Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I'm guessing you'd take Denver over Phoenix though.


Image from wikipedia


I personally like the look of the Denver hotel and would love to see something in that style on RWP.

I hope our CCH looks nothing like that.. Looks so way to plane.. I would almost take the Shilo over that as well

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

What I don't get is how did SLC get all those 45-50 story proposals back 30 years ago when there were by far fewer people living here then vs now? Clearly the demand was never there back then, but developers back then seem to dare to dream big while today if there's ever a demand for anything that tall it's right now, but all we continue to get are 20 ish story buildings.

It seems like the triad center was originally suppose to have two 40+ story office buildings and several 25-30 story residential buildings.. In fact I think the residential buildings are the main reason that we have the nice parking lot block that we do today.... The triad center ripped down everything on the block except for the building on the corner of third west and north Temple.... I could be off on the height of the buildings though.

I have mixed feelings on the Triad Ctr., in a way I'm kind of glad it went bunk... Can you imagine three city blocks full of tall buildings that look like the triad center.... Ikky

[ajiuO]

[scottharding]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

I normally only like to share good development news but I only have bad news about the La Porte project on State Street. There has been a lot of problems with that project from the very beginning. Many have been out of their control but others were definitely self inflicted. I'm sure you've noticed that there hasn't been any workers there over the last few weeks. I was speaking to a building inspector and he told me that there are significant design flaws. During inspection of the steel beams they found that none of the welds were holding up. They have been doing pressure tests and thus far all have failed. The steel installation will need to be completed redesigned. Meanwhile, there are huge cash flow issues as the project languishes.

I worried about something like this way back when the developer was selected by the RDA... I've heard awful things about La Porte. I was hoping what I'd heard was unfair, but it seems like their reputation is accurate, laying an egg like this.

[Makid]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

I have mixed feelings on the Triad Ctr., in a way I'm kind of glad it went bunk... Can you imagine three city blocks full of tall buildings that look like the triad center.... Ikky

The main part that I lament about this not being completed is that we ended up getting the Gateway.

The reason I say this is that if the Triad Center twin towers had been built there is a good chance that the Union Pacific depot would have been re-used and expanded as an all inclusive transit center.

Just imagine the towers there with today's layout for Trax going down South Temple (was in planning before the Triad original announcement). We could have possibly had 1 or more below grade transit line (Trax or Frontrunner or even both) making the Union Pacific depot a true Transit Hub with Commuter Rail, Bus, Amtrak (possible) and Trax all intermingling in an area of 4th to 5th West and North Temple to 1st South.

Compare that with what we currently have with the Intermodal Hub.

Sure, in another 28 years or so, the Hub area will have changed (hopefully) but any time someone brings up the original Triad Plans, I just think about what we could have had for a transit center.

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by Makid

The main part that I lament about this not being completed is that we ended up getting the Gateway.

The reason I say this is that if the Triad Center twin towers had been built there is a good chance that the Union Pacific depot would have been re-used and expanded as an all inclusive transit center.

Just imagine the towers there with today's layout for Trax going down South Temple (was in planning before the Triad original announcement). We could have possibly had 1 or more below grade transit line (Trax or Frontrunner or even both) making the Union Pacific depot a true Transit Hub with Commuter Rail, Bus, Amtrak (possible) and Trax all intermingling in an area of 4th to 5th West and North Temple to 1st South.

Compare that with what we currently have with the Intermodal Hub.

Sure, in another 28 years or so, the Hub area will have changed (hopefully) but any time someone brings up the original Triad Plans, I just think about what we could have had for a transit center.

I suppose the brown glass could've been swapped out for something a little more modern by now..

I got pretty excited when I saw the new updated glass on that small new section of the triad center... I was hoping the glass on the whole complex would be changed to match that... Unfortunately I don't think that is happening.... I don't know what they were thinking with that brown glass... I honestly thought it was kind of ugly even back in the 80s... My disdain for the triad center is probably a little biased though... I have to look at the thing from my sofa every day :-/

You know.. We have a lot of really ugly buildings here... Not to say that we don't have some really nice ones to...

I think everything built between the 1950s to the end of the 1980s and the new courthouse building is pretty much ugly

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

I suppose the brown glass could've been swapped out for something a little more modern by now..

