Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4

[Makid]

I prefer the north lot if picked.

Reasons are that it is close to transit options as well as shopping/dining which is great for those here with conventions.

Another reason for it is that they could expand the existing CCC parking garage entrance in the center of West Temple to allow a left into the hotel parking structure. This would reduce the need for curb cuts while also keeping the pedestrian experience intact.

Lastly, my reason for the Northern location is simply visual. I like to imagine the CCH being built on the northern plot, the Cascade, Arrow Press Square being built at at least 27 stories, and the Zions parking lot being developed with a tall tower. This would give 1st South a very decent canyon effect while also adding to a possible canyon effect along West Temple.

I wouldn't mind it on the Southern end but I would hate to lose the open space there as it is used all the time by both conventions and people out for lunch. I look at this area as a more utilized park area and those are something that we should be encouraging within downtown rather than removing.

One other aspect to remember is that 2nd South is planned to have the Downtown Streetcar line. It may turn north onto West Temple and then east again on 1st South. This would increase transit around the hotel if built on the Southern end.

With this, the hotel may spur the streetcar to start possibly sooner to assist visitors in getting around downtown regardless of the location of the hotel. This is because visitors are more likely to use Rail transit than Bus transit as the routes are more easily specified and visual in nature.

I do think that regardless if the location is the Northern or the Southern plot, development around the Convention Center will pick up. APS, Brown buildings on 2nd South and West Temple (NE and SE corners), Holiday Inn expansions and future Convention Center expansions to RWP. This would be on top of future residential, commercial and mixed use buildings along the downtown streetcar line.

[Makid]

Originally Posted by Hatman

Not to be picky, but the south site is two blocks from the TRAX station, or a full 0.25 miles. Not exactly close if you're pulling a rolling suitcase or whatever. I also think it's safe to assume that people who are going to stay at a convention center hotel are also ones who are not going to have a rental vehicle, because they are coming for the convention, which is at one place and already easily accessible from the airport by TRAX.

I can certainly agree that the south end would be more helpful from an urban development standpoint, but I would feel badly for making hotel and convention guests make that long walk with bags. If only that design that Delts posted, one with two towers, could be modified for Salt Lake, so that both the north and south sites could be used... we wouldn't get a new tallest, but it would be better for the city (and visitor's perception of the city).

Not an argument, just my two cents.

The part quoted above is something to think about. Build a 1000+ room CCH at the North end. that would be between 350' and 550' depending on rooms to floor ratios.

As occupancy returns to the existing levels of 75% and higher in the convention district, offer the Southern land for a second 1000+ room hotel. Being that it is on County land, they could work to enforce certain design criteria for this location.

This could maybe coincide with an expansion of the convention center exhibit space.

[UTPlanner]

The south site for the Convention Center Hotel may be further from transit right now but keep in mind that the downtown streetcar alignment goes right past the Salt Palace on 200 South and West Temple.

Just a little bit of information regarding development in and around downtown that I have come across lately. The Granary Place Apartments which were proposed at the NE corner of 700 South and 300 West is finally moving forward. This was a long dead project that has recently gained traction. It's a 5 story podium project, nothing to brag about architecturally but will add some needed density in the area.

The block which contains the Royal Wood Office Complex is also being looked at very seriously by a developer that will remain unnamed at the moment but he actually gets projects done. It's only schematics at the moment but they're proposing office space, housing and a new street to bisect the block. This project is only in its infancy but this project could be quite a game changer for that part of downtown.

[EPdesign]

I was thinking the station on main in front of the WFC. But I get what you're saying. I will be excited either way....as long as it's NOT a wall

[EPdesign]

UTPlanner. You and viperlord write such beautiful things. Now I'm going to be imagining what could be all day

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

Just a little bit of information regarding development in and around downtown that I have come across lately. The Granary Place Apartments which were proposed at the NE corner of 700 South and 300 West is finally moving forward. This was a long dead project that has recently gained traction. It's a 5 story podium project, nothing to brag about architecturally but will add some needed density in the area.

Thanks for the info UtPlanner. So, there's just a blank wall at street level?? No retail or restaurants? There needs to be a mix of uses with amenities like retail and eateries along with residential to keep this a pedestrian oriented part of the city.

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

The south site for the Convention Center Hotel may be further from transit right now but keep in mind that the downtown streetcar alignment goes right past the Salt Palace on 200 South and West Temple.

