Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Future Mayor]

Depending on how much power they carry, it's not a cheap job to bury those lines. I am assuming they may feed the Salt Palace, from the substation that is on the hotel block. While they aren't transmission lines like those on 13th S and 8th S, they are probably very high capacity distribution lines and the expense of that may be simply to much for the developer to absorb right now.

If those are the lines that feed the Salt Palace, if the RWP location is chosen for the CCH and more convention space, these lines will need to be upgraded with more capacity to serve the needs of the CCH and more convention space. I would assume that part of the construction costs that the TIF will allow for will include upgrading the lines and burying them. Maybe at that time the hotel owners will pitch in part of the cost to bury them along their frontage.

If RWP is one of the sites under consideration it wouldn't surprise me if Rocky Mountain power and the hotel developers decided, why shoulder the cost to bury these lines now because they may need an upgrade in the future, no need to pay for it now if someone else might be paying for the majority of it at a later date.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

The developers of the Marriot Courtyard being built adjacent to the Hyatt have recently applied for a building permit. So actual construction is still probably a few months out. From what I've heard, you can expect to see those old power poles for a long time. The developers don't want to pay the money to bury them and Rocky Mountain Power will not foot the bill.

One interesting piece of information, a developer has finally been able to acquire all of the properties on the NW corner of 400 East and 400 South, also known as the Neff Floral corner. I haven't seen any elevations but at least it's all under one ownership.

You mean 500 E and 400 South, right? That's where the old Neff Floral building is.

[(Eco)nomy_404]

Originally Posted by Stenar

In the next few years, Utah will pass Arkansas, Mississippi and Iowa.

Well, considering that our population is heavily concentrated in an 80-by-15 mile strip, a population of 3 million is much more substantial than in those states that spread their populations thinner over much more area. And at 30th place, that would put our population past those of 20 other states - right about in the middle of the pack.

I`ll take Iowa`s population any day:



Or Mississippi`s:



I think our skyline has already caught up to Little Rock:

[Stenar]

[QUOTE=(Eco)nomy_404;6392638]Well, considering that our population is heavily concentrated in an 80-by-15 mile strip, a population of 3 million is much more substantial than in those states that spread their populations thinner over much more area. And at 30th place, that would put our population past those of 20 other states - right about in the middle of the pack.

I`ll take Iowa`s population any day:


By the way, Iowa's population is only 189,544 ahead of us and the 3 states ahead of us have very slow growth rates. The three states immediately larger than Utah would be fairly easy to surpass. Just larger than Iowa is Connecticut, which is 500,000 larger than Iowa, so that would take quite a while to pass them by.

[UTPlanner]

Thanks Stenar for keeping me on my toes. I did mean the NW corner of 500 E and 400 S.

[DCRes]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

Thanks Stenar for keeping me on my toes. I did mean the NW corner of 500 E and 400 S.

How large of an area on the corner does the developer own? Is it everything from 500 E to Denver St? And how far north?

[EPdesign]

Not to be an egocentric, but our skyline kicks major BOOTAY!!!!!!!!!! compared to those. Even if there are taller buildings. Just saying. Oh. wait. hope that doesn't start another debate.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by EPdesign

Not to be an egocentric, but our skyline kicks major BOOTAY!!!!!!!!!! compared to those. Even if there are taller buildings. Just saying. Oh. wait. hope that doesn't start another debate.

Kicks major bootay.

[SLC Projects]

2013 Best-Performing Cities ( Large )

Salt Lake City #5
http://best-cities.org/bestcities.taf?rankyear=2013&type=Large-Cities-Rankings

[Comrade]

I think Des Moines skyline is better than SLC's - at least, it looks better.

[SLC Projects]

How so? Des Moines skyline ( from that photo ) only has about 10 towers. Unless there's more to the skyline that was cut off from the photo Salt Lake's is bigger I think. The only tower I would take from theirs would be that really tall one. Besides that, no thanks.

[ToysNoiz]

Are you kidding???

This



Is better than THIS?

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

Or Mississippi`s:

When did Birmingham move to Mississippi?