I got pretty excited when I saw the new updated glass on that small new section of the triad center... I was hoping the glass on the whole complex would be changed to match that... Unfortunately I don't think that is happening.... I don't know what they were thinking with that brown glass... I honestly thought it was kind of ugly even back in the 80s... My disdain for the triad center is probably a little biased though... I have to look at the thing from my sofa every day :-/

The Shilo lights shine in through your window, and you have to stare at the Triad Center from the couch? You poor soul....

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

The Shilo lights shine in through your window, and you have to stare at the Triad Center from the couch? You poor soul....

The red neon on the Shilo Inn has been gone for about 1 to 2 months.. The new owners of the building shut that — off :-)

It's funny too because I wrote the new owners of that building a long email about how ugly it is and how much I'm looking forward to it being remodeled.. like a day before the light stop coming on

[bflatflat9]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

I Remember driving by (repeatedly) the site of the first high rise
to be built on the NE corner of So. Temple and 4th West. They had the big picture out front, and a — load of steel beams laying in wait. They had already had the groundbreaking, etc.
I think it was all mostly a pipe dream of Kashoggi's. He had pulled a similar stunt I think in Denver, I don't remember quite all the improprieties he was trying to get over on, but his real estate venture there bombed similarly.
It broke my heart.
Would a' been quite the game changer for the whole west downtown relationship dynamic with all the LDS land ownings and plans they had/have.
More than anything, it would have been investment of downtown--BIG.!
Oh well, not the first carpet bagger to blow through.
The towers started out at 43, then 38, then 35 stories before it all went south.
Nice to see the opposite happen with 151, ...the little building that could.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

I suppose the brown glass could've been swapped out for something a little more modern by now..

I got pretty excited when I saw the new updated glass on that small new section of the triad center... I was hoping the glass on the whole complex would be changed to match that...
Unfortunately I don't think that is happening.... I don't know what they were thinking with that brown glass... I honestly thought it was kind of ugly even back in the 80s... My disdain for
the triad center is probably a little biased though... I have to look at the thing from my sofa every day :-/

That's pretty interesting AjiuO. Where is this small section of new glass exactly? Could anyone happen to grab a little pic while passing by? I think I would have to agree that all of that
development with the brown glass would have been waaay overwhelming, but I've never been turned off by the look of the Triad Campus in it's current dimensions. I think the scope of Triad
we ended up with is fine and fits in well for that block. I much prefer the look of Triad's brick, glass and attractive landscaping to much of the stucco — I see around in most cities.

I'm still wondering about the Shilo site being used as the site for the new CCH. While I like the thought of it, I'm thinking the same as Future Mayor. I just can't imagine that site being able
to accommodate everything that seems to be needed for this specific hotel. I wouldn't be opposed to a well designed spacious tunnel under Pierpont, into the parking lot, and also a well placed
tunnel under 2nd S. I would be very suspicious though of what kind of street engagement they would want to place on Pierpont at it's southwestern entrance on W. Temple. I loathe that
parking structure, over on the 2nd W. end.

Actually, an enclosed skybridge could be very cool over Pierpont, but it would have to be of a very historically authentic design, nothing faux or
reference pretending. Something that would be very true to the beautiful historic structures still standing on Pierpont. Remember the incredible Hotel that was planned for that site originally,
(I'll look it up and post it below). Now that would be a style surrounding on both sides of the W. Temple entrance to Pierpont that would charm, compliment and lure people in to a potentially
truly unique street for Downtown Salt Lake. Anything comtemporary would be a big blunder at the W. Temple entrance.

Note the south facing Pierpont façade, which would have been the engagement on the north side of Pierpont, where the Shilo parking garage sits today.

..."suffice it to say that it will be the most elegant, costly and finest equipped hotel plant between Chicago and the Pacific Coast." (Salt Lake Tribune 01 Jan 1891)


The Italian Renaissance design of the center portico of the Ontario Hotel,(designed by Mr. Louis Sullivan himself) would make for a great bridge entrance straddleing Pierpont at W. Temple.
I would like to see some old interior pics of the Sullivan on the corner. That was actually built, and was the original Alta Club. Articles on the interior describe it as elaborate by the most
opulent of standards.

http://saltlakearchitecture.blogspot.com/2009/03/ontario-hotel.html

[ctobsl]

"That's pretty interesting AjiuO. Where is this small section of new glass exactly?"

