Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[ToysNoiz]

^^^^^

Very cool. Kinda feel like renting it from redbox and stealing my brother's xbox just to check out downtown.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Stenar

So, the convention hotel was supposed to sit on the back burner for another decade or two? It's already been in the long-term plan for a couple of decades, so now's the time. We need a mayor who can do the hard push. These projects would've languished for decades more without someone like Becker.

I disagree with Luke Garrott on most issues, so I wouldn't support his candidacy. (Even though I liked him when he was my college professor.)

Naw, we're on the same page. Becker is great, and I support him finally getting these regional projects secured for Salt Lake City. If you look back at my comments what I'm mainly saying is that our future doesn't seem to be defined by delayed regional projects now. So the next chapter of Becker's legacy isn't going to be about that anyway. I think Garrott will basically run a symbolic campaign for better inventment in local transit and neighborhood improvements and I think that will put more light on a shift towards what's to come. I would also still vote for Becker.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

Naw, we're on the same page. Becker is great, and I support him finally getting these regional projects secured for Salt Lake City. If you look back at my comments what I'm mainly saying is that our future doesn't seem to be defined by delayed regional projects now. So the next chapter of Becker's legacy isn't going to be about that anyway. I think Garrott will basically run a symbolic campaign for better inventment in local transit and neighborhood improvements and I think that will put more light on a shift towards what's to come. I would also still vote for Becker.

Good.

I don't know how he can say UTA doesn't have good bus coverage in SLC. I don't think any city transit system could compete with this:

[Comrade]

Just for fun: If Salt Lake were its own state.



With a population of just 191,180, it would be the smallest state in the union - by both population and land size.

I made this because of the recent trend of certain areas of the country wanting to break off and form their own state (California is an example). Obviously not realistic.

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Just for fun: If Salt Lake were its own state.



With a population of just 191,180, it would be the smallest state in the union - by both population and land size.

I made this because of the recent trend of certain areas of the country wanting to break off and form their own state (California is an example). Obviously not realistic.

Still a better shape than Maryland.

[JMK]

Another wakeup call for the Gateway to make some big changes

Z'Tejas restaurant closing at The Gateway

One of the original restaurants at The Gateway will serve its last meal in Salt Lake City early next month.

Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill announced Tuesday it will be closing its Utah location at The Gateway shopping and entertainment center on Aug. 2. Until then, the restaurant will continue regular operations.

The closure is being prompted by more than two years of declining patronage, explained company spokesman Kennedy Turner.

“It’s based on more competition in the downtown area,” Turner said. “We appreciate every one of our guests, but unfortunately over the past few years, there have been fewer and fewer.”

The franchise was among the first dining establishments to open its doors at The Gateway in 2001. Now it is among a growing number of closings, following in the footsteps of Biaggi’s, the Italian restaurant that shut down last year; and Thaifoon, the Asian-themed establishment that closed in late 2012. All had been popular for a time before falling prey to growing economic pressures due to increased competition from other downtown dining options.

“We are sad to leave a market where we’ve been able to showcase the best of southwest cooking for the last 13 years,” said Steven Micheletti, president and chief executive officer of Z’Tejas.

The Gateway location employs about 50 people, Turner said. The southwestern-theme eatery franchise has 10 other locations in Arizona, California and Texas.

Though he left open the slight possibility of re- establishing a new restaurant in another location in the future, Turner said there are currently no plans to do so.

“It’s unfortunate to have to leave the market, but hopefully we’ll have some fun over the next two weeks,” he said.

http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=3082628...ant-closing-at-the-gateway&s_cid=queue-1

[Makid]

Hopefully this will help the management of the Gateway to focus more on being an entertainment and recreation destination as opposed to a shopping destination first.

There are many ways that they can go but I do hope that they start to think of themselves as something other than just a shopping destination.

With everything happening around the Gateway currently, now is the time they should really start to focus on an identity and push that identity as they go forward.

