Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4

[s.p.hansen]

Salt Lake City Council, mayor cut deal on homeless shelters to break stalemate

Nudged along by Utah House Speaker Greg Hughes, Salt Lake City Mayor Jackie Biskupski and the City Council ended an increasingly bitter stalemate Friday over the size and number of new homeless shelters to be built in the coming years.

Instead of constructing two new resource centers with 250 beds each as the mayor wanted, city leaders agreed to build four shelters with no more than 150 beds each.

They cut the deal the day after a coordinated crackdown on drug dealing around the Rio Grande area of downtown Salt Lake City, which all parties agree has become a crisis. The neighborhood is home to the 900-bed Road Home shelter, along with other service providers for the homeless.

Overall, the new shelters will have a total of 550 total beds and one center will be dedicated to helping single women. It's unclear when the mayor and the council will pick the sites, but they are expected to have it wrapped up before the state Legislature meets in January.

The smaller size will increase the price tag but is intended to mollify residents and council members who worry that bigger centers would overwhelm the areas where they eventually are located.

"As long as we are picking these sites together and standing united, I can do four," Biskupski said. "We are working together and I like that."

http://www.sltrib.com/news/4417687-155/salt-lake-city-council-mayor-cut


Looks like the City Council won this one.

I think it's only fair that Sugar House gets one since the RDA has given them so much prosperity.

[Orlando]

I'd keep one at the existing downtown location or further west or south, and another in south salt lake industrial area, and then another near the industrial area between SLC and N. SLC. The other one, somewhere near the ware house area of central valley between I-15 and West Valley City. Done. Not close to a lot of NIMBY's and still access to transportation etc.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by Orlando

I'd keep one at the existing downtown location or further west or south, and another in south salt lake industrial area, and then another near the industrial area between SLC and N. SLC. The other one, somewhere near the ware house area of central valley between I-15 and West Valley City. Done. Not close to a lot of NIMBY's and still access to transportation etc.

As much as I would love to see the county take some responsibility, I believe all of these will be in SLC proper. That being said it appears that they are replacing 900 beds w/550. Perhaps there is a plan in the pipeline on a county level that I(we?) am unaware of.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Liberty Wellsian

As much as I would love to see the county take some responsibility, I believe all of these will be in SLC proper. That being said it appears that they are replacing 900 beds w/550. Perhaps there is a plan in the pipeline on a county level that I(we?) am unaware of.

Or they're going to keep the current shelter maybe and help ease its overcrowding with these smaller shelters? That seems to be the best option right now. Not sure how they can close the main shelter and replace it with less overall beds and expect to clean up the homeless camps.

Ah yes. That appears to be the case?

The goal is to ease the pressure on The Road Home shelter and the larger Rio Grande neighborhood, where there's been a rise in violence due to the drug trade.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Or they're going to keep the current shelter maybe and help ease its overcrowding with these smaller shelters? That seems to be the best option right now. Not sure how they can close the main shelter and replace it with less overall beds and expect to clean up the homeless camps.

Ah yes. That appears to be the case?

They already built a family shelter near Smiths on 500 South and a large youth shelter which I believe makes up the for the difference.

[asies1981]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

They already built a family shelter near Smiths on 500 South and a large youth shelter which I believe makes up the for the difference.

The shelter near smiths is for single men and is a mix of transition housing with a few emergency beds. I live next door and have had zero issues, seriously it is quiet next door and there is always a security person at the door.

[asies1981]

On another note. I have put together a database of every project either under construction or actively going through the building permit or planning phases. There are 5,700 in currently in development (almost 3,000 under construction). The recently released impact study predicted the city will add 7,600 new units and 28,000 people in the next 10 years. Those are clearly conservative numbers because in the next two to three years we have almost 6,000 new units and 12,000 to 15,000 new residents. My numbers don't include projects like Clearwater's Paperbox and Marmalade projects and the Pipeline project. Those project should start in the next few years but aren't permit ready including those projects and the redevelopment project the city has planned for Celtic Bank/Roasting Company parcels and we could be surpassing the 7,600 unit mark in five years. One thing that appears certain is that come the 2020 census our city is going to be finally over the 200,000 population mark (I think we will hit 200,000 by 2018 if not earlier).

