SLC: Performing Arts Center and 111 Tower

[delts145]

I agree with most of what you're saying Scott. While Pioneer, Kingsbury, etc. won't die, I'm sure there will be many forced adjustments necessary. Unfortunately, it's often difficult for people with engrained habits to make those adjustments comfortably. Some will be too slow, and will be retired and replaced with those who have the needed energy and innovation to continue the boomtown evolution of Salt Lake's march forward. Fair or unfair, that's life.

The Capitol Theatre is an excellent example of a venue that needed to make some serious adjustments in order to not only remain viable, but retain the hard earned prestige of Ballet West. The reconfiguration of the theatre seating, stage, foyer, orchestra pit, etc. have made it an even more focused venue. This, and the addition of the second to none Academy facility will lift Ballet West to the very top rarified tier of the crème della crème of Ballet Companies in North America.

Gateway is an excellent example of "change or get out of the way". Almost all of us predicted that Gateway would survive. However, there was almost always a big caveat to that. Gateway would be forced to change it's approach, and that was almost always the follow up comment by everyone. Gateway is far from dead. It is simply being forced to go through a rebirth. Fortunately for Gateway, I don't think for a minute it's going to take nearly as long as Trolley Squares continuing saga.

Trolley Square continues to underserve the community, even with the much needed addition of Whole Foods. It would also appear that the current developer/owner does not have deep enough pockets to really give Trolley Square the type of overhaul it and it's surrounding blocks need to succeed. At this point, unless a deep pocketed developer enters the picture, Trolley Square will just have to continue to wait for Salt Lake City's urbanity to grow up around it. By that I mean some serious urban density created on 4th,5th,6th So., and also 7th E. Anyone who has been to Trolley Square recently care to share their experience?

[utenation]

Groundbreaking for PAC. Some nice shots of Regent Street with cool street engagement.





Photo Credit: Deseret News

[scottharding]

Originally Posted by delts145

I agree with most of what you're saying Scott. While Pioneer, Kingsbury, etc. won't die, I'm sure there will be many forced adjustments necessary. Unfortunately, it's often difficult for people with engrained habits to make those adjustments comfortably. Some will be too slow, and will be retired and replaced with those who have the needed energy and innovation to continue the boomtown evolution of Salt Lake's march forward. Fair or unfair, that's life.

The Capitol Theatre is an excellent example of a venue that needed to make some serious adjustments in order to not only remain viable, but retain the hard earned prestige of Ballet West. The reconfiguration of the theatre seating, stage, foyer, orchestra pit, etc. have made it an even more focused venue. This, and the addition of the second to none Academy facility will lift Ballet West to the very top rarified tier of the crème della crème of Ballet Companies in North America.

Gateway is an excellent example of "change or get out of the way". Almost all of us predicted that Gateway would survive. However, there was almost always a big caveat to that. Gateway would be forced to change it's approach, and that was almost always the follow up comment by everyone. Gateway is far from dead. It is simply being forced to go through a rebirth. Fortunately for Gateway, I don't think for a minute it's going to take nearly as long as Trolley Squares continuing saga.

Trolley Square continues to underserve the community, even with the much needed addition of Whole Foods. It would also appear that the current developer/owner does not have deep enough pockets to really give Trolley Square the type of overhaul it and it's surrounding blocks need to succeed. At this point, unless a deep pocketed developer enters the picture, Trolley Square will just have to continue to wait for Salt Lake City's urbanity to grow up around it. By that I mean some serious urban density created on 4th,5th,6th So., and also 7th E. Anyone who has been to Trolley Square recently care to share their experience?

Exactly, Delts. That's what I'm trying to say. Like it or not, fair or not, many of the other theater venues will be forced to adapt, and there will be an initial dent in their operations while all the usual patrons want to spend their money on the fancy new attraction. That's just a fact. So they don't like it. It's the same thing we're hearing and will continue to hear from the other hotel owners downtown as the convention center comes to fruition, and in both cases its complicated by the fact that both the new theater and the new hotel or being heavily subsidized by the city and county. Growing pains, I guess.

[UTPlanner]

Does it feel like this groundbreaking was held way too early to anybody else? They haven't even finished demolition yet. I suppose it's all for show anyhow. I was talking to some people about taking down the final pieces. I guess they're still not quite sure how they're going to do it and keep it from falling into the street or neighboring structures.

[Comrade]

The biggest issue with Gateway is that it isn't that old. Trolley, Kingsbury, Pioneer - they were all built a generation ago and have aged out of being relevant in some instances. Gateway is only a decade old and was on the decline even before City Creek opened a few years ago.

The city invested a lot into that region and, while I won't suggest it's a failure, it hasn't lived up to the hype. Everything mentioned at the time has played out - just in reverse. The perception was that Gateway would kill off Main for good, but that was under the idea the two Main Street malls would operate at the same level they were around 2002. The LDS Church investing in the area gave Main new life and, in the process, handicapped the Gateway considerably. In the end, Salt Lake is just too small to support two major malls within blocks of each other.

So, now the city is left trying to figure out a way to redevelop the Gateway so that it doesn't become as desolate as the two Main Street malls did a decade ago. The problem is, there isn't an infinite amount of possibilities. The Gateway was built specifically because Salt Lake needed an updated retail center and the area, which had been rundown for quite some time, seemed like a logical choice - especially since it was supposed to anchor the west-end of downtown.

It hasn't.