Delts,

Here is a link with a photo of the Triad with the new glass addition.
Photo and link provided by S.P. Hansen47

https://flic.kr/p/9HUJ6D

[AllOutOfBubbleGum]

Originally Posted by ctobsl

"That's pretty interesting AjiuO. Where is this small section of new glass exactly?"

Delts,

Here is a link with a photo of the Triad with the new glass addition.
Photo and link provided by S.P. Hansen47

https://flic.kr/p/9HUJ6D

It's a Library extension for BYU slc. The brown glass is to keep the sun down in the buildings but that location the sun don't shine much so no need for tint.

[delts145]

Ah, Okay, I like it. Makes for a nice contrast to the brown glass. It would be an improvement to put that same finish of glass over on the northeast corner of the midrise to the left.

Pic By SPHansen

.

[scottharding]

This is pretty cool.... It's a letter about, or rather, to Salt Lake City written by Ty Burrell (Modern Family, owner of the Beer Bar and Bar X, among other things downtown) that ran in the Huffington Post:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/love-letters/a-love-letter-to-salt-lak_b_5317957.html

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by bflatflat9

The towers started out at 43, then 38, then 35 stories before it all went south.
Nice to see the opposite happen with 151, ...the little building that could.

Well, 151 hasn't even begun construction. They had begun and even had some steel erected or something like that with the triad towers. I'm still a little leery of both 101 and 151 being built now.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Well, 151 hasn't even begun construction. They had begun and even had some steel erected or something like that with the triad towers. I'm still a little leery of both 101 and 151 being built now.

101 building is already built and just about ready to open for what I can see. Unless you meant 111 South Main.

[jedikermit]

This is the coolest thing I've seen all day. For a few days, even:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/love-letters/a-love-letter-to-salt-lak_b_5317957.html

A Love Letter To Salt Lake City, By Ty Burrell

Ty Burrell is best known as Phil Dunphy on ABC's "Modern Family." He's also performed in films, plays and TV shows. Though he hails from Grants Pass, Oregon, he now calls Salt Lake City home, where he owns Beer Bar.

Dear Salt Lake City,

Ours has been a relatively brief love, but a strong one nonetheless. I met you in 1999 when I did a play at the Pioneer Theatre Company as a way of spending more time near my girlfriend, now wife, Holly. I loved you immediately for your humility and your unassuming nature.

Over the next 10 years my wife and I travelled back and forth to spend time with family and began to fall deeper in love with your incredibly affordable lifestyle and immediate access to the outdoors. We fell so deeply that we didn't feel like we could be apart anymore and we moved from New York in 2008.

I'm sorry but over the past 6 years we've become stalkers. It's your fault. We didn't realize the incredible impact that having the differing viewpoints of both the religious and secular populations of Utah would have on us. So many cities are actually mono-cultures and Salt Lake has an inherent diversity that's not always apparent. We didn't realize that the earnest, good nature of your citizens would lead to a feeling of wanting to pitch in even more, or that it would lead to us investing in this growing community. Nor did we realize that the same qualities of affordability and proximity to nature that brought us here would also bring thousands of creative folks wanting to raise their families in this ridiculously beautiful place.

I'm fairly certain that you're about to explode onto the national scene in the way that some other smaller cities have in the past 10 years. I will try to keep my jealousies at bay as people move here. I'll make you a deal. If, as you grow, you pay attention with great detail to traffic, air quality, conservation, affordable housing, and social justice, then I will work hard to never get so weirdly possessive that you need to take out a restraining order.

With Love, Ty

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

101 building is already built and just about ready to open for what I can see. Unless you meant 111 South Main.

Good Catch! 101, 111 ... I meant 111.

[Orlando]

/\/\/\
/\/\/\
Interesting article. I had no idea he lived in SLC. I wonder how he manages doing filming for Modern Family in LA or wherever and having his permanent residence in SLC. There's a hilarious billboard of him here in Seattle.

[Orlando]

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/86560...eils-electric-car-charging-stations.html

New car charging stations were highlighted today by officials touting clean air and new infrastructure. Mayor Ralph Becker joined Cody Stewart from the Utah Office of Energy Development and Ted Wilson from the Utah Clean Air Partnership to announce new Salt Lake City infrastructure that supports electric vehicles and air quality goals in the region. The charging stations are at 255 E. 500 South.