Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[ToysNoiz]

With the Performing Arts and Dance Centers, Air, Comic Con, and other developments in the county, I think that Salt Lake City will become the arts capital of the US. Aside from New York and Chicago. Let's hope that the Air building actually goes up, though. I'm still waiting for The Cascade to go off hold.

[delts145]

Commercial real estate market reflects strong local economy, report says

By Jasen Lee, Deseret News

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86558...ts-strong-local-economy-report-says.html

SALT LAKE CITY — The commercial real estate market in the Salt Lake Valley is reflective of the strong local economy.

The growth is keeping overall demand for commercial space steady, and new construction continues to occur in both the industrial and office markets, a new report stated.

Data from commercial real estate firm CBRE indicate that average lease rates during the second quarter of 2013 have increased slightly across both segments.

Utah’s commercial real estate market continues to perform well and is healthier than the U.S. economy, the report stated. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, statewide unemployment decreased to 4.6 percent compared with the U.S. unemployment of 7.6 percent, with total employment in the Salt Lake area rising 3 percent...

.

[John Martin]

Still an absolute mess, but should be open by the 20th.

[jedikermit]

Have we heard anything about an open house for it?

[ToysNoiz]

Someone finally took new photos for the Wikipedia "List Of Tallest Buildings in Salt Lake City" page. A lot of the buildings look better in these photos than I've ever seen them in person.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_tallest_buildings_in_Salt_Lake_City

[Comrade]

Hard to imagine that, between 1966-1973, this was the tallest 'tower' in downtown Salt Lake City:



Also, from 1894 to 1973, the City-County Building was apparently the tallest building in the state. Crazy.

[SLC Projects]

No way the Grand America Hotel stands at 395FT as our 3rd tallest.

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

With the Performing Arts and Dance Centers, Air, Comic Con, and other developments in the county, I think that Salt Lake City will become the arts capital of the US. Aside from New York and Chicago. Let's hope that the Air building actually goes up, though. I'm still waiting for The Cascade to go off hold.

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I'm not sure if I'ld rank SLC anywhere close to NYC or Chicago.

Btw, what Comic Con development are you talking about?

[John Martin]

That list is rife with errors. Several of those heights are wrong.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by Orlando

I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I'm not sure if I'ld rank SLC anywhere close to NYC or Chicago.

Btw, what Comic Con development are you talking about?

I'm referring to the Salt Lake Comic Con at the Expo Center in Sandy. Not a new building, but a cultural developement. I'd rank Salt Lake with San Diego. Visiting San Diego yearly, I'm often reminded of Salt Lake and it's people & art. San Diego is just on the ocean and always sunny. But I prefer SLC over SD. As someone who is in the arts, I am very hopeful for Salt Lake City.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

No way the Grand America Hotel stands at 395FT as our 3rd tallest.

That's what I thought, too. I assume that the flag pole atop the building counts toward the height.

[Scraperdude801]

I think Grand America is indeed that tall, with the flagpole, but it seems a lot smaller in the skyline because it is the furthes downhill.

[Makid]

Looking at this on the way in this morning, I can see that the height is close to 400' for the Grand America, if we count the flag pole on the top.

As has been said previously, it is deceptive in that there is nothing around it to really gauge its height and it is further down hill from the Wells Fargo building.

Once development occurs closer to the Grand America I think the height will be more noticeable.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

I'm referring to the Salt Lake Comic Con at the Expo Center in Sandy. Not a new building, but a cultural developement. I'd rank Salt Lake with San Diego. Visiting San Diego yearly, I'm often reminded of Salt Lake and it's people & art. San Diego is just on the ocean and always sunny. But I prefer SLC over SD. As someone who is in the arts, I am very hopeful for Salt Lake City.

You have every right to be proud of Salt Lake City's performing arts scene ToysNoiz. Generally in the performing arts Salt Lake City is above San Diego, particularly in the fields of Dance and Choral Programs. Salt Lake City out ranks most major metros in the performing arts, and has been lauded by the New York Times on a regular basis.

If you were to take in to account the opportunities available per capita for each budding performer, Chicago doesn't even hold a candle to Salt Lake City.

[jimmycdii]

Originally Posted by delts145

You have every right to be proud of Salt Lake City's performing arts scene ToysNoiz. Generally in the performing arts Salt Lake City is above San Diego, particularly in the fields of Dance and Choral Programs. Salt Lake City out ranks most major metros in the performing arts, and has been lauded by the New York Times on a regular basis.

If you were to take in to account the opportunities available per capita for each budding performer, Chicago doesn't even hold a candle to Salt Lake City.

And yet, SLC isn't known far and wide as an arts destination. I think this is worth discussing because that could change, but I don't think adding a big venue, etc, is really going to do it.

As I look at cities with very strong arts as a major share of the economy, I see strong arts ecosystems. For example, they have multiple arts schools — so students, innovators, low wage content producers. I have friends in NYC, Chicago, Boston and LA at these sorts of schools. Then, there are many places for young, arts-oriented people to get jobs as they progress. And finally, there are bigger, wealthier organizations that fund content production and distribution (distribution seems like a oft-overlooked key here). I don't really see much of that in SLC or Utah. Which is sad, because I love the arts. Hence, 99 percent of the people I know who are really serious about a career in art (be it painting, film, music, etc) have left Utah.

It may be true that there are more opportunities for dancers in SLC than in San Diego. But if you're really serious about dancing (and you're good) neither of those cities are going to be your top choice.

