Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[Makid]

Originally Posted by airhero

I’d like to know which developer is attached to the Humphreys design. Brinshore might have selected them to design their building. The RDA Executive Director did say Brinshore was trying to finalize their design. Perhaps a few days later this is what they came up with. Maybe the 14 stories was a preliminary estimate.

It’s also not inconceivable that Humphreys is just showing off this design even though it won’t be built.

This is what I have been wondering. I have been looking into this and haven't been able to find anything out one way or the other.

The biggest difference though is the ground floor. The Strand shows a Bistro and retail/restaurant but Brinshore mentions office space for non-profit art groups. It is possible that the offices are in the middle spaces or now up a floor or 2 as well.

I think it was mentioned that Brinshore was looking at around 180 units in the building in one of the RDA/Council meetings by Derek Kitchen.

From the Tribune article:

RDA Chief Operating Officer Danny Walz said the city is entering contractual talks with Brinshore after accepting its qualifications and an initial proposal to build a 14-story residential tower at the downtown site, with the first floor devoted to offices for arts-focused nonprofits.

[SLCLvr]

Originally Posted by Makid

This is what I have been wondering. I have been looking into this and haven't been able to find anything out one way or the other.

The biggest difference though is the ground floor. The Strand shows a Bistro and retail/restaurant but Brinshore mentions office space for non-profit art groups. It is possible that the offices are in the middle spaces or now up a floor or 2 as well.

I think it was mentioned that Brinshore was looking at around 180 units in the building in one of the RDA/Council meetings by Derek Kitchen.

From the Tribune article:

Since there is no definitive answer I can continue to speculate. Looking at Brinshore's portfolio I see a lot of stuff that would be similar to the what they would be doing on the Overniter Motel property redevelopment that they were also awarded but not central city high-rise development so maybe they are partnering with Humphreys to get more high-rise development expertise. The Humphreys design is so sweet I hope they are involved and they have decided to go a little higher.

[Orlando]

One could always just ask the RDA, if the Humphreys design is an updated version of the awarded project.

[wrendog]

Humphreys sure thinks that they are in the running still. This was posted yesterday in response to when it will break ground:

https://twitter.com/humphreys_arch/status/1048223680101343232

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Humphreys sure thinks that they are in the running still. This was posted yesterday in response to when it will break ground:

https://twitter.com/humphreys_arch/status/1048223680101343232

I commented on that tweet hoping for clarification.

[Utah_Dave]

Originally Posted by StevenF

I commented on that tweet hoping for clarification.

It looks like they responded to your tweet. It’s too bad they passed on this proposal.

[SLCLvr]

Originally Posted by Utah_Dave

It looks like they responded to your tweet. It’s too bad they passed on this proposal.

Too bad. This proposal looks like it would have activated the street more than some ground level non-profit offices. Also more units. Will be interesting to see what the actual proposal turns out to be. I know the process is to turn this over to the administration and let them make the decision but so far they're touting warehouse developments which is great for a segment of the population but they haven't done much to speak of downtown other than branding it "The Blocks". Not seeing a lot of urban vision out of the Biskupski administration. A lost four years for downtown.

[ajiuO]

The Larry H. Miller Corporation must be pretty hard up this year. They raised the price of a can of beer at Vivint from 9.00 to 12.00. That’s a 33% price hike. That’s pretty ridiculous for something that cost them less than two dollars to buy. I’ve seen them raise the price $.50 a couple of times... but 3$??? Damn!!!

On a positive note they shortened that horrible glass that they put around the upper bowl.... it still sucks but it’s not as bad as it was. I think they were getting a lot of complaints. Hopefully they get some complaints about their price hikes this year.

Oh and they don’t serve modelo any more. According to them Modelo isn’t going to produce Utah percentage of beer anymore. I’m sure will see a lot of that now that we’re the only state that has it... then they’ll fold and let stores sell normal beer, and DUIs will go through the roof because of our strict laws... So it’s total profit for the state of Utah.