Originally Posted by Makid

One other aspect to remember is that 2nd South is planned to have the Downtown Streetcar line. It may turn north onto West Temple and then east again on 1st South. This would increase transit around the hotel if built on the Southern end.

The streetcar line will be nice, for sure, but it does not connect people directly to the airport like the TRAX line does. I'm talking about convention attendees who are likely to fly in to SLC. Out-of-state people who are attending conferences and the like for business and the like, who are more likely to fly in. How do they get from the airport to the convention center hotel? A direct TRAX journey from the airport to the hotel's front door (if the north location is picked) will is infinitely better than ride TRAX to the City Center Station, walk to the streetcar platform on 1st south, wait for one to arrive, then ride the streetcar for 2 blocks (If the south line is picked). They may as well take a cab at that point. What I'm saying is that if you want to impress the outside world with how convenient, how well-planned, and how nice a city Salt Lake City really is (At least from a transportation-based point of view), the north site is unquestionably better.

[SLCdude]

The Gallivan Center is one of 5 finalists for "Great Places in America" designation.

You can vote online at https://www.planning.org/greatplaces/peopleschoice/

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by Hatman

The streetcar line will be nice, for sure, but it does not connect people directly to the airport like the TRAX line does. I'm talking about convention attendees who are likely to fly in to SLC. Out-of-state people who are attending conferences and the like for business and the like, who are more likely to fly in. How do they get from the airport to the convention center hotel? A direct TRAX journey from the airport to the hotel's front door (if the north location is picked) will is infinitely better than ride TRAX to the City Center Station, walk to the streetcar platform on 1st south, wait for one to arrive, then ride the streetcar for 2 blocks (If the south line is picked). They may as well take a cab at that point. What I'm saying is that if you want to impress the outside world with how convenient, how well-planned, and how nice a city Salt Lake City really is (At least from a transportation-based point of view), the north site is unquestionably better.

Forcing people to walk a little, especially when they are forced to walk by shops and theaters, isn't necessarily a bad thing for the downtown economy and the convention goer's overall experience. Additionally, I STRONGLY question the north option.

[airhero]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

The block which contains the Royal Wood Office Complex is also being looked at very seriously by a developer that will remain unnamed at the moment but he actually gets projects done. It's only schematics at the moment but they're proposing office space, housing and a new street to bisect the block. This project is only in its infancy but this project could be quite a game changer for that part of downtown.

This in addition to the recent rumblings about Paperbox make for a lot of excitement. That Royal Wood block as is couldn't get worse from an urban standpoint. But add a midblock street from the convention center all the way to gateway (I'm assuming it will be east-west like the upcoming Paperbox street to the west), surrounded by attractive housing (and possibly retail?) and hopefully some street/median improvements on 300 West in the near future as well, and voila! You've transformed a gross, dilapidated area of downtown to an actually quite attractive area of downtown.

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by airhero

This in addition to the recent rumblings about Paperbox make for a lot of excitement. That Royal Wood block as is couldn't get worse from an urban standpoint. But add a midblock street from the convention center all the way to gateway (I'm assuming it will be east-west like the upcoming Paperbox street to the west), surrounded by attractive housing (and possibly retail?) and hopefully some street/median improvements on 300 West in the near future as well, and voila! You've transformed a gross, dilapidated area of downtown to an actually quite attractive area of downtown.

I hope something does come to fruition on that eyesore of a site.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Thanks for the info UtPlanner. So, there's just a blank wall at street level?? No retail or restaurants? There needs to be a mix of uses with amenities like retail and eateries along with residential to keep this a pedestrian oriented part of the city.

Even office space or light industrial space (like a packaging facility) are great options if your town is over retailed.

We've been seeing a few projects like this lately in SLC. The Encore is almost great except it has no doors facing the street. It's insane. And that means the people designing them think that massing is for an aesthetic instead of a function. They don't seem to get that you arrange a building that way for a more porous building on the street.

[Regent Resident]

Some severe issues have developed at the Regent at City Creek. Level 4 has terraces and green space that are above several units on level 3. A problem developed last spring as water begin to breach living and storage space units below the green space on level 4 into level 3. The cause is suspected to be the sprinkling water system on level 4, but it could also be defects in the membrane.