Adding a first-run broadway theater is awesome. I fully support it. But it seems like it's impact on SLC's arts ecosystem will be similar to adding a chain restaurant to a city's culinary ecosystem. So, minimal.

[scottharding]

I think one of the biggest obstacles for Salt Lake as a major arts and cultural center is the fact that Utah is a right-to-work, anti-union state. I'm not trying to bring up a political argument here, just stating a fact, having worked in the arts scene in many capacities in many cities in America.
On the one hand, it's a great place to start a career in the arts, whether as an actor, writer, dancer, musician or opera singer, because the non-union workforce allows budding artists who are not yet union candidates to get work. But once that artist gains enough professional experience to become a union member, then staying in Salt Lake is a poor decision, because they will not work here. They must move to a major city like Chicago, New York, LA, Seattle, etc., a city state that honors and supports those unions.
In that sense, a very limited number of "professionals" leave Utah to advance their careers and Utah ends up with a relatively "amateur" art scene. To clarify, I'm not talking about the level of talent, just the terms on paper. I know there are exceptions, but this is generally the rule.

[delts145]

Scott, I'm sure you did not mean to imply this, and I'm not speaking of artists and full time employment opportunities outside of the L.A./New York markets. Sure, the typical artist must also be a teacher/professor etc.
However, just for the sake of clarification, and I'm sure you will agree, there is absolutely nothing amateurish about Ballet West, RDT, Ririe Woodbury, The Utah Symphony, or the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, etc. They are among the pinnacle on the continent, and in some cases even the world. Even Utah Opera is considered a top tier among regional companies. No, it's not the Met, but how many companies on this continent are? The bottom line is, Wasatch audiences are treated to a quality of performance that is hitting waay above the average American Metro. The variety of genres, whether ballroom dance or ballet or community theater, is astoundingly rich, varied and of a very high quality. Equally important is the fact that this high quality is considered far more accessible to the average Dick and Jane than many larger Metros.

As far as the film industry. Well, lets keep our fingers crossed regarding what's suppose to be happening in Park City over the next couple of years. I'm hoping the flood gates are about to burst for Utah's film industry. Still, even great talent in Vancouver or Canada in general, or even New York, must maintain a very solid business/agent establishment in Los Angeles. Whether the filming is in New Mexico, Texas, Utah or the Carolinas, the casting and dollar dicisions and distribution are usually going to emanate from L.A.

I am a proud member of the Union, but even here in L.A. it's a struggle. The other day on a set my rate was not even posted on the contract voucher. Big budget T.V. Pilot, famous producer and director. I must have had to ask a dozen people what the rate was, and no one could give me an exact answer. I came to find out that I was surrounded by Union people, whispering that they were working NON-UNION, because they couldn't find work otherwise. Any given project will only hire what Union Members they absolutely are required by law to, and here in a city where over 25,000 wannabe's a year step off the bus, the base requirement doesn't even begin to cover the Union members looking for work.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by jimmycdii

And yet, SLC isn't known far and wide as an arts destination. I think this is worth discussing because that could change, but I don't think adding a big venue, etc, is really going to do it.

As I look at cities with very strong arts as a major share of the economy, I see strong arts ecosystems. For example, they have multiple arts schools — so students, innovators, low wage content producers. I have friends in NYC, Chicago, Boston and LA at these sorts of schools. Then, there are many places for young, arts-oriented people to get jobs as they progress. And finally, there are bigger, wealthier organizations that fund content production and distribution (distribution seems like a oft-overlooked key here). I don't really see much of that in SLC or Utah. Which is sad, because I love the arts. Hence, 99 percent of the people I know who are really serious about a career in art (be it painting, film, music, etc) have left Utah.

It may be true that there are more opportunities for dancers in SLC than in San Diego. But if you're really serious about dancing (and you're good) neither of those cities are going to be your top choice.

Adding a first-run broadway theater is awesome. I fully support it. But it seems like it's impact on SLC's arts ecosystem will be similar to adding a chain restaurant to a city's culinary ecosystem. So, minimal.

I completely understand you. I'm just hopeful for the next 4-10 years. I do think that the Performing arts center will be a huge attraction in SLC. It's a big step up from other theaters and stadiums in the county. Besides dance performances, it'll bring many comedians/comedy groups, bands, presentations, and plays. I have no interest in dance, so I'm really excited for other entertainers to come over to Utah. But the state does need more of an art focus in the schools. I myself will probably go outside of Utah for higher schooling. The start of the Salt Lake Comic Con will sent thousands to the city.

[SLC Projects]

For years the height of the Grand America Hotel has been a mistery. For what ever reason nobody seem to know just how tall is the GAH is and that years of google searches had came up empty.
A few years ago I send out an email to the people at Grand America asking them how tall is their hotel. Didn't think I would get a reply, but to my surprise.....I did. Wish I still have the email, but she said something on the lines that the building stands around 330 FT, but it didn't count the flag pole. So I guess if the flag pole is 65FT then that would bring it to 395FT.
But yea, it's going to be hard to tell since the building is down hill from the rest of the skyline and that there isn't much tall buildings around it. Wish I could just pick up 99 west and place it right next to Grand America to get a better idea.
Another misleading thing to look at is just how wide the building is. It's a very long tall building.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Wish I could just pick up 99 west and place it right next to Grand America to get a better idea.
Another misleading thing to look at is just how wide the building is. It's a very long tall building.

Try going over to the Diagrams section of this site to compare the two.