[delts145]

Just wait, as soon as we have a firm schedule on the new CCH, and with the hundred's of new apartment units and neighboring hotel rooms coming on line, it won't be long before we see some major reinvestment in Gateway. IMO, Gateway will soon be singing a tune about a very bright future. Actually, based on what is currently happening immediately around Gateway, and looking at what is about to develop, we probably should be anticipating a bit of a game going on right now played by Gateway owners and potential future investment partners. That is if the game hasn't already started. Most likely the owners anticipating the near and mid future are wanting to see a natural volunteer termination of certain long standing lease contracts. There will come a time in the not too distant future when Gateways value will increase substantially. I'm sure there are many interested parties who are already salivating over what will be a reinvented Gateway that demands premium rates.

The new CCH center here in Los Angeles has had a phenomenal impact on the west side of Downtown L.A. Infact, I would say that the soon to be announced CCH will have about as much an impact on Downtown Salt Lake City as had the overall impact of the City Creek Center. Los Angeles could really use the layout design of a City Creek Center right now. If Salt Lake gets an outstanding CCH like L.A's, combined with it's incomparable downtown CCC, there's no stopping the acceleration of the continuing boom of Salt Lake's CBD. Seriously, there are precious few cities outside of the majors on the coasts that have the potential convention draw of the Salt Lake we're going to see develop over the next decade.

[JMK]

Photo update of the residential project going up on 500 S and 300 E. I can't remember the name

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by JMK

Photo update of the residential project going up on 500 S and 300 E. I can't remember the name

Coming along nicely. Did you happen to swing by 111's site?

[gusam26]

Originally Posted by JMK

Another wakeup call for the Gateway to make some big changes

Z'Tejas restaurant closing at The Gateway




http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=3082628...ant-closing-at-the-gateway&s_cid=queue-1

I don't know if this has been posted here, but there's also a new restaurant opening at the gateway. http://www.shopthegateway.com/component/k2/item/1195-dopo-restaurant-opening-at-the-gateway

[asies1981]

GREENbikes has expanded and some new bike lanes are on their way. http://www.theslcblog.org/?p=556

[delts145]

^^^
Great catch Gusam26. Here we go, this is exactly what Makid was talking about. Already we're seeing the redefinition of Gateway.

Ya know Stenar, not that Ken B. is wrong for the redefining of the AIR Center, but putting it closer to Gateway is probably an excellent idea. That is, especially if the CCH is located at and or around the RWP site.

DOPO Restaurant Opening at The Gateway!

Retail Properties of America, Inc. announced today DOPO, LLC is opening a new restaurant concept, DOPO, at The Gateway in Salt Lake City, Utah.

DOPO, meaning "NEXT" in Italian, is an upscale, live music-oriented restaurant, featuring Mediterranean and Italian fare with nightly live jazz. DOPO will feature a 1930's supper club ambiance, with special amenities such as the sale of roses, orchids, boutonnieres, Italian chocolate cigars, and more.

"The "Italian Diaspora" was the substantial migration of Italians from about 1900 to 1950. Not only did Italians populate countries bordering the Mediterranean, but South America as well, where for example, 60% of Argentina's population is of Italian descent," said Executive Chef Christian Maymi. "DOPO represents what Italians did "NEXT", by absorbing influences of local cuisine, music and culture."

DOPO is expected to open in August of 2014.
- See more at: http://www.shopthegateway.com/component/...ning-at-the-gateway#sthash.BwUacCqz.dpuf

[ryerop]

http://www.shopthegateway.com/gateway-news-and-events/item/1128-gameworks-is-coming-to-the-gateway
Has anyone heard if the place called Gameworks is still planning on opening in the old Skybox location down there at the Gateway? If they are that is going to be another help for the Gateway. I haven't been down there for a while so it could even be open now, but I couldn't find anything saying that it was already open either. I really hope, and think you guys are right that it's just a matter of time, and probably not long until we can see some good things happening over at and around the Gateway...they are really already started as was said with the hotels and housing going up around the area over there. Anyway, hopefully this is still going to be happening over there to help with some momentum for them.

[justiny]

I honestly hadn't realized just how much Gateway has changed since I moved away over 11 years ago. I knew that CCC would have some impact... Are there other factors inhibiting Gateway's prosperity besides CCC?

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by justiny

I honestly hadn't realized just how much Gateway has changed since I moved away over 11 years ago. I knew that CCC would have some impact... Are there other factors inhibiting Gateway's prosperity besides CCC?

