SLC: Performing Arts Center and 111 Tower

[CofIKid]

After reading the report done by the Theater Action Committee from 2008, I don't think that it was ever suggested to "reuse" the buildings on that site. I have the report saved somewhere and will look for it.

The Zions parking lot on the southwest corner of 100 South and Main Street was not even a top contender for the committee, which makes me believe that it was not feasible for the city to purchase the land.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by CofIKid

After reading the report done by the Theater Action Committee from 2008, I don't think that it was ever suggested to "reuse" the buildings on that site. I have the report saved somewhere and will look for it.

The Zions parking lot on the southwest corner of 100 South and Main Street was not even a top contender for the committee, which makes me believe that it was not feasible for the city to purchase the land.

That's a fairly big assumption.

Couple Questions that might help me understand Ralph Becker's decision:

What will be the total cost for demolition?

How much money were the "land-bankers" asking for their empty--or practically empty--parcels?

Was the cost of demolition less than the asking price for those parcels?

[CofIKid]

I don't think it is a big assumption...

Something had to prevent the Zions Property from being included in the feasibility study that the Downtown Theater Action Committee conducted. I mean, the property did not make the short list and it is a prime location. Few reasonable explanations exist in my mind which include price to purchase the land, building cost (which is doubtful), or existing public utilities are the only explanations I can think of would prevent an empty parking lot from being considered.

The study does suggest the reuse of two buildings in one site plan of Block 70. The other two site plans show complete demolition on block 70.

I have the file saved...How do I post a pdf?

[Orlando]

/\/\/\ See. The initial plan was to use those existing buildings, but then it evolved into demolishing everything. It's because Becker's idea of reusing some of that block was not practical. The troubling part was that even when Becker realized that this site was going to require the demolition of these buildings, he didn't do much of anything to oppose it. Anderson would have fought this and would have tried to gain common ground with the citizens. Becker's much more of a nice guy, but look at the consequences of this. Becker is not the only one to blame. It's also the real estate arm of the LDS church. The bottom line prevailed, and that's the problem. The bottom line should never be the end all determinate of what is destroyed in this town. Or did the bottom line prevail? Was it really more cost effective to demolish these buildings because someone was giving them a handout, or would it have been a wash or even less expensive if they actually bought an empty lot from a landbanker?

Btw, if you put the pdf document into an online link that might work. Or you can copy paste the text into here, and cite the source.

[DMTower]

He didn't say it was the "original plan", he said two of the buildings (likely the smaller ones) were included in one of several proposed plans. You keep trying to shape history to fit your narrative. I also think it's a pretty big assumption to say that the Zion's property was never looked into or considered and also that there was no effort or meetings to acquire it. Your persistence in claiming something you can't prove is bordering on conspiracy theory.

[Old&New]

There were discussions with Zion's bank on placing the theater on Main, to which they immediately said no. However, the city never proposed putting the theater around the corner on 100 South, next to the dinwoodey building.

[CofIKid]

I am sure the Zions property was initially looked at.. I just wish the city would have said why the site was not feasible to be included in the short list of contenders.

I am fine with the decision to remove the vacated buildings rather than reusing them.

Also here is the link that of the committees report.

http://ballardphotographix.com/News/DTtheatre071808.pdf

Orlando....one of the ideas the many ideas looked at by the committee was to use the two existing buildings, it was not the original or only proposal.

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by DMTower

He didn't say it was the "original plan", he said two of the buildings (likely the smaller ones) were included in one of several proposed plans. You keep trying to shape history to fit your narrative. I also think it's a pretty big assumption to say that the Zion's property was never looked into or considered and also that there was no effort or meetings to acquire it. Your persistence in claiming something you can't prove is bordering on conspiracy theory.

DMTower, I encourage you to look into it. I have been crazy busy with my job and wedding receptions. There's already proof that there was intent to use the existing buildings. Becker wanted to keep the buildings fronting Main Street and then demolish the press building behind them to build the theater portion. He wanted to use the existing buildings on Main Street as the theater entrance and lobby.

However, the main point of this, is that this proposal was a bad one. A terribly bad one. They not only tore down decent urban building stock, but now have brought on even more cost for demolition. Where is the justification that this is a more economical approach? How is this a justification to tear down decent older urban buildings when there are vast amount of vacant or underused land in downtown??!!

[DMTower]

The burden of proof doesn't fall on me as I am not the one making the claims about Ralph Becker and the theater. You keep saying that he misled people about the theater, well that is for you to prove seeing that no one else remembers anything of the sort. Whether the current theater proposal is a bad one is a matter of opinion. There only seem to be 2 or 3 of you that aren't happy with it and you aren't the only ones who know about urban planning and design, yet you continue stating your opinion as fact.

