Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by delts145

Just a quick note, I recorded the most recent Bachelorette episode. I wanted to see how the hometown visit to Salt Lake City was handled. I watched it last night, and was very proud of how beautifully the City was splashed across the screen. It was one great beauty shot after another. Liberty Park, Temple Square, The views of the Wasatch, and the bachelor's mom's splendid house up on the high bench. Salt Lake City's Chamber of Commerce couldn't have scripted a more positive ad. Of the four finalist cities visited, Salt Lake City easily came off the winner of the beauty contest.

I watched it, and it was pretty cool to see the snow capped peaks above the trees of Liberty Park. There was a mistitle with the McMinnville Oregon part, though. They showed a picture of downtown Portland, but they displayed the title of McMinnville across the screen. For me, as a Portlander, that was rather embarrassing. McMinnville is a small town about 40 to 60 miles south west of Portland. It's like showing downtown Salt Lake City and then displaying a title for Tooele, Utah across the screen.

[UTPlanner]

The Boyer Company obviously now owns the former Questar headquarters but they also own the parking lots to the south that stretch from State Street to 200 East. They will soon be submitting plans to construct a parking garage in the center of those two lots which will leave two areas ready for development. One along State Street and the second along 200 East. They have been in talking with planners in the office. They have discussed phasing the project but they're interested in potentially building residential along 200 East. It will be interesting to see how this proceeds.

[Orlando]

Thanks for the info UTPlanner. Is there any provision that requires new development on downtown blocks to allow for a midblock passageway? Salt Lake's blocks are so huge, and those midblock streets like Pierpont or Social Hall Avenue, Regent Street help to better connect parts of downtown. I lament that there was no clear path set up to connect Pierpont Avenue with Main Street when 222 was constructed. It would have been great to have all the restaurants on Pierpont link to Main Street and the Gallivan Plaza.
So, with this new Boyer development, here's another opportunity for the city to require a midblock passageway. Or at least an L-shaped mid-block passageway back alley. Maybe something that extends Edison Street north into that block and then turns to 200 East, and then allow for an east-west mid-block nicely landscaped and lit up pedestrian pathway from 200 East to State Street.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Orlando

I lament that there was no clear path set up to connect Pierpont Avenue with Main Street when 222 was constructed. It would have been great to have all the restaurants on Pierpont link to Main Street and the Gallivan Plaza.

You're right there isn't a clear connection to connect Pierpont to Main but there is a connection. It would have been nearly impossible to create anything more clear or direct than the zigzag that currently exists. Pierpont end at the Hilton and connecting the space south of Olive Garden would have cut 222 in half.

So while it's not a very clear or currently pleasant path, the city and property owners need to put a focus on promoting these non street passages. Having a club, a bar, or a restaurant that is in one of the buildings away from 200 S in the Olive Garden area with outdoor seating, and with the right promotion could be a way to bring people into those non street spaces, or having a back patio or entrance from the alley between Main and American Towers, for possibly a business in the basement of a building on Main. The real issue in my opinion is there aren't enough residents in the downtown core yet. Even with a street cutting through the block behind the Wells Fargo Tower and Parking garage, connected to "SLC Living Room (Gallivan)" that street still failed miserably.

The addition of more downtown residents, willing to explore out of the way places is what will make these connections used and viable.

[DMTower]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

The Boyer Company obviously now owns the former Questar headquarters but they also own the parking lots to the south that stretch from State Street to 200 East. They will soon be submitting plans to construct a parking garage in the center of those two lots which will leave two areas ready for development. One along State Street and the second along 200 East. They have been in talking with planners in the office. They have discussed phasing the project but they're interested in potentially building residential along 200 East. It will be interesting to see how this proceeds.

It sounds like they're planning to waste a perfect opportunity to connect through the block... that's one of the few blocks left in Salt Lake that can be opened up without demolishing any existing buildings and they're going to throw up a parking garage in the middle of it. Once again very disappointing.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by DMTower

It sounds like they're planning to waste a perfect opportunity to connect through the block... that's one of the few blocks left in Salt Lake that can be opened up without demolishing any existing buildings and they're going to throw up a parking garage in the middle of it. Once again very disappointing.

The city has to be willing to provide incentives for a "takinlg" an incentive such as higher densities, lower parking requirements or monetary incentives.

I do agree though, I would love to see midblock access through that block east to west and from the south, connecting to the midblock walkway. Even with Boyer building there is still a substantial amount of space on the block to create access through the block, while it might not be exactly in the middle it could still easily be done.

This is a rendering I posted, when the news of the Boyer plans first came out. This shows the access at midblock, but it could just as easily be pushed south to accommodate for whatever it is that Boyer has planned. It would also very easily provide Boyer with an additional access point. Both images have not only vehicular access to the e/w street from 200 S but shows additional pedestrian access. Bar X is in red.


This image has small footprint buildings on the north side of the midblock street with larger footprints on the south side, could easily be swapped.

[scottharding]

If they're building the parking garage in the middle of the block, wouldn't that necessitate some kind of street going through the middle of the block?