For months, CCRI tried to determine the problem but they were unsuccessful. The problem became so bad that condo units were damaged to the point that owners were forced to either resale their units to CCRI or be relocated into rental units owned by CCRI while the problem was resolved.

CCRI has kept the problem hushed because they still have nearly 25% of the units remaining on the market and they are are all high dollar units. They don't want potential buyers to be suspicious of building defects and problems that would detract from sales. Other problems such as bad sewer smells, poor management (the building manager was recently fired), poor maintenance and cleaning, rising HOA fees, and security issues have all plagued the building. CCRI is scrambling to save face and has even gone after Jacobsen Construction for building defects.

Many residents are dissatisfied with their purchase in the building and are starting to put pressure on CCRI to resolve the myriad of issues that are making ownership in the building unattractive.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Regent Resident

Some severe issues have developed at the Regent at City Creek. Level 4 has terraces and green space that are above several units on level 3. A problem developed last spring as water begin to breach living and storage space units below the green space on level 4 into level 3. The cause is suspected to be the sprinkling water system on level 4, but it could also be defects in the membrane.

For months, CCRI tried to determine the problem but they were unsuccessful. The problem became so bad that condo units were damaged to the point that owners were forced to either resale their units to CCRI or be relocated into rental units owned by CCRI while the problem was resolved.

CCRI has kept the problem hushed because they still have nearly 25% of the units remaining on the market and they are are all high dollar units. They don't want potential buyers to be suspicious of building defects and problems that would detract from sales. Other problems such as bad sewer smells, poor management (the building manager was recently fired), poor maintenance and cleaning, rising HOA fees, and security issues have all plagued the building. CCRI is scrambling to save face and has even gone after Jacobsen Construction for building defects.

Many residents are dissatisfied with their purchase in the building and are starting to put pressure on CCRI to resolve the myriad of issues that are making ownership in the building unattractive.

Are you talking about the sewer smell outside near the sidewalk, because I've definitely caught wind of it several times before...

[Regent Resident]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

Are you talking about the sewer smell outside near the sidewalk, because I've definitely caught wind of it several times before...

Yes, that same smell that is outside the building is inside the building at times.

[delts145]

So, if the North plot were the site for the CCH, the Plaza itself would be left open, and the Hotel would rise immediately to the south? One of you talented dudes take a marker and outline for us your understanding of the placement using this pic.

What do you want to bet they would have to rework the new Plaza. Not that that would be such a bad thing. It's not like they created a masterpiece of architectural landscaping.


Monday, Oct. 13, 2014. (Ravell Call, Deseret News)

[delts145]

What's the progress on this project since EP's post below, this past May? A pic anyone?

Originally Posted by EPdesign

They are digging the hole right across from pioneer park. For the residential units

Also Liberty Crest, This is one of my favorite upcoming residential lately. Haven't had a pic update in a few months that I remember. Are the bones clearly visible above street now?

[scottharding]

Delts, I may be mistaken, but those are two different projects. The top photo is the apartments going up across from Pioneer Park, and the bottom rendering is the development going up on 200 East next to the new parking structure that Boyer built.

Either way, I don't have pictures for you, but both projects are up to their third floors.

[DMTower]

Originally Posted by Hatman

The streetcar line will be nice, for sure, but it does not connect people directly to the airport like the TRAX line does. I'm talking about convention attendees who are likely to fly in to SLC. Out-of-state people who are attending conferences and the like for business and the like, who are more likely to fly in. How do they get from the airport to the convention center hotel? A direct TRAX journey from the airport to the hotel's front door (if the north location is picked) will is infinitely better than ride TRAX to the City Center Station, walk to the streetcar platform on 1st south, wait for one to arrive, then ride the streetcar for 2 blocks (If the south line is picked). They may as well take a cab at that point. What I'm saying is that if you want to impress the outside world with how convenient, how well-planned, and how nice a city Salt Lake City really is (At least from a transportation-based point of view), the north site is unquestionably better.

The airport line Trax station is just on the north side of the Salt Palace, and it's an uninterrupted, pretty short walk down to the south end of the CC. They don't even have to cross a street. It's really not an inconvenience at all for visitors.

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by delts145

What's the progress on this project since EP's post below, this past May? A pic anyone?

Also Liberty Crest, This is one of my favorite upcoming residential lately. Haven't had a pic update in a few months that I remember. Are the bones clearly visible above street now?

I think this may be it?



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