Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by DCRes

It's interesting that you can see the top of the Wells Fargo Bldg roof. I know that 111 is on higher ground but I've always thought that that building seems more like 400' rather than the 422' that they claim. Does anybody know if the 422' is supposed to be the top of the main structure, or the small little structure on top of it (is that an elevator shaft or utility box, or what?)

Heights are taken from the tallest point of the original structure and what was part of that structure. 422' includes the antenna on the top because that was part of the original plans.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by DCRes

It's interesting that you can see the top of the Wells Fargo Bldg roof. I know that 111 is on higher ground but I've always thought that that building seems more like 400' rather than the 422' that they claim. Does anybody know if the 422' is supposed to be the top of the main structure, or the small little structure on top of it (is that an elevator shaft or utility box, or what?)

Seeing these pictures from the roof and seeing 111's place in the overall skyline now that it's finished really makes me wish they would have just added 3-4 floors to its height and given SLC a visually (and technically) indisputable tallest building. Wells Fargo is so squatty and wide and so much lower in ground elevation than the COB that its 2 extra feet in overall height that make it our tallest isn't noticeable from basically any angle.

[asies1981]

Article on Salt Lake's growing housing crisis (It is a long one but worth the read, I promise!)

[ThePusherMan]

Went by the 111 Tower today and they had a loop playing video showcasing the different national parks and such all around Utah on the big wall screen. There is also a nifty water feature in front of the screen that looked pretty cool. Check it out next time you are in the area.

[i-215]

Originally Posted by asies1981

Article on Salt Lake's growing housing crisis (It is a long one but worth the read, I promise!)

Something weird going on. Every time in the past this happened, they'd start barfing out thousands of cheap Ivory homes to meet the demand.

Other than Herriman, I'm surprised at how little new home construction there is. Just apartments. Are the big banks not lending on new subdivision tracts? I bring this up because for every unit in the 'burbs that is not created means another people fighting over SLC's units and driving up rents.

[GBurrow]

Here is a link to some of the public art projects that the new owners of Gateway are commissioning. I think all of them will be great additions to the area.

http://www.shopthegateway.com/news-events/item/download/10_3915d5d174845614040e44f8cd443420

[EPdesign]

Asies thank you for your consistant sharing of the articles you write. It often helps add to the forum experience.

[airhero]

Originally Posted by GBurrow

Here is a link to some of the public art projects that the new owners of Gateway are commissioning. I think all of them will be great additions to the area.

http://www.shopthegateway.com/news-events/item/download/10_3915d5d174845614040e44f8cd443420

This is great. I suggested a little while ago that Vestar paint the Gateway in bright Caminito-like colors. I think these art projects will be similarly effective in making the Gateway more interesting. I like it. The blah feeling at the Gateway has to go and I think the currently bland finishes open up a lot of painting opportunities.

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by i-215

Something weird going on. Every time in the past this happened, they'd start barfing out thousands of cheap Ivory homes to meet the demand.

Other than Herriman, I'm surprised at how little new home construction there is. Just apartments. Are the big banks not lending on new subdivision tracts? I bring this up because for every unit in the 'burbs that is not created means another people fighting over SLC's units and driving up rents.

South Jordan, particularly Daybreak, have lots of new home construction as well. Other than that (in Salt Lake at least), there's not many big swaths of open land anymore so mostly it's just smaller subdivision projects. Of course, there's lots of apartments going up in the 'burbs these days, not just SLC.

There's still a bit of housing construction in Utah / Davis / Weber county though.

[Hatman]

Originally Posted by GBurrow

Here is a link to some of the public art projects that the new owners of Gateway are commissioning. I think all of them will be great additions to the area.

http://www.shopthegateway.com/news-events/item/download/10_3915d5d174845614040e44f8cd443420

Very cool. Thanks for posting.

I went to the Brazilian festival that took place at the Gateway on Saturday. It was quite the party going on. Tucanos had a temporary food court set up in one of the empty stores by the Olympic plaza area, and they served stuff that was different than their normal menu. In this way they were able to serve more people than by using only the tents outside. I was a big, loud, and very cool event. I hope it only gets bigger and louder next time.
I think the Gateway would be wise to make that same empty store into a permanent event space, to be used for large festivals or parties. Hosting large parties like this is probably the easiest way to fill up the Gateway with people again. My $0.02.