Honestly, the biggest factor hurting the gateway is the wall effect it has along the street (not unlike the old downtown malls). If they would somehow make the parking go underground through the street like City Creek Center and put restaurants with outdoor seating in along that monolithic wall, it would make for a great welcome mat into the mall and bring the street to life. The most living section of the Gateway is the most exposed to the street section near the Megaplex.

[ToysNoiz]

I may be wrong, but it appears that the yellow sign on the Wells Fargo tower is gone. could someone get a photo?

[Boiseguy]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

Honestly, the biggest factor hurting the gateway is the wall effect it has along the street (not unlike the old downtown malls). If they would somehow make the parking go underground through the street like City Creek Center and put restaurants with outdoor seating in along that monolithic wall, it would make for a great welcome mat into the mall and bring the street to life. The most living section of the Gateway is the most exposed to the street section near the Megaplex.

i was just down in salt lake two weeks ago, and I think you're right.. the gateway was a total pain in the 🞵🞵🞵 to park at and even more of a pain in the 🞵🞵🞵 to get around in. It seemed like one of those malls people go to because ONE particular store or restaurant is there that they like.vs a place to spend a day…making it even more of a pain in the 🞵🞵🞵... CCC on the other hand was easy to park at, welcoming, and for the most part a place that blends well with the cityscape..
From what I saw, I don't really think downtown can truly support two shopping centers of that magnitude.. CCC is big and serves the needs of retail for the city just fine…downtown doesn't seem to really attract people from the burbs much in terms of regional shopping.. I saw lots of tourists for the most part at CCC and of course people who work downtown…
I dunno.. I wasn't really impressed with the gateway.. also, the salt lake valley and even davis county (which is within a 20 mile radius has a LOT of shopping centers of regional size that really take away from downtown being an option)
Salt Lake should have gone crazy annexing all the little towns back in the day..because essentially with all these little towns making up the valley that is the urban area, you have all these competing entities for tax bases..more so than a lot of other urban areas..
also, I got a snob vibe from a few locals regarding downtown.. like.. as if going downtown is a bad option… is that because it's where all those terrible liberal people live? lol

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Boiseguy

i was just down in salt lake two weeks ago, and I think you're right.. the gateway was a total pain in the 🞵🞵🞵 to park at and even more of a pain in the 🞵🞵🞵 to get around in. It seemed like one of those malls people go to because ONE particular store or restaurant is there that they like.vs a place to spend a day…making it even more of a pain in the 🞵🞵🞵... CCC on the other hand was easy to park at, welcoming, and for the most part a place that blends well with the cityscape..
From what I saw, I don't really think downtown can truly support two shopping centers of that magnitude.. CCC is big and serves the needs of retail for the city just fine…downtown doesn't seem to really attract people from the burbs much in terms of regional shopping.. I saw lots of tourists for the most part at CCC and of course people who work downtown…
I dunno.. I wasn't really impressed with the gateway.. also, the salt lake valley and even davis county (which is within a 20 mile radius has a LOT of shopping centers of regional size that really take away from downtown being an option)
Salt Lake should have gone crazy annexing all the little towns back in the day..because essentially with all these little towns making up the valley that is the urban area, you have all these competing entities for tax bases..more so than a lot of other urban areas..
also, I got a snob vibe from a few locals regarding downtown.. like.. as if going downtown is a bad option… is that because it's where all those terrible liberal people live? lol

City Creek Center is high end and leased out for space. The Gateway, has a place, not for high end retail, but certainly we need our game stops and hot topics and 🞵🞵🞵🞵. If they can facilitate more night life and resturants that would give them a nice niche for all the spill off from the new hotels and from the Jazz games. It also needs to serve the needs of all the new apartments and condos poping up in that area. It needs a drug store, a Gold's Gym, and stuff like that.

[bob rulz]

Yes, Gateway needs a focus on more places that locals will want to come to. It doesn't need to be an "event" destination where people come to spend a whole day from all around the valley. It doesn't need to compete with City Creek Center. It will die if it tries to.

Although obviously it does need at least a few event destinations. It has those in the movie theater, the Planetarium, probably some other places, too. As many people have been saying, if it could shift its focus more to entertainment, in addition to resident shopping options, it could thrive again.

Also, maybe you were just using it as an example, but ew @ Gold's Gym. If it were up to me, all those hellholes would be torn down. They're in the business of ripping people off, worse than any other gym I'm aware of.