I hope that since a street must pass mid-block anyway to access the garage, that they will be wise enough to make the street more than just that. Bring all the way through the block and give it a sidewalk as well. This would be much more attractive to the prospective residents who would live along 200 East. There's great potential there, I really hope they don't waste it.

[SLC Projects]

As for the future buildings at mid-block right on state street as well as 200 East is the limit 100 FT for that part of down? Guessing that area would be within the D1 area. Just trying to get an idea of how tall these mid block buildings could be.

[UTPlanner]

Some blocks in the D-1 do require midblock walkways when largescale development occurs on a block. This block is located in the D-1 zoning district and does require a midblock walkway. This walkway could occur in phases meaning that a walkway through the entire block wouldn't be required if they were only developing the east parcel. It would be required along that east parcel up to the vacant lot and when that parcel develops it would be completed.

[delts145]

Thanks for the Info. UtPlanner. I'm glad that they're putting the garage at midblock out of sight, so to speak. But of course, I agree with Future Mayor and Orlando that dissecting the large blocks will be critical to developing the charm and walkability that the CBD is aiming for. We all know that much of the allure of the great capitals of Europe are those little streets that zigzag throughout the hearts of their inner districts.

They could develop some wide, winding walkways thoughout many of the blocks of Downtown. It could be almost like a designated trail, so to speak. They don't have to be as sensical or organized as say Regent, Richards, Market Street, etc. Just wide enough to accomodate the types of restaurants, clubs, retail, boutique hotels, and business that the community would love to habitate and tourists would love to frequent. Even the presumed itimate plazas, with accompanying artistic fountains could suddenly pop up in an unexpected location of the block.

I like the wide streets of much of the Downtown, as long as they're broken up with the right kind of landscaping, street engagement and attractive medians. I've alway felt that although Salt Lake's huge blocks present a challenge, the potential benefits of it's inner blocks, if developed correctly, can make Salt Lake City the envy of much of North America.

[SLC Projects]

Utah to get concrete section of World Trade Center for 9/11 memorial
By Benjamin Wood KSL.com

SALT LAKE CITY — A piece of U.S. history is headed to Utah and organizers are seeking the public's help in making it a permanent memorial.

An art installation, one of 11 fashioned from concrete sections of the World Trade Center foundations, is currently in the process of being purchased for a planned memorial at the Fort Douglas Military Museum.

"We’re fortunate enough to have one of those stones brought to Utah," said Raette Belcher, owner of Southwest Indian Traders in Park City and one of the organizers of the project. "We’re getting a piece of history, the World Trade Center, that will be here at our University of Utah on campus."

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=2607261...-911-memorial&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-1

[John Martin]

don't know what it does because it's already broken



























dispatch center




current public safety building


















every slat is different; they're modeled after faces of ps employees

[ToysNoiz]

Wow. Beautiful building!

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by John Martin

every slat is different; they're modeled after faces of ps employees

Well that's kinda creepy.

[Stenar]

Thanks for the photos. Great job.

The building is beautiful, but I was a little underwhelmed by the lobby when I was there yesterday. I think they ought to have used a creamy off-white instead of the intensely bright white paint they used in the lobby. "Refrigerator white" makes buildings look cheap. I had a feeling of cheapness inside and I think that's because of the too-white paint.

I don't think the silver ball thingy in the courtyard is broken, they just didn't have most things turned on, yet.

Originally Posted by John Martin

don't know what it does because it's already broken

[Comrade]

Not sure who's familiar with this, but the video game 'The Last of Us' has a level that takes place in Salt Lake City.





• Video Link

[DCRes]

I took a drive around town over the weekend and snaped a few pics...

The future home of Everen T Brown on West Temple, close to 400 S


Two shots of the apartments going up on 400 East



101 Tower by Boyer, 100 S 200 E


Future hotel site accross from ESA

A really bad picture of the rendering posted on the temporary sidewalk (i should have rolled the window down)


A bonus shot of main street

[Viperlord]

SLC to get taste of Las Vegas nightlife with new entertainment center

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=26110564&nid=148...inment-center&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-1

[Makid]

I do think that this development will help to spur further development in the area. The area is ripe for higher end clubs, restaurants and more office space.

Developments like this may also increase the need for the 4th South Trax expansion to create the downtown loop. I think this would help increase the need for Hotels as well as encourage a more lively night life as downtown would be looped, we would be seeing groups possibly go between areas via Trax.

I do think that if this does catch on, with a Trax loop, funding could come from the developments to offer late night service (at least in the loop itself).

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Viperlord

SLC to get taste of Las Vegas nightlife with new entertainment center

http://www.ksl.com/?sid=26110564&nid=148...inment-center&fm=home_page&s_cid=queue-1

So I made the mistake of reading comments on KSL.com. A lot of negative people. I for one think this is just what the doctor order for downtown. Something to give downtown some more much needed nightlife. I welcome it.

Also I believe Air 7 will make somewhat of a impact to the south end of the skyline. It would pop up right in front of the new courthouse tower.