Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 4

[(Eco)nomy_404]

The Utah Transit Authority warns that it cannot afford all the TRAX extensions, new bus rapid transit routes and additional streetcar systems now in long-term regional transportation plans — unless residents approve a big tax hike.

"They really can't be accommodated in our current level of funding," says UTA President and CEO Jerry Benson.

He adds that when counties and cities developed regional plans through 2040, they generally assumed the sales tax for transit would be a penny per dollar by now. It is far below that.
It is .69 of a cent per dollar in Salt Lake County. Raising it to a full penny per dollar would require a 45 percent sales tax boost.

Big plans • The Wasatch Front Regional Council's transportation plan through 2040 envisions many expensive transit projects in coming decades — which UTA now says are unaffordable.

They include:
• New Salt Lake City streetcar lines on 200 South and in the Granary District, and extending and improving the existing Sugar House line.
• Stretching TRAX southward into Utah County, and westward from Salt Lake City International Airport to the International Center and perhaps beyond.
• Many new "bus rapid transit" (BRT) lines, sort of TRAX on rubber wheels in which long buses often have their own traffic lanes and tickets are sold by machines before boarding.
BRT routes planned in Salt Lake County include: Foothill/Wasatch drives, 700 East, 1300 East, State Street, Redwood Road, Bangerter Highway, 5600 West, Taylorsville-Murray-Holladay, 5400 South, Fort Union Boulevard, 9000 South and 12300/12600 South.
• New BRT lines that would run through Davis County to Salt Lake City and Ogden.
• A new downtown streetcar in Ogden, and a streetcar or BRT between downtown Ogden and Weber State University.

http://www.sltrib.com/home/5253420-155/without-big-tax-hike-uta-warns

The Legislature earlier this year authorized borrowing the $1 billion over the next four years. Projects approved Friday also will be spread over that time and beyond — but will be built much more quickly than previously planned.

"This really is a major step forward," said Commission Chairman Kent Millington, adding that the panel studied how to spend the money for three months and took public comment during that time.

http://www.sltrib.com/news/5309728-155/1-billion-windfall-for-utah-highways

Looks like the state is willing to borrow a billion for roads, but voters are unwilling to pay an extra fraction of a penny on their sales tax to keep public transportation projects funded. Looks to me like priorities are beginning to shift away from mass transit. People want the transit infrastructure, but don't want to pay for it. You can't have it both ways.

[TonyAnderson]

In addition to the Vivint Arena renovation, it looks like the practice / training facility that is also located in Salt Lake City is getting some nice renovations and expansion as well.


http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=4438705...on-to-keep-players-happy-healthy-in-utah


http://www.ksl.com/index.php?sid=4438705...on-to-keep-players-happy-healthy-in-utah

By AARON FALK | The Salt Lake Tribune connect
First Published May 20 2017 01:12PM

As the Jazz expand into the space formerly occupied by Prestige Financial, the facility will nearly double in size, to about 90,000 square feet. The area for sports science will nearly triple in size, officials said, incorporating more of the technology the team has co-opted from its collaborations with the P3 training facility in Santa Barbara, Calif. Their strength training space will now be the largest among the NBA's 30 teams, Lindsey said.

http://www.sltrib.com/sports/5307824-155/utah-jazz-new-basketball-campus-aims

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by Wasatch Wasteland

Why is this discussion happening yet again? Geez, people on here bruise easier than an overripe tomato. Let it rest. You're making the forum look bad and giving salt lake a bad name. People don't come here to see a dick waving contest.

Stop. Please.

Because there's literally zero major development to talk about. Everything has kind of grinded to a halt. It'd be nice if we could be talking about the latest high rise going up or the convention center hotel...but neither are happening at the moment.

[sthbrown4]

Does anybody have an idea of when more restaurants/shops are going to move in on Regent Street. I was walking down it earlier today and it's dead as hell. Also, I think the brick wall of the Walker Center garage facing the Regent Street "plaza" would be a great spot for a huge mural.

[Ironweed]

People want the transit infrastructure, but don't want to pay for it. You can't have it both ways.[/QUOTE]

Correct. This backwoods thinking is why Utah is not better than it is.

I love Utah except for the people.

[asies1981]

Originally Posted by sthbrown4

Does anybody have an idea of when more restaurants/shops are going to move in on Regent Street. I was walking down it earlier today and it's dead as hell. Also, I think the brick wall of the Walker Center garage facing the Regent Street "plaza" would be a great spot for a huge mural.

There is talk about using the wall as a projection screen.