[TheWire]

Originally Posted by stayinginformed

Have you seen this new promotional video for the 4th West Apartments?
Here is the link.
https://vimeo.com/167073994

Overall I really like this project, I just cant get over the fact that it looks like two giant prison guard towers out front. Other than that it looks great.

[asies1981]

Originally Posted by i-215

Something weird going on. Every time in the past this happened, they'd start barfing out thousands of cheap Ivory homes to meet the demand.

Other than Herriman, I'm surprised at how little new home construction there is. Just apartments. Are the big banks not lending on new subdivision tracts? I bring this up because for every unit in the 'burbs that is not created means another people fighting over SLC's units and driving up rents.

Financing is definitely a big part of it. Banks are still hesitant to fund large subdivisions and condo projects.

[asies1981]

Originally Posted by EPdesign

Asies thank you for your consistant sharing of the articles you write. It often helps add to the forum experience.

My pleasure, you guys were my first readers so I'll always keep everyone on here updated as much as I can.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by airhero

This is great. I suggested a little while ago that Vestar paint the Gateway in bright Caminito-like colors. I think these art projects will be similarly effective in making the Gateway more interesting. I like it. The blah feeling at the Gateway has to go and I think the currently bland finishes open up a lot of painting opportunities.

I'm thrilled about this development. This is just what so many of these bland surfaces need. Also, very excited to see more details on the upcoming boutique hotel conversion of the U.P. Depot.

[DCRes]

Holiday Inn Express parking garage

[IMG] by , on Flickr[/IMG]

[asies1981]

Updated renderings for the Paperbox site. Clearwater and Peg have increased the unit count to 183 with three public spaces. With this project and the AC Hotel development, downtown is going to feel more connected to the Gateway area.

[Future Mayor]

I am all for more units, and some of those being affordable. As I have harped on many times before, I think the best place for affordable units is mixed with market rate units.

I like the increase in units, the increase in open space and a multi use street breaking up that block. This will be a great addition to the neighborhood, and as asies said part of a better connection with downtown and gateway.

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I am all for more units, and some of those being affordable. As I have harped on many times before, I think the best place for affordable units is mixed with market rate units.

I like the increase in units, the increase in open space and a multi use street breaking up that block. This will be a great addition to the neighborhood, and as asies said part of a better connection with downtown and gateway.

I agree on this project being a real boon to that neighborhood. I take issue with affordable housing mandates. I agree with Micah Peters that "instead of incentivising affordable units in new developments, the city should consider incentives to owners of older multi-family buildings to convert market-rate units to affordable units via RDA loans." I think unit credits for old slum-lorded garbage boxes that litter our neighborhoods would kill five birds with one stone.

I see you advocating for affordable housing a lot and I love it. I just disagree on the forced outcomes of new build mandates. Also, it's also a poorly held secret that Section 8 housing is mostly a boon to developers not the poor. When I attended the planning commission meeting for the TSA amendments, the nearly unified message from the crowd, mostly from the Fairpark neighborhood, was to eliminate the score bonuses for affordable housing. Our housing is expensive and rents are climbing but were just catching up to our market size. We won't see steel apartment towers until our rents are where they need to be.

[Future Mayor]

Developers get tax benefits when they include a percentage of low income units in their projects. Low Income Housing Tax Credits. It takes some paper work and there is an application process, but for the most part it doesn't change the bottom line in the long run, yes there is some additional costs that won't be recouped as fast but they will ultimately be recouped. Cowboy Partners has done it with many of their properties, having a mix of market and affordable units, and I don't believe they did so because of any mandates, they did so because they saw a need and they saw the tax benefits associated with that need. They didn't do it out of the goodness of their hearts, they did it because it penciled out.

A large portion of the existing building stock is already affordable units, I'd estimate 75% of the East downtown 3/4 story walk-ups are designated as affordable units.

[asies1981]

Planning Commission approved a 32-unit condo project last night. The condos will be for sale, stacked-flats units.