[downtownslcresident]

Thanks for all the updates everyone! Super thorough and greatly appreciated!

But it does beg a question....over the last 10 years it seems like so many of these proposed projects have died and never actually come to fruition. Is that normal for other cities? Or unique to SLC for some reason? And if it is just Salt Lake, why?

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by Utah_Dave

It looks like they responded to your tweet. It’s too bad they passed on this proposal.

Bummer. That would have been nice to have.

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by downtownslcresident

Thanks for all the updates everyone! Super thorough and greatly appreciated!

But it does beg a question....over the last 10 years it seems like so many of these proposed projects have died and never actually come to fruition. Is that normal for other cities? Or unique to SLC for some reason? And if it is just Salt Lake, why?

I bet it’s pretty normal. There are probably 10 major developments that get purposed for every 1 that actually gets done.... we just don’t get that many developments purposed compared to other cities, probably. The Mormons people in Utah like big families and big houses in the suburbs. They don’t really want much to do with downtown... it’s also Getting less aforbable for the average worker downtown any more... it’s getting to the point that you either need to be upper middle class or make 20k a year so that the tax payers can pay for half of your apartment... it actually pisses me off that people who make under 25k can afford a nicer apartment then me, because the government takes my money to pay for them.... pfff. Anywho.... not a lot of interest in downtown.

[Ironweed]

[QUOTE=ajiuO;8339311]I bet it’s pretty normal. There are probably 10 major developments that get purposed for every 1 that actually gets done.... we just don’t get that many developments purposed compared to other cities, probably. The Mormons people in Utah like big families and big houses in the suburbs. They don’t really want much to do with downtown... it’s also Getting less aforbable for the average worker downtown any more... it’s getting to the point that you either need to be upper middle class or make 20k a year so that the tax payers can pay for half of your apartment... it actually pisses me off that people who make under 25k can afford a nicer apartment then me, because the government takes my money to pay for them.... pfff. Anywho.... not a lot of interest in downtown.[/QUOTE

No, it is not normal. Salt lake City appears to be putting forth a weak effort, which is better than nothing, but not much. Maybe the city will mature some day like others have mentioned. Here is to hoping

[EPdesign]

I mean, some cities haven’t had a new top five for decades, and the west side and 400 south is getting completely changed with the projects being developed...but you’re right. Slow developing city

[asies1981]

The developers of the West Station Apartments third phase have upped the proposed unit count by 50 units.

[asies1981]

And the Humphries proposal is definitely not the approved project. I'll have a post on that tomorrow.

[Liberty Wellsian]

Building tall is expensive.

You either need some big egos or a good damn reason to do it (geography most often).

I think we are getting there on both fronts. We are running out of space, blowing past our highway capacity, and have been absorbing a lot of new wealth. I think big things are coming and when it happens it is going to snowball.

Calm before the storm

[EPdesign]

I walked past the site of the Proposed Regent Street hotel during lunch. They are putting chairs in rows and some tables with chairs on the dirt. It’s looks as if there is going to be a small ceremony. Anyone know anything about it?

[asies1981]

More info on Brinshore's projects. Looks like there will be two towers at the State Street site.

[nushiof]

Originally Posted by EPdesign

I walked past the site of the Proposed Regent Street hotel during lunch. They are putting chairs in rows and some tables with chairs on the dirt. It’s looks as if there is going to be a small ceremony. Anyone know anything about it?

There are nice red table cloths on the tables now, and the caterers are setting up food and drinks. This is getting fancy, which is strange considering it's all set up on the dirt and mud.

We still think the Regent Hotel is dead right?

We need to put Aisies on this to do some investigative reporting work.

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by EPdesign

I walked past the site of the Proposed Regent Street hotel during lunch. They are putting chairs in rows and some tables with chairs on the dirt. It’s looks as if there is going to be a small ceremony. Anyone know anything about it?

It is the funeral for a great project which never got off the ground.

RIP Regent Hotel.