[asies1981]

Update on the Morton Apartments.

[JMK]

C9 Flats coming Spring 2018





http://www.c9flats.com/

http://cbcadvisors.com/salt-lake-city-building-boom-continues-c9-flats/

C9 Flats is projected to be a 97-unit building with four floors of residential occupancy above a two-story, 116 parking space podium. The development will occupy the southern lots of the block on Goltz Avenue between Jefferson Avenue and 200 West.

With its mountain and downtown city views, the C9 Flats will include boutique apartment homes with industrial chic touches, including a rooftop terrace; a fitness studio with separate yoga, barre and spin rooms; bike, ski and snowboard storage; a paw spa; electric car charging stations; covered parking; co-working spaces; iPhone remote building access; onsite single stream recycling program; urban studios, one- and two-bedroom apartment homes; quartz countertops and high-gloss cabinets; plank style flooring; LED lighting; and six-foot windows and sliding glass doors.

Anticipated to open in the Spring of 2018, C9 Flats joins five other new multifamily developments in the redesigned Central Ninth district. The neighborhood will feature urban studios, downtown and mountain views with nearby access to public transit and recreation.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by airhero

Here's a neat map I made a little while ago:



The yellow is uninhabited area. The black includes mostly industrial and airfield, areas where there isn't a residential population. The green encompasses commercial/mixed-use/residential/educational uses. Google maps measures these areas as the following:

Yellow: 47.0 sq mi 42%
Black: 33.3 sq mi 29.8%
Green: 31.4 sq mi 28.1%

So effectively, only about a quarter (less than 30 sq mi of its 110) of Salt Lake's area has a resident population, which is comparatively a small amount. I haven't gone through the trouble of doing the measurements for other cities, but you can eyeball it with city boundaries.

In Austin, for example, easily more than 60% (or more than 160 sq mi) of its area (270 sq mi) is dedicated to residential use, much of which is spread out residential area.

Clearly Austin can claim it is bigger than Salt Lake in other ways (and rightfully so), but city proper population even when paired with city area offers little in the way of useful comparison.

Like I always say, nobody thinks Fresno is bigger than Miami. Yet I've heard people claim Albuquerque and Boise and Colorado Springs are bigger than Salt Lake, basing it on nothing other than city proper population.

I don't think being a small city is a bad thing, but ignorance bothers me, which is why I'm still going on about this.

Cool map.

I would love to see a similar one for Salt Lake County. Hint hint

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Because there's literally zero major development to talk about. Everything has kind of grinded to a halt. It'd be nice if we could be talking about the latest high rise going up or the convention center hotel...but neither are happening at the moment.

Whaa? There's literally 20-30 projects under construction in SLC alone, and many thousands of residential units going up.

[(Eco)nomy_404]

Originally Posted by Ironweed

People want the transit infrastructure, but don't want to pay for it. You can't have it both ways.

Correct. This backwoods thinking is why Utah is not better than it is.

I love Utah except for the people.[/QUOTE]

Well, to be fair, Utah is light years ahead of most of the Midwest and South. It could be better, but it could be much worse. Look at Charlotte, they opened their very first light rail line in 2007. They now have 9 operating track miles, with 9 more under construction. Utah has had double their current system, plus what's under construction, fully operational since 2013. The issue, of course, is the apparent growing disinterest in maintaining and expanding that infrastructure built up over the past couple decades.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by (Eco)nomy_404

Correct. This backwoods thinking is why Utah is not better than it is.

I love Utah except for the people.

Well, to be fair, Utah is light years ahead of most of the Midwest and South. It could be better, but it could be much worse. Look at Charlotte, they opened their very first light rail line in 2007. They now have 9 operating track miles, with 9 more under construction. Utah has had double their current system, plus what's under construction, fully operational since 2013. The issue, of course, is the apparent growing disinterest in maintaining and expanding that infrastructure built up over the past couple decades.[/QUOTE]

Seriously, the Wasatch Front is doing great compare to many other areas. Transit SUCKS here in San Antonio. It's just terrible. SLC has a lot going for it transit wise.

[airportvids]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Whaa? There's literally 20-30 projects under construction in SLC alone, and many thousands of residential units going up.

He said zero "major" developments. Like highrise or skyscrapers.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Whaa? There's literally 20-30 projects under construction in SLC alone, and many thousands of residential units going up.

I'm talking projects that define a city...projects we've heard about the last few years that have sputtered into nothingness. Like, again, the convention center hotel. Weren't we supposed to hear definitive news on this recently?

