Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4 - Page 185

scottharding · #**3681** Posted **Oct 3, 2015, 9:46 PM**

Thanks for the update, Ken. The project is looking great. I love how mixed-use it is! I hope you start a bit of a trend here. Keep it up! Can't wait to see it become a reality (and cover up the Federal Courthouse building from the west and South west.)

bflatflat9 · #**3682** Posted **Oct 4, 2015, 3:00 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

Thanks for the update, Ken. The project is looking great. I love how mixed-use it is! I hope you start a bit of a trend here. Keep it up! Can't wait to see it become a reality (and cover up the Federal Courthouse building from the west and South west.)

Ditto.

s.p.hansen · #**3683** Posted **Oct 4, 2015, 6:45 PM**

I'm excited Ken. This should do wonders in offering something unique to utah's nightlife and it's really going to help the area south and west in developing their night scene.

(Eco)nomy_404 · #**3684** Posted **Oct 4, 2015, 11:22 PM**

SALT LAKE CITY — More people rode public transit in Utah during the last full week of September than ever before.

The Utah Transit Authority reported Wednesday that more people rode TRAX and FrontRunner trains during the week of Sept. 20 than at any time in the agency's history. Preliminary data showed 567,892 weekday boardings from Sunday, Sept. 20, through Saturday, Sept. 26 — an all-time record, UTA spokesman Remi Barron said.

The high volume of riders was attributed to several community events, including Salt Lake Comic Con, Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey's Circus XTREME and the LDS women's conference. To accommodate the extra passengers, UTA added extra cars on TRAX trains and increased the frequency of its service, Barron said.

Ridership record for UTA set last week http://ksl.com/?sid=36762174

Orlando · #**3685** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 2:03 AM**

Ken,
Thanks for your efforts in bringing something unique to downtown. Just curious, have you been reviewing the design with the city?

Scottk · #**3686** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 7:55 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPBDEV

Update: AUC is now VCC

Hi as promised I wanted to provide an update on our project. As most of you are aware, our original development was named the AIR URBAN CENTER (AUC). We are now adding a large amount of class A office space in our podium to house all corporate, licensing and sales functions for a new technology/entertainment company I founded last year in Utah called THE VOID. Because of this decision and due to the massive exposure we have received worldwide, especially in Asian markets (which BTW has aided in our capital raising efforts for this project) we have decided to rename AUC as - THE VOID CORPORATE CENTER (VCC). Thousands of publications worldwide have written/reported about THE VOID since we released information about our business plan and technology. For more information visit: http://www.thevoid.com.

I’m also very excited to announce our Hotel Flag! We have chosen the THOMPSON HOTEL brand (Commune Hotel Group) as our partner. This is one of the most exciting hotel operators in the US. Their amenities, style and operational excellence is second to none. It took a while to get Commune excited about the SLC market, but after much effort SLC and our VCC will be the next home to a shiny new THOMPSON HOTEL. Commune has opened several new THOMPSON HOTELS in markets such as NYC, San Francisco, Seattle, Chicago, etc. with much fanfare. Although SLC is a smaller market than the typical gateway cities which Commune has built their recent hotels, after much due-diligence/research, they agreed with our perspective that SLC is about to experience a development boom. Dozens of out of state technology companies are moving into Utah, as well as many home grown companies expanding (THE VOID being one of them including a large development campus/studio). This is going to continue to fuel the growth and development of downtown SLC. SLC is very much under serviced concerning hotel options and rooms. Also more development is needed in areas of food & beverage, nightlife and of course housing within the city. For more information about the THOMPSON HOTEL brand visit: http://www.thompsonhotels.com.

VCC will house the same amenities as planned in the original AUC with the exception of the additional corporate office space. The components of our mixed use project is as follows:

Class A Office Space (Primary Tenant - THE VOID)
Urban Styled Hotel (247 Rooms - THOMPSON HOTEL)
Exclusive Residential Condos (Amazing Views of SLC/Mountains/Lake)
2 Restaurants/Lounges (Expect something great!)
Pool Side Club & Asian Gardens (Podium Rooftop Level - Includes Outdoor Event Space)
Massive Nightclub
Quick Spa & Fitness Center (Hotel & Residential Guests)
Event & Meeting Space(s)
Convenient Ski/Snowboard Lockers

There are several additional/unique features/services to our mixed use project.

We still have more work to do, but we are hopeful that construction will start by the spring of 2016. Construction is expected to last between 20 to 24 months. I will continue to post additional information/details, images, etc. as I’m able.

On a personal note … I hope you share in my excitement for this great project. This is been more work and frankly time/money/effort than I could have ever anticipated. Our entire team was extremely dedicated (we never gave up). As mentioned we still have some small parts to wrap up, but VCC is going up soon!

Cheers, Ken

Overall I think that SLC is way behind on urbanism...., but that is a beautiful building that you all should be very proud of. Really nice.

Stenar · #**3687** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 8:51 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottharding

Thanks for the update, Ken. The project is looking great. I love how mixed-use it is! I hope you start a bit of a trend here. Keep it up! Can't wait to see it become a reality (and cover up the Federal Courthouse building from the west and South west.)

