/2013 BLD2013-01042 Commercial Building Permit BURGER KING TRANSITION TO DUNKIN DONUTS

I'm screwed.

[Sight-Seer]

I know Utah is a Republican state. The average inhabitant really does have some astounding views. I recently had a somewhat heated debate about the Constitution. Any debate with a Republican quickly becomes heated. The average Utahn really believes the Constitution was divinely inspired and hence akin to scripture. They undoubtedly believe the subsequent amendments were a mistake. This isn't really about the constitution. It's about the fact that Republicans don't believe in established science like Kynesian economics and evolution. They don't believe that government spending promotes growth. Hence they don't believe that government / public spending on a convention hotel will create more benefit than the public cost. Somehow they are ignorant of the additional tax dollars a competitive convention center would bring to the state. Unfortunately, the political leaders of this state are absolute reflections of the average citizen and so cherish their ingrained ideas. Like the average Utahn they are ignorant of basic economics. In short, I don't have a problem with using public money to promote the construction of a convention hotel, but the public and the politicians will undoubtedly never go for it. I grew up here and am acutely aware of the vast gulf between the conservative faction and those (like me) with "wild ideas" like advanced economic theory. I can almost hear people saying "They teach economics at BYU." You can learn about something without believing it's a good idea. I'm kind of sick of Utah right know and our dumb politicians. I can almost hear people saying "So move, then." That's the standard response.

[DMTower]

^^^ I can identify with that completely. The thing that those people also forget is that even though we are a minority for the time being, we belong here just as much as they do and our wants and desires for our city and state are just as valid. Just because we don't like the way things are being done doesn't mean we don't like the place we live. In many ways it's the opposite. We love our home and we want to make it better.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by scottharding

I don't think any of those dry counties across the US are home to a major metropolitan area which is also the state capitol, and home to the region's largest entertainment and convention venues.
You can't spin it any other way. Our laws are a joke.

Dallas (not the capitol but larger than Austin).

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Stenar

Dallas (not the capitol but larger than Austin).

Very misleading statement. Dallas County was only partially dry - as there were certain areas of the county that weren't permitted to sell alcohol. But on the whole, it doesn't count as a dry county because there were areas where you could purchase alcohol at a grocery store. But that's now changed. The voters of Dallas went to the polls a couple years ago and voted to allow all stores in Dallas to sell beer and wine - one step ahead of Salt Lake.

http://reason.com/archives/2011/02/01/wet-at-last

Even so, Salt Lake County is not technically a dry county, either. What bugs me is that the state of Texas, from what I can tell, leaves everything up to the county - or city. I wish we'd be able to do that here in Utah. If Salt Lake City wants to sell wine and liquor in stores, they should be allowed to.

[mobius42]

Let me say that I am for tax incentives to promote construction of a convention center hotel. I think the benefits outweigh the costs.

However, if I owned the Grand America I would upset with suggestion of "public money" going toward to this project too. To them this would appear like government becoming a competitor and a competitor with essentially unlimited resources who also sets the rules. I can understand why they'd be upset.

To use the old political ploy that their opinion is based on ignorance is ridiculous. They simply have a different point of view than you. And neither liberals or conservatives have a monopoly on right or wrong let alone truth or lie. Also, I'm no economist, but suggesting Keynesian economics is akin to evolution in scientific fact seems very strange. I understood different economic theories to be more based on opinion like politics rather than evolution which is proven scientific fact (despite the protests of creationists who have no evidence on their side).