Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4

[UrbanDesign]

I really like seeing the hardware project take shape. The office building will be great for those riding in/out of downtown. I hope that this is only the start of great projects that will front North Temple.

On a side note, I would imagine that much of the housing for the hardware site and north (currently under construction, I forget the name) will be coming available or filling up as the Gateway's changes start to happen. Hoping that will bring an added boost to the mall which can spur even further redevelopment for Gateway.

[delts145]

Very impressed with the look of the Hardware office building, particularly how it mixes with the upscale traditional mix of it's neighbors. Another very exciting project on it's way that we'll be following.

Starwood as a partner with DDRM would seem the most natural fit for Salt Lake City. Main reason being the fact that it is now a recently purchased and owned subsidiary of Marriott. I would love to see something along the line of what Makid is talking about, which is following much of the same foot print of the Convention Hotel here in L.A. The past talk from DDRM, and the name of Starwood being thrown around only confirms in my mind that this will be a JW Marriott/St. Regis or /Ritz Carlton.
I think the L.A. CCH is one of, if not the coolest CCH to come on the scene in recent years. A two tower or L shaped configuration complex of JW Marriott, along with a Boutique St. Regis or Ritz Carlton Hotel/Residential will give Salt Lake an advantage over many of it's rival competitors. WOW, a top line crème della crème hotel complex! This is so much more exciting than just another run of the mill Omni. JW Marriott/St. Regis or Ritz is like the top of a fantasy wish list, at least for me.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

Isn't the W Hotel chain the anti-convention center hotel? It seems to go against their branding.

I do like those W Hotel designs a lot. I have to say, in general, I'm really not for long tall curtain hotels for Salt Lake City. Let's keep those in Las Vegas.

If they put it on the site suggested I guess the curtain won't really be an option though.

Exactly Sean. No one wants to see a W in Salt Lake's CBD more than me. But it isn't what Marriott would normally partner it's CCH with. I will place my bet on a Ritz or St. Regis, only because that is the Marriott trend, which seems to be working out extremely well for them. I think a W is definitely coming to Salt Lake in the near future, but as you said, more of a stand alone type hotel, and closer to Gateway, I would think.

It was also mentioned that Salt Lake already has a large, ultra lux hotel, i.e. The Grand. That is true, but The Grand is of a completely different style than the new brand of Marriott/Ritz Carlton. For example, The Ritz here in L.A., while ultra lux, is decidedly very slick and contemporary. The Grand is much more of the style of the Gilded Age.

On a side note, I think the future of Gateway is looking very bright. Along with the recent purchase and major upcoming redevelopment, neighboring Hardware, and the many very rapidly developing hotel and residence buildup projects, Gateway's future prospects are excellent. That said, I think the next challenge will come from the area around The Grand and Little America. They finally need to up their timetable and game on that areas infrastructure and walkability. At the rate the north end of the CBD is redeveloping it's going to take more impetus for the south end business like the Grand and Little America to remain viable. Perhaps, just because there's more than enough business to go around, the Little America Properties business will remain brisk. But given any kind of a slump, the north end of town is going to become the much preferred location for travelers and convention goers. Why will people want to stay in the Little America or Grand, when they can stay in a Ritz? That is a Ritz type hotel , adj. to CCC, Temple Square, UPAC, Regent St. and the Convention Center itself. They must start to shake up the Grand's surrounding south end of Main and W. Temple.

I still think Ken's project is very viable. Now that some very exciting news is materializing with the CCC, I think Ken will just be tweaking his development to match the upcoming gaps. If Ken can fill in the gaps properly with the right mixed development, he'll have no problem completing his investment package. I would only hope he will hold off on the Utah Valley plans for a little longer, if it will help the financial focus on Downtown Salt Lake.

[EPdesign]

This CCH cant just be any other hotel..or just any other building. I will be visible from almost every angle. It will be the furthest west tower with absolutely nothing obstructing It coming from the airport. It will be tall if not the tallest...for several years. They really have to deliver with this one. This will either make the skyline or be or be our biggest regret. I hope its amazing! !!

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

Here are a few Starwood Hotels in downtown locations that I like.

Those are just a few. They have many others that are decent, and then they have the Sheraton Phoenix Convention Center piles of vomit.

Yikes, I forgot about the Phoenix Sheraton CCH!! Hopefully, now that Marriott has taken over, that kind of design mistake on a grand scale won't be made in Salt Lake City. Seriously, I can't imagine that happening though.

