Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Future Mayor]

I heard him talking to a couple of people at the Sugarhouse Monument plaza Council event. He pretty much opposes anything that that government does. He thinks the only thing government should pay for is Police, fire and schools, according to him everything else should be market driven.

He is a far cry from Soren Simonsen, and I really hope he doesn't get elected. Just another note, Erin Mendenhall in District 5 opposes the 11th E street car alignment while Bill Davis thinks that is the correct alignment. Unfortunately both don't feel that the PAC should have been a city project. I tried to reenter the race as a write in, but the write in deadline had passed.

[tygr]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I heard him talking to a couple of people at the Sugarhouse Monument plaza Council event. He pretty much opposes anything that that government does. He thinks the only thing government should pay for is Police, fire and schools, according to him everything else should be market driven.

He is a far cry from Soren Simonsen, and I really hope he doesn't get elected. Just another note, Erin Mendenhall in District 5 opposes the 11th E street car alignment while Bill Davis thinks that is the correct alignment. Unfortunately both don't feel that the PAC should have been a city project. I tried to reenter the race as a write in, but the write in deadline had passed.

What could this mean for UPAC if any or all of these candidates get elected? Could it stall or end its progress? What about Street Car?

[Future Mayor]

The PAC is underway and I don't really think it can be stopped. As for the Streetcar, the alignment decision was made based on a Council vote. I don't anticipate that it will be brought back to a vote, I don't see why it would.

[Stenar]

I don't know if it's still there, but probably not since you didn't see it. There used to be a metal ladder attached to one of the buildings that was accessible from the alley. I went up there in my early 20s with my best friend.

Originally Posted by jimmycdii

I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for getting on top of or high up in buildings along main. I was walking around in the alley behind the Walker Center that parallels Main and terminates behind O'Shucks, before turning and emptying out onto Regent St.

But what I really wanted to do was see this area from above. Any suggestions for buildings that might have public access on the east side of main? Anyone know of ways to look down into this alley?

Some of the buildings back there seem to be mid block add-ons, or totally separate from the buildings that front Main and it looks like there's many layers of history there. I thought it would be cool to see, especially because it will probably change a lot with the PAC/tower.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Stenar

I don't know if it's still there, but probably not since you didn't see it. There used to be a metal ladder attached to one of the buildings that was accessible from the alley. I went up there in my early 20s with my best friend.

You could also access it from the second floor of the Tribune Building--which is how I used to get there.

[Boz]

Just because development is "cool" and has "potential" doesn't always mean it should be done no matter what. I like it when politicians actually pay attention to what many consider as wasteful government spending. Especially in the America we live in today.

I'm all for less government and more liberty. I'll take that any day of the week even if that means streetcar doesn't get developed right away or at all.

By the way, I'm a Real Salt Lake fan that couldn't stand Peter Corroon because he was opposed to using public Salt Lake County funds for the stadium. Yes, a democrat was opposed to using public funds! Wow! Now I completely understand why he chose not to fund it and I respect him for that. I think it would've been another example of wasteful government spending.

So instead of giving up, they got creative. The RSL brass petitioned the Senate and they decided to direct 15% of Salt Lake's TRT tax toward the stadium for 10 years (a tax that already existed--not a new tax), plus the 15 million of Sandy city residents' arts and entertainment tax pool that they already had waiting for something just like this to come their way.

I still think if it is such an amazing idea that private owners should've built the stadium without any tax money at all, even if there are peripheral benefits to the city of Sandy. But they found a way to make a private/public venture work without any additional tax revenue being created.

Today the club is doing alright and the stadium has been nothing but a hit. Though, like all of you, I wish it was in downtown SLC. Things just didn't work out that way and Sandy had that nice stash of cash that was too tempting to pass up on.

[Future Mayor]

Just so you are aware, the PAC isn't being funded through any new tax increase. It is an existing bond that they are extending the life of rather than letting expire. The remainder will be through fundraising and sponsorship/naming rights.