[airhero]

Originally Posted by Liberty Wellsian

Cool map.

I would love to see a similar one for Salt Lake County. Hint hint

It could happen but I'm not making any promises.

[airhero]

Hardware Village is a major development. Tall behemoths are overrated. How often can you say two blocks (and these are Salt Lake blocks) of basically nothing are transforming into a residential node?

Speaking of, I keep meaning to snap pics, but 400 West Apartments look to be almost finished. West Village is topped out everywhere except 2 floors on the southwest corner of the development. Also, East Village has moved past the excavation phase and foundation work is currently underway.


Another thing--I don't think anyone has posted about this yet. Looks like planning documents were submitted a couple weeks ago for this senior housing project:





At 61 units, it's not very big, but it's part of the previously mentioned Centro Civico Mexicano development on 600 West between 100 South and 200 South.



http://www.sltrib.com/home/4649663-155/centro-civico-mexicano-and-latino-community

[EPdesign]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Whaa? There's literally 20-30 projects under construction in SLC alone, and many thousands of residential units going up.

Some people are only here for the skyscrapers. Everything else is dismissed. Granted, for such a knowlegded and well versed in culture, architecture, development, economics, business, etc....forum that the post imply of the forumers, the thought that every project is helping define the community and neighborhoods and culture of a city is irrelevant merely because projects are (cookie cutter, not taller than 10 stories, uninspired, blah blah blah) lacking vision seems a little bit of a rip off. I mean. Sugar house did just get a 10 story building( old sugar house is dead. Let it go. What are the possibilities for sugar house?)There is an 8 stories hotel going up on 200s. Entire areas of the city are being transformed to bring in more residents. Etc. but everyone here knows best and doesn't appreciate to small stuff. Sometimes I wonder if some of the forumers even actually check out the projects in person or just like to share opinion behind the safety of their Avatar? Nothing wrong with that. It is a forum after all.

[Liberty Wellsian]

I was thinking about the proposed window displays on Stringham Avenue. I had an alternative idea. You could fit a couple seating booths in each one and perhaps a bar that is also open to the sidewalk. Add an aluminum awning and a minor partition, you've got a pretty unique sidewalk Diner. Dee's owns the property right?

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by Comrade

I'm talking projects that define a city...projects we've heard about the last few years that have sputtered into nothingness. Like, again, the convention center hotel. Weren't we supposed to hear definitive news on this recently?

I see where you're going with this line of logic but what's happening right now is an explosion of infill development on our vacant land. That is always the first step to more vertical development. So while I cringe at all the garbage apartments going up, I'm heartened that they are consuming large swaths of real estate in our MSA, forcing future development vertical. There are no skipped steps in vertical development.

On the Denver thing, I think Delts and Stenar cleaned up the garbage well. Most of us who go there love it for its own reasons, so there's your asterisk: The reason, Mountainpants, you've seen it come up on this forum recently should be obvious if you read stuff ever: Colorado and Denver trolled our market mercilessly when we were getting beat-down by the fools on the hill and stole a convention that was deeply ingrained in our downtown community for over two decades. They literally took out half page ads across the west and trolled us for months. Denver is a big boy city and is doing just fine, so please spare us the chin music. We get to be pissed for a while, especially those of us who are directly hurt economically by the move.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Originally Posted by Marvland

I see where you're going with this line of logic but what's happening right now is an explosion of infill development on our vacant land. That is always the first step to more vertical development. So while I cringe at all the garbage apartments going up, I'm heartened that they are consuming large swaths of real estate in our MSA, forcing future development vertical. There are no skipped steps in vertical development.

On the Denver thing, I think Delts and Stenar cleaned up the garbage well. Most of us who go there love it for its own reasons, so there's your asterisk: The reason, Mountainpants, you've seen it come up on this forum recently should be obvious if you read stuff ever: Colorado and Denver trolled our market mercilessly when we were getting beat-down by the fools on the hill and stole a convention that was deeply ingrained in our downtown community for over two decades. They literally took out half page ads across the west and trolled us for months. Denver is a big boy city and is doing just fine, so please spare us the chin music. We get to be pissed for a while, especially those of us who are directly hurt economically by the move.

The most annoying bit was Colorado's Governor boasting about how much public land they have while sticking his nose up at Utah. More than half of colorado is private land while less than a quarter of Utah is private. Seriously turn half of the private land in colorado into public lands before you cast shade on Utah.

Source
http://www.summitpost.org/public-and-private-land-percentages-by-us-states/186111