Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[SLC Projects]

Crazy looking at the 80's. there was a new highrise or two added each year. Wish we could have that same kind of boom now.

[jimmycdii]

Has anyone been up to the Capitol recently? I walked up there tonight and noticed they're renovating that International Style office building behind the main building (in the square w/ the reflecting pool).

Here's a link to a picture I tweeted out yesterday. (Sorry if it doesn't work; I've had some trouble posting pictures here. If all else fails, my twitter handle is @jimmycdii and you can find it somewhere there.)

https://twitter.com/jimmycdii/status/356659854766661632/photo/1

The new windows are on the right of the picture. There's obviously more glass and a generally more updated feel.

Anyway, I was a bit disappointed because the new windows pretty dramatically change the look of the building and move away from it's original design. I'm not the biggest fan of mid century architecture, but that building seemed like a decent example that was in better repair than others in SLC (the old public safety building, the now-Ken Garff building). I was also surprised I hadn't heard anything from preservationists.

Anyway, I was curious what others thought, or if anyone else has seen this.

[DMTower]

^^^ I wish they would just rip it down and build the last building in the original architects plan for the capital.

[delts145]

That's what I was hoping they were going to do. While I'm a big fan of the Ken Garff building, and I also want to see the old Police Headquarters restored and reused, I'm not a fan of the Capitol annex. I've always hated it, especially it's adj. location to one of the Nation's most beautiful State Capitols. I'm tempted to say that anything would be an improvement over it's current appearance.

[Makid]

Just an FYI, the build that housed Ruels and Mo's has been razed and cleanup is in progress.

Also, work has begun at the site of the Ballet West addition to the Capital Theater.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Makid

Just an FYI, the build that housed Ruels and Mo's has been razed and cleanup is in progress.

Also, work has begun at the site of the Ballet West addition to the Capital Theater.

And the W Lounge R.I.P. W Lounge

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by Makid

Just an FYI, the build that housed Ruels and Mo's has been razed and cleanup is in progress.

Let's hope that they have their finances ready to begin construction. We've already seen to many buildings demolished only to learn later that the proposed building did not properly secure funding, and will therefore leave that property flat and empty. Maybe UtPlanner can tell us if they have secured funding and permit for construction of Air 7.

[SLC Projects]

Looking forward to seeing air 7 rise. I'm guessing between 6-8 stories the building will make some what of a impact to the skyline from I-15. From the freeway view air 7 would go up right in front of the new courthouse tower.

[jimmycdii]

Regarding the capitol, I guess maybe I'm alone in thinking that the office building is (or, was) worth preserving. It was a reflection of a particular architectural time and movement (more so even than the capitol itself) which I think it loses with the renovation. And I think it was in much better condition than the Ken Garff building, which I think is looking pretty run down these days. I also don't think it detracts from the overall site; I like the mixed architectural style. But, I also think the capitol itself is pretty generic. It's a grand building and I like it, but IMO fairly indistinguishable from the many, many other neo-classical state capitol buildings (and I can think of more than a few state capitols that are more interesting.) But I guess this boils down to a matter of taste.

[Orlando]

Does anyone know where a picture of the old proposed Zions Bank office tower and hotel development on 100 south between State and 200 East may be? It was proposed way back in the mid to late 90's.

[DMTower]

A couple pictures taken with my phone camera

101 site


Brio @ CCC

[ToysNoiz]

I visited the Carl's Jr. downtown today. Looking at the surrounding buildings, I think it would be a great location for a new high rise.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Does anyone know where a picture of the old proposed Zions Bank office tower and hotel development on 100 south between State and 200 East may be? It was proposed way back in the mid to late 90's.

[Orlando]

Thank you!

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Do we know that this was ever a real proposal? It seems a lot like an architectural student's project.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Truly a shame this never came to past. It would of been our new tallest at 33 stories at around 460FT. I blame 9-11.

[Orlando]

Yes. This was a real proposed project. This was by Zions Securities. It was going to be built along with 222 South Main in the late 1990's until the news that the new American Stores tower was soon to be mostly vacant because they sold out to Albertson's in Boise, which meant that most of the office workers that were supposed to occupy the tower were now being transplanted to Boise. So, because of that sell out, both of the towers went on hold and then 9-11 and the sour economy in the early 2000's led to one of our longest gaps in highrise building in modern times of SLC. With the exception of The Parc tower at the Gateway, we had about 9 years before SLC would see another highrise, 222 South Main. And, the Zions Securities proposal was erased or was morphed into the now City Creek Center proposal. The current proposal with Tower 8 is similar. A tall tower on one corner with retail in the mid block with residential midrise at the opposite corner.

[ToysNoiz]

Salt Lake City needs a cool modern tower with a spire of some sort. Perhaps something like a mini Bank of America tower in New York.

[justiny]

Does Bank of America have a presence in Downtown SLC?

Zions Bank, US Bank, Wells Fargo, Chase, Key Bank... Am I missing a few?

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by justiny

An honest, unbiased question: How did 9/11 derail that project?

The first Bush recession, 2001-2003.

What firm designed it?