EP, I'm going to keep my fingers crossed and bet on something amazing.

As has been previously mentioned, this JW Marriott/Ritz is approximately the exact same makeup in requirements of guest rooms/residence as Salt Lake City is talking about. I think the L.A. digs have a few more residence accommodations than Salt Lake would demand, and Salt Lake would have a different mix of convention space. But all in all the basic sq. footage is comparable. Notice how the L shape would fit ever so comfortably on that northern plot. The high low L-shaped combination would look excellent in the skyline, even from the west and northwest. It would give the skyline the look of two densely packed towers.

[airhero]

My CCH height prediction: 419' (a foot shorter than the COB).

I like the plans for Hardware Station. Bringing the plaza up to the viaduct is a great move. I don't really like the office building design. Reminds me of NuSkin in Provo, although NuSkin's plaza is really nice. I wouldn't mind something similar to it for the Hardware Station plaza

[Future Mayor]

While still pretty long the longest frontage we could possibly expect along W. Temple would be 200', That is the N/S footprint of UMOCA. The Phoenix Sheraton is 300' long. So as was said, due to the location we won't get a super long wall. Even the Radison on S. Temple is longer than 200'

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by delts145

Exactly Sean. No one wants to see a W in Salt Lake's CBD more than me. But it isn't what Marriott would normally partner it's CCH with. I will place my bet on a Ritz or St. Regis, only because that is the Marriott trend, which seems to be working out extremely well for them. I think a W is definitely coming to Salt Lake in the near future, but as you said, more of a stand alone type hotel, and closer to Gateway, I would think.

It was also mentioned that Salt Lake already has a large, ultra lux hotel, i.e. The Grand. That is true, but The Grand is of a completely different style than the new brand of Marriott/Ritz Carlton. For example, The Ritz here in L.A., while ultra lux, is decidedly very slick and contemporary. The Grand is much more of the style of the Gilded Age.

On a side note, I think the future of Gateway is looking very bright. Along with the recent purchase and major upcoming redevelopment, neighboring Hardware, and the many very rapidly developing hotel and residence buildup projects, Gateway's future prospects are excellent. That said, I think the next challenge will come from the area around The Grand and Little America. They finally need to up their timetable and game on that areas infrastructure and walkability. At the rate the north end of the CBD is redeveloping it's going to take more impetus for the south end business like the Grand and Little America to remain viable. Perhaps, just because there's more than enough business to go around, the Little America Properties business will remain brisk. But given any kind of a slump, the north end of town is going to become the much preferred location for travelers and convention goers. Why will people want to stay in the Little America or Grand, when they can stay in a Ritz? That is a Ritz type hotel , adj. to CCC, Temple Square, UPAC, Regent St. and the Convention Center itself. They must start to shake up the Grand's surrounding south end of Main and W. Temple.

I still think Ken's project is very viable. Now that some very exciting news is materializing with the CCC, I think Ken will just be tweaking his development to match the upcoming gaps. If Ken can fill in the gaps properly with the right mixed development, he'll have no problem completing his investment package. I would only hope he will hold off on the Utah Valley plans for a little longer, if it will help the financial focus on Downtown Salt Lake.

As has been previously mentioned, this JW Marriott/Ritz is approximately the exact same makeup in requirements of guest rooms/residence as Salt Lake City is talking about. I think the L.A. digs have a few more residence accommodations than Salt Lake would demand, and Salt Lake would have a different mix of convention space. But all in all the basic sq. footage is comparable. Notice how the L shape would fit ever so comfortably on that northern plot. The high low L-shaped combination would look excellent in the skyline, even from the west and northwest. It would give the skyline the look of two densely packed towers.

There's definitely some great potential with the Gateway. And even if it doesn't all come together at first, I definitely think we'll see parts of it improve over time. The entire development near the Hardware Building has a lot of advantages because it's not associated with the Greyhound Bus or AmTrack or the homeless shelter. It's the new SLC FrontRunner stop everyone takes who doesn't want to hang out with all the riff raff. The City moving forward with its plans to break up the homeless shelter into three and to scatter the homeless around the city will do the most good for that entire area.

That Ritz Carlton design could be modified to fit that plot in question so perfectly. I love it! Tall and narrow towers have such a better context in our small scaled city than curtain buildings like the convention center hotel in Denver or the new Comcast tower being built in Philadelphia.

