Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[UTPlanner]

Regarding the project on 500 West, the application states that they are seeking demolition of structures. I'm not sure exactly which structure they are intending to demolish. I will try and get a better look at the file. When I was looking at the elevations it did not appear that the building on 500 West was being utilized in the design. It appeared to be all new construction to me.

Here is an article about the SL District Attorney's Office: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/56973423-78/county-attorney-district-mcadams.html.csp All the vacant property west of the Matheson Courthouse was previously owned by the LDS Church. I'm not exactly sure which parcels they purchased.

[delts145]

Cool update Jedi. I would very much like to see this happen.

I know it's slow and steady, but has there been any noticeable progress on La Porte that is worth photographing?

[SLC Projects]

So the D.A. Can't afford to develop the 6-story on state and 600 south, but they can afford to buy up more land?

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by delts145

I know it's slow and steady, but has there been any noticeable progress on La Porte that is worth photographing?

I drove past it yesterday on my way to a meeting -- nothing of note. The crane was moving something around, so I guess that's good...but there's precious little going on. Some steelwork at ground level has happened, but even that doesn't look like it's changed in months.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

So the D.A. Can't afford to develop the 6-story on state and 600 south, but they can afford to buy up more land?

The Tribune article linked above says that they will be selling the land on 600 South--hopefully a developer will build something there.

[stayinginformed]

Here is a bit of very minor residential development. We just put a photovoltaic solar panel array on our house. I wanted to share it with the board because there is free money available from Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) to help put in the system. I learned about the solar power lottery run through Rocky Mountain Power last January from a Salt Lake Tribune article. There was a short application window of about 2 weeks. I had a contractor come out to my house and give a bid on the job, then they assisted in applying for the lottery. In February, I found out that I won a spot in the lottery, and would get $1.25 per Watt of capacity of my new solar system up to $5,000 from RMP. The system I was quoted for is a 3.2 kW system which will produce about 4200 kWh per year, a bit more than what I am currently using. When I won the spot, I had to put $100 down to hold my place, and was told that I had a calendar year to put in my system.

If any of you are interested in putting panels on your house, this is a great opportunity to make it more affordable. I think that Rocky Mountain Power will be running the lottery this coming year and the following 3 years for a total of 5 years. In the second year the rebate is $1.20 per watt, in the third it is $1.15 per watt etc. So it makes sense to apply sooner rather than later. I assume the application window will be about the same time--January-February.

A friend of mine also applied for the lottery, and got a spot, so the odds seem to be pretty good.

Total Cost of the System: $14,000

Reductions:
RMP Lottery 3200 Watt Capacity X $1.25 = $4,000
Federal Rebate 30% no cap =$4,200
State Rebate 25% with $2,000 cap= $2,000

Total Rebates: $10,200
Out of Pocket Cost: $3,800

So it will probably take about 5 years for me to get my money back from electricity savings, then free electricity.

Over the weekend the contractors installed my system. Below is a short video showing the panels on my roof.

• Video Link

[JMK]

I went to my usual tailor between Bar X and Johnny's on 2nd (161 E 200 S) and found out that he has moved to a new location.
There is a banner for 'Beer Bar' who is moving in.

It should open sometime in January, run by the same people who own Bar X

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

The Tribune article linked above says that they will be selling the land on 600 South--hopefully a developer will build something there.

Sorry I didn't get around to reading the article before posting. Now that I did it still raises a few questions.

Few questions that comes to mind....

1. was the land on Main Street creeper then the one on "Street Street"?
( Think they meant to say State Street. )
2. what is the size of the land on Main vs State? Same? bigger? smaller?
3. If the DA already owns the land on State, how would building a building on another piece of land going to save them money?
4. Could they even use the same blueprints on this land vs the other? If they needed so many QF of space with the state street site, then would they need the same amount of space on this other site?

I know the Trib didn't go into that much info, but if this is a money saving idea, I just don't see how changing the site would save them anything. Unless if it might have something to do with parking. Maybe they could share the parking with the parking garage to the North? Then they wouldn't have to develop their own parking garage. Plus having a Trax stop right at the doors would maybe have more people using trax. Hence all they would have to worry about is the building cost of the building itself. Maybe that's it? I do like the idea of the future DA office going on Main. Main Street badly needs some kind of development in that area.

[jedikermit]

Yeah, I don't have any answers about any of those things...I *do* like that site better for the DA Office than the 600 South site.

[jmonkey]

I'm just a little pissed that they pushed out businesses and tore down buildings on a site they are now abandoning. How fickle and stupid and badly managed! Thanks for another empty, weed-covered lot, Salt Lake County!

[SLC Projects]

More up to date story.

http://m.sltrib.com/sltrib/mobile3/56973423-219/county-site-building-office.html.csp

So it sounds like parking was an issue. Also the Main Street site is a little bit bigger at 3.1 acres vs only 2.3 acres at the state street site.

[slc801]

Originally Posted by jmonkey

I'm just a little pissed that they pushed out businesses and tore down buildings on a site they are now abandoning. How fickle and stupid and badly managed! Thanks for another empty, weed-covered lot, Salt Lake County!

Agreed! I was angry to see those buildings go and now I'm even angrier to see them sitting in a pile of bricks, shaded by some landscaping and trees. I hope that they don't demolish that building immediately north of the parking lot on the new site at Main and 500 S (the white one between Eagle Gate College and the parking lot). After hearing that they bought a 3.1 acre parcel, it sounds like it includes that building, which means that it will probably be demolished. Thats unfortunate. I like what few historical buildings are left downtown (even if they are a small, one story building) and I think they should be saved, especially considering the ridiculous amount of empty parking lots and empty lots around downtown.

[SLCdude]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

I wonder if they'll be going with that twisted, asymmetrical design that's on page one of this thread?

Originally Posted by jedikermit

Update--Mayor's Office says that is NOT the design, new designs to be considered. :/

Thank goodness! That design was terrible!

[Comrade]

I liked it. I bet we'll get some bland four-story box.

Woohoo! Progress! <3

[delts145]

Has anyone even bothered to ever take pics of this project??

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

I was walking yesterday and noticed that the Cityscape Apartments are pretty much done. Their office was open on site. The same company has property on 500 East as well. It's a similar sized property so I would assume a similar development.

Cityscape Apartments

Wasatch Advantage Group and Strategic Multifamily have entered into a joint venture agreement to construct a 122-unit luxury apartments at 150 South 400 East in downtown Salt Lake City. Courtesy image

[delts145]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

I do like the idea of the future DA office going on Main. Main Street badly needs some kind of development in that area.

Agree, so I hope it's not just a bland 4 story box, but something special, given that location was once the Newhouse Hotel. That corner has been desperate for a project for decades now. It had better be worthwhile.

[EPdesign]

I know this is constantly posted....but can any of you tell me how to post a pic on this site?

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by EPdesign

I know this is constantly posted....but can any of you tell me how to post a pic on this site?

I use tinypic to do so, it's free, and you don't need to login:

[DCRes]

Originally Posted by delts145

Has anyone even bothered to ever take pics of this project??



Cityscape Apartments

Wasatch Advantage Group and Strategic Multifamily have entered into a joint venture agreement to construct a 122-unit luxury apartments at 150 South 400 East in downtown Salt Lake City. Courtesy image

I posted some a while back, they are on page 231 on this thread. I thought that i posted some more recently too, but I can't find them.

[Lilljemalm]

Originally Posted by delts145

Agree, so I hope it's not just a bland 4 story box, but something special, given that location was once the Newhouse Hotel. That corner has been desperate for a project for decades now. It had better be worthwhile.

That corner should have a skyscraper.