Really!?? This design is extremely tacky. I'd rather see the Courthouse.

Orlando · #**3688** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 7:34 PM**

http://utahurbanforum.freeforums.org/general-salt-lake-msa-developments-f18.html

Wow. The tech geeks have taken over this site. Why?!

linguisize · #**3689** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 7:56 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando

http://utahurbanforum.freeforums.org/general-salt-lake-msa-developments-f18.html

Wow. The tech geeks have taken over this site. Why?!

Are there no mods there? It's all the same user spamming a couple of links, pretty sure it's a bot/ a few bots. Seems like a quick block would solve that issue just fine.

asies1981 · #**3690** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 8:25 PM**

Ken didn't mention it, but the VCC passed the Conditional Building and Site Design Review last week. I wrote a post on the project. Here are the planning documents. Remember if you can't donate, a free way to contribute is by clicking on ads!

SLC Projects · #**3691** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 9:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by asies1981

Remember if you can't donate, a free way to contribute is by clicking on ads!

Well, I was going to view your story until you started asking us to click on your ads.

Stenar · #**3692** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 10:23 PM**

We need to strengthen Salt Lake's design requirements and the design review so horrific designs like this don't get built.

I predict that within 5 years, everyone in SLC is going to be calling this an eyesore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by asies1981

Ken didn't mention it, but the VCC passed the Conditional Building and Site Design Review last week. I wrote a post on the project. Here are the planning documents. Remember if you can't donate, a free way to contribute is by clicking on ads!

s.p.hansen · #**3693** Posted **Oct 5, 2015, 11:58 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

We need to strengthen Salt Lake's design requirements and the design review so horrific designs like this don't get built.

I predict that within 5 years, everyone in SLC is going to be calling this an eyesore.

How is it that this makes you say that instead of all the half assed white stucco apartments?

The building is fine. The massing and everything is fine. If the shapes in the glass looks out of date it's a matter of some new windows. The bones and overall nightlife contribution is solid. It looks like something very contemporary to new stuff in Miami and Las Vegas. And that's kind of the point...

Going up 4th South headed East, we see that building, the modern style courthouse, and the Mid-Century Modern Ken Garff Building. I think it's perfect.

Orlando · #**3694** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 12:50 AM**

Ya, as much as I appreciate all the work that has been done by Ken, and as much as I would love to have something that size at that location, that design is awful. The whole green glass and slanted darker glass, and the awkward jogs and voids is just "tacky". I'm sorry Ken. I thank you so much for your efforts, but I just can't not say that it needs more work. As the only architect that I know of on this forum, I give my professional opinion that the exterior shell of this building needs much refinement.

KPBDEV · #**3695** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 1:48 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando

Ken,
Thanks for your efforts in bringing something unique to downtown. Just curious, have you been reviewing the design with the city?

Yes we have ...

EPdesign · #**3696** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 2:05 AM**

Just build it. Explain later.

KPBDEV · #**3697** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 2:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPBDEV

Yes we have ...

Orlando and Stenar I humbly disagree. However, everyone has a right to their own opinion. I personally love the design (very urban and modern, similar to great designs you will find in Vancouver, Toronto, Austin, etc.). I love the work IBI does and I believe that our design is a great example. We have had amazing response to this design by dozens of architects, designers and developers (local and international). Stenar I find it interesting that you hate our design so much yet when I first presented it a few months ago you didn't appear to mind it (certainly you were not completely negative about it as you are now). Orlando I appreciate what you are suggesting, just keep in mind that what I have presented is only a basic render of our development, more work to do on the materials, textures and various elements to finalize the total look/feel. More to come soon ...

jubguy3 · #**3698** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 2:21 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

Really!?? This design is extremely tacky. I'd rather see the Courthouse.

you're tacky

jubguy3 · #**3699** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 2:23 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stenar

We need to strengthen Salt Lake's design requirements and the design review so horrific designs like this don't get built.

I predict that within 5 years, everyone in SLC is going to be calling this an eyesore.

we need to strengthen stenar's fashion requirements and the fashion review so horrific that outfits like this don't get built.

i predict that within 5 years, everyone is going to be calling stenar an eyesore.

Stenar · #**3700** Posted **Oct 6, 2015, 3:26 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KPBDEV

Orlando and Stenar I humbly disagree. However, everyone has a right to their own opinion. I personally love the design (very urban and modern, similar to great designs you will find in Vancouver, Toronto, Austin, etc.). I love the work IBI does and I believe that our design is a great example. We have had amazing response to this design by dozens of architects, designers and developers (local and international). Stenar I find it interesting that you hate our design so much yet when I first presented it a few months ago you didn't appear to mind it (certainly you were not completely negative about it as you are now). Orlando I appreciate what you are suggesting, just keep in mind that what I have presented is only a basic render of our development, more work to do on the materials, textures and various elements to finalize the total look/feel. More to come soon ...

I was feeling more generous when you first presented it because it looked better than what you shared previously. Sometimes a design grows on you, sometimes the opposite happens.

You will NOT find any building in Vancouver, Toronto or Austin (or Miami as another poster mentioned) that is this tacky. You will in Vegas, though, because most of Vegas is tacky.