So by the less government rational. So if the government should only pay for schools, police and fire, how would we all get around? Let me guess, those saying minimal government would answer back, well they should pay for roads too. But guess what roads is simply a piece of the overall transportation puzzle.

In your rational, we should just wait until private enterprise decides to build all of our roads and freeways. It's the same rational as waiting until private enterprise decides to build streetcar.

The PAC will provide an additional destination in downtown Salt Lake City, bringing additional people into the city. This will result in them spending more money at local establishments, including restaurants, retail, show tickets and even parking garages. All these entities pay taxes on those items/services that are being consumed, equaling more tax revenue. More tax revenue leads to more money in the city's budget allowing them to spend more money on the vital things like such as public safety and schools.

[slc801]

Originally Posted by jimmycdii

I wonder if anyone has any suggestions for getting on top of or high up in buildings along main. I was walking around in the alley behind the Walker Center that parallels Main and terminates behind O'Shucks, before turning and emptying out onto Regent St.

But what I really wanted to do was see this area from above. Any suggestions for buildings that might have public access on the east side of main? Anyone know of ways to look down into this alley?

Some of the buildings back there seem to be mid block add-ons, or totally separate from the buildings that front Main and it looks like there's many layers of history there. I thought it would be cool to see, especially because it will probably change a lot with the PAC/tower.

I once wanted to get on top of the Boston Building. The fire escape ladder is only about 10 feet of the ground. I jumped up, grabbed it, and pulled myself up. I got up about two stories when a security guard came running out of the building, yelling at me to get off of it. Ironically she said that it wasn't safe for me to be on it; I sure hope it is safe for if when there ever is a fire!

There is another way to get to the top. If you go up the stairs, the windows are often left open and they open out to the fire escape. You could go up the building to nearly the last floor, open the window, and climb out. I would assume that a similar approach can be made for other older buildings downtown.

[ToysNoiz]

Going back to the housing/hotel developments, I'm glad that SLC won't be getting many more stucco style buildings. I just got back from Anaheim, hotels everywhere.... ALL STUCCO. Very ugly. There was a hotel being constructed across from mine with a rendering outside of the fence. It looked like it could easily be from the 80's. Good to see that SLC is finally starting to move forward.

[jimmycdii]

Originally Posted by Stenar

I don't know if it's still there, but probably not since you didn't see it. There used to be a metal ladder attached to one of the buildings that was accessible from the alley. I went up there in my early 20s with my best friend.

awesome thanks! I didn't notice that so it may be gone, but I could have just missed it.

[jimmycdii]

Originally Posted by slc801

I once wanted to get on top of the Boston Building. The fire escape ladder is only about 10 feet of the ground. I jumped up, grabbed it, and pulled myself up. I got up about two stories when a security guard came running out of the building, yelling at me to get off of it. Ironically she said that it wasn't safe for me to be on it; I sure hope it is safe for if when there ever is a fire!

There is another way to get to the top. If you go up the stairs, the windows are often left open and they open out to the fire escape. You could go up the building to nearly the last floor, open the window, and climb out. I would assume that a similar approach can be made for other older buildings downtown.

sweet. I'm going to try that.

[Boz]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Just so you are aware, the PAC isn't being funded through any new tax increase. It is an existing bond that they are extending the life of rather than letting expire. The remainder will be through fundraising and sponsorship/naming rights.

So by the less government rational. So if the government should only pay for schools, police and fire, how would we all get around? Let me guess, those saying minimal government would answer back, well they should pay for roads too. But guess what roads is simply a piece of the overall transportation puzzle.

In your rational, we should just wait until private enterprise decides to build all of our roads and freeways. It's the same rational as waiting until private enterprise decides to build streetcar.

The PAC will provide an additional destination in downtown Salt Lake City, bringing additional people into the city. This will result in them spending more money at local establishments, including restaurants, retail, show tickets and even parking garages. All these entities pay taxes on those items/services that are being consumed, equaling more tax revenue. More tax revenue leads to more money in the city's budget allowing them to spend more money on the vital things like such as public safety and schools.