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by SL,UT

If the Jazz were actually a good team, then I could see the justification for an upgrade. But they stink! Any Amount of reno money for the Delta Center can't hide the fact that the Jazz SUCK!!!!

And for them to ask the RDA of SLC to give them back 40 percent of new property taxes or $22M is completely asinine and a slap in the face to tax payers. The arena will provide incentives to businesses regardless of an update to the building, and a renovation of this size SHOULD NOT involve any taxpayer money. The 1.8B rebuild of the airport doesn't use a dime of tax money. This arena upgrade shouldn't either.

Okay I'll bite trollie mctroller pants. It's important for nancy boys like you to get off of the Jazz train right now. Let me guess. You're a "Warriors Fan" who mysteriously wears a Kobe Jersey. Funny you should mention how bad they suck because they're not going to suck. At all. For a very very long time. They might be the deepest team in the league on both sides of the ball. Yes they lack any superstars but they are STACKED AND HEALTHY. The Jazz are entering a phase where they will be pretty damn near dominant. Anybody who watches basketball and sees their trajectory, sees the sneaky good moves they made this year, acknowledges what they've done with the worst point guard play in the league and sees how decimated by injuries they have been for three years knows that. Keep wearing your Kobe Jersey to the Warriors games like a 13 year old gansta. You suck. Go away. Talk crap about my Jazz...

And back to your regular programming.

[SL,UT]

Originally Posted by Marvland

Keep wearing your Kobe Jersey to the Warriors games like a 13 year old gansta. You suck. Go away. Talk crap about my Jazz...

And back to your regular programming.

I wish I was 13 again so I could write a note to my 27 year-old self and ask "Do the Jazz still suck"

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by asies1981

The shelter near smiths is for single men and is a mix of transition housing with a few emergency beds. I live next door and have had zero issues, seriously it is quiet next door and there is always a security person at the door.

Oh gotcha. For some reason I thought they had built a family/ women's shelter somewhere downtown already.


With the new Eccles Theater and 111 they got rid of that horrible slippery red brick looking tiled sidewalk on 100 S near regent street. It looks so much better now!

[(Eco)nomy_404]

I know these buildings are quite hideous, and would especially clash with the SLC skyline, but maybe there is a way the same technology could be implemented that is more sightly such as in the form of modern art sculptures or integrated into the building better. It would certainly help come inversion season!

They are called "inhaling buildings" and you can read about them here:

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/14/tech/innovation/living-buildings-carbon/

[s.p.hansen]

Faultline Park: Salt Lake City

[delts145]

I'm lovin your pics Sean buddy. 111 has done a great job of filling in that previous gap. Can't wait for the upcoming additions of The Regent and 151. Three or four new tallest punctuating the overall skyline would go a long way also. Now that that gap at the north end is filled in, I would also like to see the gap between Wells Fargo and The Grand America closed with more mid and high rise density. Once that happens, Salt Lake City will have a skyline more representative of it's large CSA.

In fact, I predict that Future Mayor will be among those of us who contributes to the future skyline.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by SL,UT

I wish I was 13 again so I could write a note to my 27 year-old self and ask "Do the Jazz still suck"

You're obviously not a basketball fan. The Jazz are going to be good and everybody that follows the sport knows it.

[scottharding]

Originally Posted by Marvland

Okay I'll bite trollie mctroller pants. It's important for nancy boys like you to get off of the Jazz train right now. Let me guess. You're a "Warriors Fan" who mysteriously wears a Kobe Jersey. Funny you should mention how bad they suck because they're not going to suck. At all. For a very very long time. They might be the deepest team in the league on both sides of the ball. Yes they lack any superstars but they are STACKED AND HEALTHY. The Jazz are entering a phase where they will be pretty damn near dominant. Anybody who watches basketball and sees their trajectory, sees the sneaky good moves they made this year, acknowledges what they've done with the worst point guard play in the league and sees how decimated by injuries they have been for three years knows that. Keep wearing your Kobe Jersey to the Warriors games like a 13 year old gansta. You suck. Go away. Talk crap about my Jazz...