[Future Mayor]

The problem is, none of us know how much the parking lot owners wanted for their land, vs how much PRI sold the current land to the city for + demolition costs. So you can't simply state that with demolition this site is way more expensive. As was stated in the pdf, the use of two existing buildings on Main, was simply ONE idea that was thrown out there, it wasn't THE idea, but just one of many, so I don't see how you can claim that Mayor Becker mislead the public. I guess if that ONE idea, of several, is the only one someone chooses to remember then they may feel mislead, but as has been shown to us that isn't the case.

[ToysNoiz]

Photo bump

[SLC Projects]

It's not too late to save the Metro Building. Save what's left and include it with the development as a 8 story lobby.

[UTPlanner]

The buildings are gone or will be soon but I think that there's a lesson to be learned. If people don't come to public hearings and don't express their feelings to public officials, then most officials will assume that people have no problem with the project moving forward as is. There was a public process involved in the selection of this site and in the funding of the theater and there was very little opposition expressed. I think it's also important to note that although Mayor Becker has worked very hard to make sure that the UPAC happens, the City Council was also on board. The Mayor cannot take all the credit or the jeering.

Also Orlando you mentioned this, "Anderson would have fought this and would have tried to gain common ground with the citizens." I'm not sure if we're talking about the same man. Mayor Anderson ran this city like a tyrant. He wanted to make sure that everybody feared him and he did whatever he felt was right, there was no common ground or attempts at a general consensus with that man.

[Stenar]

There were a lot of people giving public input. Most of them didn't want to save those old eyesores. The only thing anyone was concerned about was the old bank with the barrel vault ceiling.

Some people tried to make a push to save those buildings online, like we did with the Deseret Building, but no one was interested in signing the petitions to save these buildings. It didn't get any traction.

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

The buildings are gone or will be soon but I think that there's a lesson to be learned. If people don't come to public hearings and don't express their feelings to public officials, then most officials will assume that people have no problem with the project moving forward as is. There was a public process involved in the selection of this site and in the funding of the theater and there was very little opposition expressed. I think it's also important to note that although Mayor Becker has worked very hard to make sure that the UPAC happens, the City Council was also on board. The Mayor cannot take all the credit or the jeering.

Also Orlando you mentioned this, "Anderson would have fought this and would have tried to gain common ground with the citizens." I'm not sure if we're talking about the same man. Mayor Anderson ran this city like a tyrant. He wanted to make sure that everybody feared him and he did whatever he felt was right, there was no common ground or attempts at a general consensus with that man.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by Orlando

I said that the theater portion would be built "in place" of the press building ,not in it. What I meant to say was that Mayor Becker's initial proposal was to keep all of the existing buildings on Main Street and to build the theater behind them, ie. in place of the press building.

The press building was very narrow. A broadway theatre with 2,500 seats would never fit on the lot where the press building was.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

Photo bump

Kind of weird to see the Marriott Hotel from that view.

[blm3034L!fe]

Originally Posted by Skystruck

SLCPA I don't know if you saw this or not but here is a pic taken by a forum member that I added 111 and 145 to. It is a different angle but 111 really does add to the skyline!

This is the best view of downtown SLC hands down.

[ajiuO]

I personally despised the metro building and am glad it's almost gone. The bank was kind of cool on the inside.. Unfortunately it was in the middle of a 🞵🞵🞵🞵 pile that was begging for redevelopment.. The tribune building and walker center are the only things I would be tremendously sad to loose on that whole block..

And on the subject of the walker center.. They are putting scaffolding up around the top portion of the building... I wonder whether doing??

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

The problem is, none of us know how much the parking lot owners wanted for their land, vs how much PRI sold the current land to the city for + demolition costs. So you can't simply state that with demolition this site is way more expensive. As was stated in the pdf, the use of two existing buildings on Main, was simply ONE idea that was thrown out there, it wasn't THE idea, but just one of many, so I don't see how you can claim that Mayor Becker mislead the public. I guess if that ONE idea, of several, is the only one someone chooses to remember then they may feel mislead, but as has been shown to us that isn't the case.

I pretty much would add a big ditto to that Future Mayor, and would also concur with the overwhelming majority who feel that the chosen location is superb. I for one am very enthusiastic about the future aesthetic mix of contemporary and historic architecture that will emerge on that section of Main. As far as Becker's role regarding UPAC, I seriously wonder if UPAC even would have finally happened without his impassioned leadership on the matter. At the very least, he moved the process forward by a decade, maybe more.



Glad to see this pic bumped. I look forward to the design release of the CCH, and adding it to the mix on this particular pic. I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the height and design will be a game changer.

Originally Posted by blm3034L!fe

This is the best view of downtown SLC hands down.

http://i33.photobucket.com


.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

And on the subject of the walker center.. They are putting scaffolding up around the top portion of the building... I wonder whether doing??

DOMO has bought the top floors of the building; I imagine they're either putting up additional signage or doing some renovation work to finish up their changes. I know there's a rooftop patio that they're sprucing up for their employees; don't know if that would require scaffolding though.