[UTPlanner]

It's great to see the CCH project creeping forward but it will still be quite a while before we learn more information about the finer details of the project. The winning bid has mentioned that they would like to partner with Starwood but currently no national hotel chain has expressed interest in the project--which certainly worries me. This group will really need to up their game and truthfully I believe that they will be back requesting more funds from the city and county.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

It's great to see the CCH project creeping forward but it will still be quite a while before we learn more information about the finer details of the project. The winning bid has mentioned that they would like to partner with Starwood but currently no national hotel chain has expressed interest in the project--which certainly worries me. This group will really need to up their game and truthfully I believe that they will be back requesting more funds from the city and county.

I take comfort in knowing that they will get that extra money because we don't invest much in this state, but if it means filling the pockets of local developers we're all about that. The prison relocation being a prime example. I'm surprised they'd be struggling to get a hotel chain when the global markets have cooled as much as they have. Salt Lake City seems like one of the few growing markets for this kind of investment.

[ThePusherMan]

Sorry about the loss Handsome John. Any interest in sharing with us what could have been?

[airhero]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

While still pretty long the longest frontage we could possibly expect along W. Temple would be 200', That is the N/S footprint of UMOCA. The Phoenix Sheraton is 300' long. So as was said, due to the location we won't get a super long wall. Even the Radison on S. Temple is longer than 200'

You're still wrong on this. The northern parcel is bigger than that. UMOCA only occupies a portion of it. The largest north south stretch on the parcel is nearly 300 feet.

[Future Mayor]

I was both right and wrong. The footprint is 200', but you are correct the total site is larger, so we could get a longer front if they use the entire frontage.

[Reachforthesky]

Just for kicks and giggles, can someone use their amazing photoshop talents to put LA's Ritz hotel on the Northern parcel?

I'm interested in what the skyline could look like with a similar building if one was driving into downtown from N. Salt Lake?

[DCRes]

I think I large tower on that north parcel will look great in the skyline. I loved when 99 West was built and it really stood at the front of the skyline when looking from the north-west, and helped fill the 'gap'. Now with 111 being just to the left of 99 West and the CCH being to the right it will fit in nicely and be very prominent in the skyline.

I also really like the AC Hotel and the Hardware Station developments, it's been a good week on the forum!

[ToysNoiz]

Originally Posted by DCRes

I think I large tower on that north parcel will look great in the skyline. I loved when 99 West was built and it really stood at the front of the skyline when looking from the north-west, and helped fill the 'gap'. Now with 111 being just to the left of 99 West and the CCH being to the right it will fit in nicely and be very prominent in the skyline.

I also really like the AC Hotel and the Hardware Station developments, it's been a good week on the forum!

99 West is the best thing that happened to the skyline from an aesthetic perspective.

[asies1981]

Post on the CCH. Chicago is currently building a 1,200 room convention center hotel that will be 51-stories. This building could be super tall, especially if it is going to be built above the convention center. I've talked to the county and more information will be available in the next few weeks.

[i-215]

Originally Posted by airhero

My CCH height prediction: 419' (a foot shorter than the COB).

So the COB is 420 feet tall? If that isn't a subtle endorsement for SB 73 than nothing is.

[Utah_Dave]

Originally Posted by i-215

So the COB is 420 feet tall? If that isn't a subtle endorsement for SB 73 than nothing is.

Lol, I never put 2 and 2 together! I wonder if the architect secretly was playing an inside joke on the COB. Love it. On a side note, if the new CCH isn't over 500 ft I'm going to be mighty disappointed. I was looking at the height of the crane working on the 111 and I was wondering if that is about 480-500ft and a good reference point for the eye. I'll have to have another look. I also agree the 99 west building has a classic high rise look. Let's all hope we get a nice thin Hotel that fits our skyline. If the hotel is our new tallest I wouldn't be surprised if it sparks some competition for future buildings. An ego can be a good thing.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by Utah_Dave

Lol, I never put 2 and 2 together! I wonder if the architect secretly was playing an inside joke on the COB. Love it. On a side note, if the new CCH isn't over 500 ft I'm going to be mighty disappointed. I was looking at the height of the crane working on the 111 and I was wondering if that is about 480-500ft and a good reference point for the eye. I'll have to have another look. I also agree the 99 west building has a classic high rise look. Let's all hope we get a nice thin Hotel that fits our skyline. If the hotel is our new tallest I wouldn't be surprised if it sparks some competition for future buildings. An ego can be a good thing.

Considering that the COB started in 1962 and the absolute earliest use of 420 according to HuffPo is 1971, I'm gonna guess no, it's just a lucky happenstance. But a nice try nonetheless.