You rarely see articles like this anymore:

http://archive.sltrib.com/printfriendly.php?id=2434723&itype=ngpsid

Ironically, in trying to save Main Street by disallowing Nordstrom from moving to the Gateway in 2003, the city killed Gateway. I don't fault 'em, because the logic was sound: if all the retail shifted to the Gateway, Main Street would dry up. It would have. The LDS Church would've had to reexamine its plans and a major retail center probably wouldn't be viable with the Gateway already firmly established with Nordstrom and even maybe Macy's. But it goes back to the idea that downtown can't support two major malls blocks apart (and I get ZCMI and Crossroads were two malls, but I still considered 'em one entity).

So, yeah, the Gateway will have to evolve. But again, into what? Does the SLC metro have the demographics to support a more adult-oriented entertainment district with night clubs, bars, sports bars and other activities?

Can the Gateway go from what it is today to something like this:

http://westgateaz.com/

Gateway should actively pursue the following options:

• Buffalo Wild Wings
• Hard Rock Cafe (bring it back to SLC)
• ESPN Zone
• Bubba Gump Shrimp Company
• House of Blues
• Rainforest Cafe
• Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville

I abhor chain restaurants most of the time, but most of those would be unique to Utah and allow for the Gateway to become a tourist destination so that it would have a great deal of foot traffic. It'd also be more tied into the entertainment theme and its location right next to the ESA should help.

But I don't know if any of those establishments would even be interested in coming to SLC. The Hard Rock didn't prosper here and who knows if they even would want to return?

But obviously something has to be fixed. Gateway has lost too much (like Old Navy closing in February) and it'll only continue. Then the perception will settle in that it's a failed development and no one will want anything to do with it. At that point, redeveloping the area, as we've seen with Trolley, could become infinitely harder.

[brankrom]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Can the Gateway go from what it is today to something like this:

http://westgateaz.com/

Gateway should actively pursue the following options:

I think something like that would be great. I'm not a fan of chain restaurants either but Gateway is going to die an agonizing death if management doesn't turn it around.

Thing is though while businesses here are successful, wages in Utah are low and disposable income is less, which could likely be because of the 10% "tax" many residents pay to the dominant multinational corporation. Add in large families, debt up to wazoo for four wheelers and RVs. Maybe going out to eat at the national chain feeding trough is something urban citizens of SLC like. There has to be a reason why national chains like those listed who are eyeing growth haven't made a push into Utah yet.

[utenation]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

Does it feel like this groundbreaking was held way too early to anybody else? They haven't even finished demolition yet. I suppose it's all for show anyhow. I was talking to some people about taking down the final pieces. I guess they're still not quite sure how they're going to do it and keep it from falling into the street or neighboring structures.

They've been adding new steel for weeks in the southeast corner of the entire lot..

Seeing the barebone steel of the remaing shell of the metro building shows the undertaking of that demo.. This thing was a fortress.. Very interested to see how they take this down. I personally think they could pull or have it fall to the north..

[ToysNoiz]

While on I-15, I noticed a couple new small cranes in the skyline. Are they on the PAC site?

[gusam26]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

While on I-15, I noticed a couple new small cranes in the skyline. Are they on the PAC site?

there's a new crane on the ESA Marriott site that might be it!

[jubguy3]

Originally Posted by gusam26

there's a new crane on the ESA Marriott site that might be it!

There were also two on the PAC site.
And before I get too confused... What is ESA marriot, I forgot what and where it is...

[delts145]

That's the new Courtyard Marriott over next to the Energy Solutions Arena



http://www.beecherwalker.com

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

ESA Marriott is starting to rise above ground level.

Pic By Future Mayor

[ToysNoiz]

Photos taken yesterday.













New Renderings of Theater and lobby

Notice "Eccles"

[mrawesome]

Just saying, but I think this looks MUCH better than what they had before.

[Future Mayor]

That is going to be an absolutely fantastic venue that is only going to increase the status and success of the overall arts community in Salt Lake City, Wasatch Front, and Utah.

[utenation]

Originally Posted by ToysNoiz

Photos taken yesterday.

Nice pics.. It also answers my questions about how they will get the huge steel beams down without a disaster..

[Orlando]

I think that façade and design is going to look dated and boring in 20 or so year from now. Don't let the renderings fool you.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by Orlando

I think that façade and design is going to look dated and boring in 20 or so year from now. Don't let the renderings fool you.

I agree.

When the architect was announced, I said we'd get a box, because the architect website showed a lot of boring boxes for other performing arts centers they'd designed and that's what we got.

111 is a boring box, too. I wasn't super excited about the accordion look of the old design, but would highly prefer that to what we ended up with.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

That is going to be an absolutely fantastic venue that is only going to increase the status and success of the overall arts community in Salt Lake City, Wasatch Front, and Utah.

I enthusiastically agree. I also think that if anything the renderings are underwhelming, not only on the Tower, but even on the PAC. IMO, the center will be far more stunning in reality than the renderings portray. I also think it's fit is excellent for the Main Street location.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by delts145

I enthusiastically agree. I also think that if anything the renderings are underwhelming, not only on the Tower, but even on the PAC. IMO, the center will be far more stunning in reality than the renderings portray. I also think it's fit is excellent for the Main Street location.

Renderings almost always look better than a final building. So, I doubt they are underwhelming compared to the final product.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by Stenar

Renderings almost always look better than a final building. So, I doubt they are underwhelming compared to the final product.

222 looked faaarr better in real life compared to the renderings.