Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Old&New]

From the MSA page:

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

It's no secret that I'm not a fan of "downtown Sandy" but compared to the Mulligans site I think the Sandy site is the much better choice for a new Hale Center Theater. At least "downtown" Sandy has a bit of potential for urban development and is much closer to Trax and FrontRunner than the Mulligans site would be.

Does anyone know who owns the old Auerbach's/Colonial/Victory Theater property on 300 South Between Main and State Street? RDA maybe? Would love a theater-in-the-round downtown! There's tons of parking next door and directly across the street from this location, and it would compliment what is becoming a theater district of sorts surrounding Gallivan Center (UPAC, Capitol, Utah/Pantages, Off Broadway, Rex Theater (ala La Porte), Broadway Theater, and maybe this list could also include the Rose Wagner).

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Old&New

From the MSA page:

Does anyone know who owns the old Auerbach's/Colonial/Victory Theater property on 300 South Between Main and State Street? RDA maybe? Would love a theater-in-the-round downtown! There's tons of parking next door and directly across the street from this location, and it would compliment what is becoming a theater district of sorts surrounding Gallivan Center (UPAC, Capitol, Utah/Pantages, Off Broadway, Rex Theater (ala La Porte), Broadway Theater, and maybe this list could also include the Rose Wagner).

That is one of the land bankers that is just sitting on their property. I contacted them several years ago in inquire about an asking price and they simply said it wasn't for sale.

[Old&New]

That land-banker is a shit-face! The building he's basically squatting on has a shit-face too!

I say the City should use eminent domain for a through street. Then soon after a cheep road is built through the property, they re-close the street and sell the land for a discounted price to either Hale Center Theater company, or Important Studios for a permanent production of their Book of Mormon musical.

[brankrom]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

That is one of the land bankers that is just sitting on their property. I contacted them several years ago in inquire about an asking price and they simply said it wasn't for sale.

Here's a linky to a lawsuit regarding the owners of the property from the 1990's they're a piece of work for sure. the jist is that one of the owners in Hong Kong ran into some money issues and divested itself of some other property to free up $2+ million in cash, when the money was delivered someone showed up and assaulted one of the other employee. I can't understand teh whole land banker mentality. I have owned rental properties in the past and always worked hard to keep them in good repair and always took pride in my ownership even though i didn't live there, but land bankers just don't care. Seems an improved/maintained property would be more valuable than a dilapidated eyesore.

The Broadway parcel, Eataburger/Carls and Arrow Press are my top 3 list of places that need to be either restored or redeveloped.

http://digitalcommons.law.byu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=31257&context=utah_court_briefs

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Old&New

...Important Studios for a permanent production of their Book of Mormon musical.

That's kind of a brilliant idea. People come to a convention in Utah, already have the Mormon-thing in their head, they go to Temple Square for one end of the spectrum, hit The Book of Mormon for another perspective, then go back to the Convention Center Hotel to and discuss.

[jedikermit]

Comic Con post-op from the Davis County Clipper -- http://www.davisclipper.com/view/full_st...ks-even-more-records?instance=lead_story

Most of it was fan-gushing blah blah...but it did include that Fan-X was the 3rd largest comic con in the country, and the numbers were well over 100,000.

Most interesting for us: Brandenburg and co-founder Dan Farr are already making plans for an even bigger comic con this September, expanding for the first time into venues surrounding the Salt Palace.

Just underlining the need for more convention space. Don't know if Dan Farr has the ears of the right people or not, or even if that matters as far as other conventions go...but it's good to hear.

[Future Mayor]

ESA Marriott is starting to rise above ground level.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

Comic Con post-op from the Davis County Clipper -- http://www.davisclipper.com/view/full_st...ks-even-more-records?instance=lead_story

Most of it was fan-gushing blah blah...but it did include that Fan-X was the 3rd largest comic con in the country, and the numbers were well over 100,000.

Most interesting for us: Brandenburg and co-founder Dan Farr are already making plans for an even bigger comic con this September, expanding for the first time into venues surrounding the Salt Palace.

Just underlining the need for more convention space. Don't know if Dan Farr has the ears of the right people or not, or even if that matters as far as other conventions go...but it's good to hear.

Even with the upcoming CCH and additional venue space I would like to see them use surrounding venues in the future. I predict that Salt Lake's Comic Con will only become bigger and better, even becoming much larger than San Diego's event. Salt Lake's Comic Con will become the international draw for it's genre much like Sundance has become for independent film.

