Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Scraperdude801

I used to own a business across from the Ballpark--Wild Sage Day Spa. I used to think that neighborhood had so much potential, but nothing ever happened. Businesses around us folded up, and eventually we did. It's a really hard neighborhood to take root in. I think it will take a lot of things happening at once to make it desirable, which is really sad since it's only a stones throw between DT and Liberty Park.

That's how it's been, sadly, the last 20 years. Lots of potential, and it's rarely realized. I'm not optimistic that'll change anytime soon.

[RosePark]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

During the baseball season, there's enough activity to sustain restaurants or bars, but outside of the season it seems to be a wasteland.

This is why I wish the Real stadium, the baseball park, and the aquarium would have all been built downtown. That way, restaurants and bars don't have to rely on just one team or their season. Between Jazz games, RSL, the Bees, UPAC performances, visitors to museums, CCC shoppers, etc there would be a steady crowd of people downtown. That's what a downtown should be- the center of business and entertainment for a city. Things are so sprawled out everywhere, it's a joke.

[brankrom]

I used to live in that neighborhood. There's a lot going for it and I wonder when its going to take off. That stretch of State Street is SLCs Ethnic row of restaurants you name your cuisine it's there, and most of them are pretty good too. But the area on 1300 South between State and 300 West is a wasteland. I would also say that and aside from the restaurants that area is a food desert, there are no grocery stores unless of course one counts Walmart and while Walmart does sell food, unless you have a day and a half to wait in line while cashiers ring up and bag groceries on terribly inefficient bagging stations it doesn't really count as a grocery store. IMO more like a huge convenience store. What the area needs are a few less cash loan/pawn/smoke/tattoo shops and a grocery store.

There's a lot of area ripe for redevelopment and a few live/work/art lofts went in about a decade ago that commanded pretty high prices during the last bubble. the area on Main St and Major St between 1300 and 900 has room for improvement too.

[Future Mayor]

I agree with the sentiments about the area around Smiths Ballpark. While I was in school in Cleveland I came up with this grandiose plan for the entire area from Main to 300 W and from about 14th S to about 9th S. The new high end row houses on W. Temple seem to have been a success as there is rarely one for sale. I think the combination of being close to downtown, Smith's Ballpark, Trax, and Jefferson Park, the right redevelopment strategy could be hugely successful.

While the Grandiose plan might not happen, I am continually keeping my mind on how the entire area could be redeveloped. I also think Major and Main between 13th and 17th have huge development potential as well.

[DCRes]

Pic taken 03/04/2014

[EPdesign]

Just Drove by the 550 e 500 south residential burn site. They started framing up walls again. I'm impressed how fast that was.

[jedikermit]

I was at the demolition site for UPAC on Monday for about half an hour; there were probably 50 people gathered there watching on their lunch breaks. It was pretty cool. The construction worker keeping us all in check said that their company was doing the Bennion Jeweler's building because it's right up against the sandstone building to the east, and it was more delicate work. The white building (only one left standing right now) is going to be done by a different company, he was assuming Layton, but wasn't sure. They won't start on that until Bennion Jewelers is completely down.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by EPdesign

Just Drove by the 550 e 500 south residential burn site. They started framing up walls again. I'm impressed how fast that was.

That's great. I was worried they'd have to wait another year for legal shenanigans or investigations or simply site cleanup.

[SLC Projects]

Never know that the Bennion Jeweler's building only had four levels. I guess the windows on what always look like a 5th level were fake and it was really the roof?

[EPdesign]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Never know that the Bennion Jeweler's building only had four levels. I guess the windows on what always look like a 5th level were fake and it was really the roof?

Ha! I was just thinking the same thing

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Never know that the Bennion Jeweler's building only had four levels. I guess the windows on what always look like a 5th level were fake and it was really the roof?

Yeah, that wall and columns and roof were just hiding the rooftop equipment.

[jedikermit]

Late notice, but tomorrow (Friday March 7) at 10:00 AM, the Downtown Alliance is hosting a free event, CREATE DOWNTOWNSLC / CREATIVE CITY. Here are the details: http://downtownslc.org/programs/downtown-slc-create/creative-city

You need to RSVP, but it is free. It's also kind of an inconvenient time to attend. I'm planning on going, I have comp time I need to burn off. Looks interesting, and I'm downtown anyway. I'll let y'all know if they say/do anything good.

[Plaid Shirts]

Your boy, Plaid Shirts is back!!

[jedikermit]

Welcome back Plaidy.

[EPdesign]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

Your boy, Plaid Shirts is back!!

hahaha. Welcome back

[Plaid Shirts]

Why is the LaPorte project taking so long? It seems like it's moving incredibly slow compared to other projects...

[Scraperdude801]

Originally Posted by Plaid Shirts

Why is the LaPorte project taking so long? It seems like it's moving incredibly slow compared to other projects...

At first it was the extensive conrete work, but now I have no idea.

[jedikermit]

La Porte has had more visible progress over the last two months than the previous two years--maybe they're hitting their stride. Whatever that means for them.

[SLC Projects]

Maybe the two guys who are working on La Porte goes out with a weekly shopping list for each week. This week, A beam, 4 cinder blocks, 2 bags of concrete, 3 2x4s and return the unused sheet of plywood from last week.

[Plaid Shirts]

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