[EPdesign]

Comparatively Salt lake City Skyline looks awesome because of how the buildings interact with each other. It is really like we HAD Three Skylines in one. The Most northern part with Temple Square, COB, and the buildings lining south temple. Then you have second which includes the Chase, Wells Fargo, 222, and American Towers. And last and smallest is the south one. With the Grand and Little America. But now with the new buildings, from different angles its like the skyline is starting to connect. It really makes the city look dense.





And I really don't think we give enough credit to our city for the Growth it has had downtown. I mean. I remember when it looked like this. (I took the pic of google so I don't know who to credit for it. lol)



As for Des Moines. I was looking at the pics and there really are only one angle the city looks really outstanding. and it is a much smaller skyline than Salt lake, even if it does have a Major tower


I still even like the East View of Salt Lake City too....but it's taking too long to upload the pic.

[Comrade]

I like Des Moines' skyline better because...

Its tallest is over 200 feet bigger than ours. It's also a decent looking tallest that stands out in the skyline better than our two tallest.

Its second tallest is still 40 feet bigger than our tallest. It's not the most attractive building, but I would wager it's no more un-attractive than, say, the COB.

Its also aesthetically pleasing from pretty much every angle.

One of Salt Lake's biggest problems is that its skyline isn't necessarily that impressive from some views. It's also very flat and, as pointed out a ton of times on this very forum, the middle thins worse than a BYU student's hair.

I think their skyline is more compact and, for a city its size, impresses me. Salt Lake's skyline is unusual - kinda like a mini-Phoenix. It can grow into something nicer, but right now? I'll take this one...

[SLC Projects]

Des Moines
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?

Salt Lake City
http://skyscraperpage.com/diagrams/?

Top five tallest for both cities

1.801 Grand vs Wells Fargo Center: As sexy as the Wells Fargo Center is for Salt Lake 801 Grand is nice and much taller. Des wins
Des 1 Salt 0

2. Ruan Center vs Church Office Building: Both buildings were built around the same time. ( early 70's ) So both are a bit boring. but again we are beaten in height. Des wins
Des 2 Salt 0

But here is when Salt Lake comes back....

3. Des Moines Marriott vs either 99 west or 111 south main (2016) Either one is much sexier and taller then the Marriott. This one goes to salt lake hands down.
Des 2 Salt 1

4. Financial Center vs either 99 west or Key Bank Tower. If it's 99 west (2016) will blow financial center out of the water. Right now Key Bank is our 4th tallest and both are from the 70's, so again, boring. This one could be a tie, however our's is just a bit taller, 351 FT to their's 345 FT. But once 99 west gets push down to 4th place then this one is ours for sure. Tie for now, till 2016,
Des 2 Salt 2

5. The Plaza vs One Utah Center: The Plaza isn't bad, in fact I wouldn't mind adding that to our skyline. But if I was ask to trade One Utah Center for The Plaza, I would say "Hell no" One Utah Center is about the closes we have to having 801 Grand. This one goes to us.

Des 2 Salt 3.

6-9
EMC Insurance Building
HUB Tower
Equitable Building
Bank of America Building

VS

Gateway Tower West
American Towers North and South
Eagle Gate Plaza
222 South Main

Our 9th building is still above 300 FT at 315 FT while theirs is at 280 FT. And I haven't even gotten to ours Zions Bank, The Regent and soon to be Cascade Towers.

Over all, Salt Lake wins. While yes, they have us beat with their top two tallest, we have them beat the rest of the way at 3rd and onward. Plus we have more towers to our skyline then they have.

[Comrade]

Still think their skyline looks better. It seems you're arguing a different point than I am - I'm not suggesting theirs is bigger, I am saying it looks better.

[ToysNoiz]

Seriously? 801 is better than Wells Fargo?

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

Seriously? 801 is better than Wells Fargo?

Umm, yes.

[ToysNoiz]

801 is nice, but it's nothing great. Remember: taller is not always better. I was looking through photos of Des Moines, and I could only find a small hand full that weren't boring. No dis on Des Moines folks, but I'm unimpressed. With only one really tall tower, the skyline looks the same from every angle. Not to say that the skyline can't ever improve. Add some more 300-400 foot buildings and it could look really nice.