Can you imagine timing major Marvel motion picture premieres, etc. around Downtown's Comic Con. There are so many angles to Salt Lake's event. The potential is huge.

[utenation]

Originally Posted by delts145

Even with the upcoming CCH and additional venue space I would like to see them use surrounding venues in the future.

Speaking of the CCH, has anyone heard any new news on a site or developer?

This thing is ripe for the picking.

[utenation]

Here's some various pics of my downtown walks. I have more but my photobucket account is acting up..






Food Truck Wars at the Gallivan.









Springtime in the Rockies.. A cool storm looking South East.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by utenation

Speaking of the CCH, has anyone heard any new news on a site or developer?

This thing is ripe for the picking.

I assume that the County is working with both the State and SLC to finalize the TIF package. When TIF is involved, the participating entities, that are giving up future tax revenue have to approve the TIF. I'm sure the city had already discussed it with those entities, such as the SLC school district, and I imagine they are just going through the final approval process now. I'm sure coordinating TIF financing from three jurisdictions takes a couple of months.

[utenation]

Here's some old school grit:








More main 222:

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

ESA Marriott is starting to rise above ground level.

Besides the usual "I wish they were taller" complaint, I really like the location and even the size of those two hotels. Even though they're more suburban brands, the way they're situated and their location on the block seem really ideal. I don't have the Urban Planning words for it. I just like it.

[ToysNoiz]

Very nice photos UteNation. thanks for sharing.

[KPBDEV]

Hi my name is Ken Bretschneider I'm new to this forum, although I have followed it for a few years now. I'm the developer behind what was called the AIR Center which is now named AIR HOTELS. We slowed this project down as we decided to expand the idea to include a very cool Modern/Urban style Boutique Hotel instead of office space. We decided that there was plenty of office space in the downtown core and that a fresh new hotel with location based entertainment was something SLC really needed. The AIR project has doubled in size and we have already secured most of the additional capital. We hope to get construction started now in the early fall. We have also added additional entertainment components as part of this new design including an amazing roof top pool/club and a 350 person multi-use/theater space. The new building will now have 14 stories compared to the previous concept of 8 stories. We are partnering with one of the top hotel management groups in the country and are finalizing negotiations for an amazing GM to run our hotel. We will announce additional details as we get closer to breaking ground.

You are one of the first to see the new concept rendering below. We are also updating our website and social media with additional details. Just know this project is important to me and is moving forward.

I'm passionate about both projects (AIR & Evermore) as they both represent raising the bar of entertainment in Utah. Utah is an amazing place (I moved here from Toronto, Canada) and there are some really great new offerings over the past few years, but there is room for more diverse entertainment offerings. I wanted to bring something different and amazing to Utah as Utah has been good to me. That's my goal, I would love your feedback!

Cheers, Ken



Exterior Rendering - AIR HOTELS



Interior Rendering 1 - AIR7 Restaurant/Lounge



Interior Rendering 2 - AIR7 Restaurant/Lounge



Interior Rendering 1 - AIR Nightlife

[Old&New]

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum, Ken!



This is looking like a great project!

I'd also like to know more about "EVERMORE"

I do have to say though, I miss the canopy design element in your original air proposal.

Regardless, this will be perfect for that spot; I love the street engagement!

Oh, and I will stay at your hotel when it is built.

[jedikermit]

Wow. Ken, thanks for the updates, and for stopping by and updating us yourself. Pretty amazing. Loving the upgraded AIR -- and I do think there's a need for that kind of entertainment and hotel in SLC. Best of luck!

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Old&New

Let me be the first to welcome you to the forum, Ken!

By one minute. You timely bastard.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

By one minute. You timely bastard.

[StevenF]

Welcome Ken and thanks for the updated info. Nice to have a developer willing to show their face on the forums. Not sure if we have had that before here or not, but I do know we have people here that work for Salt Lake City and get things as they pass through the city. First hand information is always welcome.

Looking at the changes to the building I would say that if you put the UPAC next to it you wouldn't notice much difference between them, meaning that there are a lot of similarities between the 2. Love the added height and more floors are always welcome. Love that it has a good mix of glass and other materials and like the set back on the corner windows with the ledges. Over all a very nice building and will welcome it to the downtown skyline.