I am aware of the funding of the PAC--I was talking about the streetcar extension.

You are very wrong on "my" rational... Cities need roads and various modes of transportation and State and local governments need to build them. We just need to get creative and find ways to fund these projects--if they're really even necessary or worth it to begin with. That's the beef you will find about the streetcar project. Is it entirely necessary, and if it is, who says so and why?

Forcing people to pay more taxes for a streetcar that isn't entirely necessary IS considered wasteful spending to many folks. Those people shouldn't be ignored. Lay it all out on the table and make decisions based on the facts and the numbers.

All that said, I want the streetcar extension as long as the people want it as well.

[Stenar]

Well, it looks like that terrible Paulson person lost. He never had a chance.

Originally Posted by tygr

I heard this morning on an ad by Kevin Paulsen that he not only opposes 11th East Streetcar, but also the entire UPAC project.

I was shocked. I heard his ads on the radio before, but never his stance on the UPAC until this morning.

Today is election day folks, get out and vote FOR the BEST candidate—especially if you live in SLC.

[CountyLemonade]

I just hope the enlightened masses of this forum support the 11th East alignment from an urban planning perspective—even if Erin Mendenhall, who by all accounts is a bright and astute woman, doesn't. The most legitimate complaint I hear about that alignment is that construction of the streetcar will wreak havoc on local businesses, but Kevin Bartholomew—associate dean of the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning at the U and on the UTA Board of Trustees—indicated that streetcar construction would occupy a block a week. Which is massively shorter than how long it takes to install light rail infrastructure.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

Going back to the housing/hotel developments, I'm glad that SLC won't be getting many more stucco style buildings. I just got back from Anaheim, hotels everywhere.... ALL STUCCO. Very ugly. There was a hotel being constructed across from mine with a rendering outside of the fence. It looked like it could easily be from the 80's. Good to see that SLC is finally starting to move forward.

Completely agree ToysNoiz. Hopefully, there's a number of active developers who check in to this forum regularly. My advice would be to please don't imitate the typical So Cal apartment development, but look more to examples in cities such as Denver and Minneapolis.

[Future Mayor]

Sometimes the question that has to be asked in regards to things like the streetcar is not weather it is necessary right now, but if it is built can densities and the tax base increase to justify the investment? As we can clearly see with the hundreds of housing units being built in Sugarhouse, the first phase of the streetcar seems to be more than justified.

Continuing the streetcar up 11th E initially to 17th S(with a long range plan to connect it to 9th and 9th, Liberty Park, Trolley Square or the University Trax) could easily have the same effect on the entire frontage of 11th E. If the city allows for higher densities along this corridor (not in the neighborhoods) in conjunction with the addition of streetcar the investment will be more than justified through increased population densities (less people in the burbs creating less pollution through commuting) and increased tax revenues both on property taxes and sales tax, resulting in more money to pay for basic services, such as police, fire and schools.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by delts145

Completely agree ToysNoiz. Hopefully, there's a number of active developers who check in to this forum regularly. My advice would be to please don't imitate the typical So Cal apartment development, but look more to examples in cities such as Denver and Minneapolis.

I'd like to include Portland, Seattle and Vancouver on that list. I too hope they look for inspiration in places other than the suburbs of California. Maybe the issue is that a good number of people seem to move to Utah from California and maybe it is the same with developers. Maybe California based developers look for new markets and they come to Utah, as opposed to developers that are working in the other cities mentioned, and not needing to look to develop in other areas.

[DCRes]

Here are a couple photos of the Capital Theater expansion

[ToysNoiz]

I subscribed to the Capital Theater expansion channel on YouTube. Things aren't moving too fast. I could easily swap the order of the videos and never tell the difference.

[delts145]

Thanks DCRes, I was wondering where they were on the Capital Theater project.