And back to your regular programming.

solidarity.

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by scottharding

solidarity.

Heh. Nothing worse than Laker fans that live in Utah. Although I'm sure SL,UT is a fine upstanding person other than his documented Jazz problems.

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Or they're going to keep the current shelter maybe and help ease its overcrowding with these smaller shelters? That seems to be the best option right now. Not sure how they can close the main shelter and replace it with less overall beds and expect to clean up the homeless camps.

Ah yes. That appears to be the case?

There will be a shitorm if they try to keep the road home. A lot of money is being invested into gateway and other surrounding projects based on the promise that it would be moved. Until the new shelters are built the city need do some sort of landscaping to the 400 west islands and the space between the roads and islands along 400w, 500s... some sort of land scraping that looks good but makes it a place that people can't sleep, hang out, or set up camps.

The condo building next door to me started to have a problem with homeless people sleeping on the grass between the road and sidewalks in front of their building... and sometimes even on Their main lawn.... so they have started turning on the sprinklers a lot to keep them out.... a waste of water but it seems to work.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by ajiuO

There will be a shitorm if they try to keep the road home. A lot of money is being invested into gateway and other surrounding projects based on the promise that it would be moved. Until the new shelters are built the city need do some sort of landscaping to the 400 west islands and the space between the roads and islands along 400w, 500s... some sort of land scraping that looks good but makes it a place that people can't sleep, hang out, or set up camps.

The condo building next door to me started to have a problem with homeless people sleeping on the grass between the road and sidewalks in front of their building... and sometimes even on Their main lawn.... so they have started turning on the sprinklers a lot to keep them out.... a waste of water but it seems to work.

I'm not sure but I don't think the city can force the road home out. It's a private charity. As are other services in the area such as the soup kitchen across the street. The city and state could pull funding for the road home but it looks like the majority of its funding is from charitable givings and the federal government.

http://www.theroadhome.org/about/AnnualReport/

[Future Mayor]

We once again interupt your regularly scheduled programming.

Originally Posted by SL,UT

If the Jazz were actually a good team, then I could see the justification for an upgrade. But they stink! Any Amount of reno money for the Delta Center can't hide the fact that the Jazz SUCK!!!!

And for them to ask the RDA of SLC to give them back 40 percent of new property taxes or $22M is completely asinine and a slap in the face to tax payers. The arena will provide incentives to businesses regardless of an update to the building, and a renovation of this size SHOULD NOT involve any taxpayer money. The 1.8B rebuild of the airport doesn't use a dime of tax money. This arena upgrade shouldn't either.

Yes, they haven't made the playoffs the past few years, but if you actually paid attention to the team, rather than simply being in a Jazz Suck state of mind all the time you would notice that they have made improvements and are truly getting better. Most teams go through a down time/rebuilding phase
2013-2014 season they finished 15th in the West
2014-2015 they finished 11th in the West
2015-2016 they finished 9th in the West, and missed the playoffs by 1 game.
They are projected to finish between 3rd and 5th this season, and they have the depth to accomplish that. So if the projections hold out, and they take the Jazz from out of the playoffs to Home court advantage in the first round means the "Jazz Suck" then I'm all for them sucking.

So an uninformed Jazz Suck blanket statement gives zero credibility to your comments. IMO.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by delts145

I'm lovin your pics Sean buddy. 111 has done a great job of filling in that previous gap. Can't wait for the upcoming additions of The Regent and 151. Three or four new tallest punctuating the overall skyline would go a long way also. Now that that gap at the north end is filled in, I would also like to see the gap between Wells Fargo and The Grand America closed with more mid and high rise density. Once that happens, Salt Lake City will have a skyline more representative of it's large CSA.

In fact, I predict that Future Mayor will be among those of us who contributes to the future skyline.

Thank you for the confidence. I hope to live up to and exceed your expectations. As mentioned I am planning a trip in two weeks to talk to some potential investors for a project in a SLC neighborhood. I have switch from selling some property to deciding to possible develop it myself, while it's not along my ideals of redevelopment within the city, it will help to bolster my connections and pocket book. Keep your fingers crossed.