Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[ThePusherMan]

Originally Posted by Marvland

Holy crap that's amazing! I know it's the UDABC flagship but it is waaay above my expectations. Edison is really blossoming. That will be one of the real cherry assets the state will need to spin off when we privatize..

Still too much to ask for there to be beer coolers though. 😕

[RC14]

I know this isn't something I should be getting excited about on this forum but I'm actually very happy that we are getting an In-N -Out closer to downtown. I will probably frequent it even though I agree that it is overrated and Crown burger is in fact better.

For the record, the best burger I have ever tried is the Double cheese burger at Billy Goat Tavern in Chicago. It changed everything I had previously believed about what the perfect hamburger would be like.

[Blah_Amazing]

I'm actually really pissed by the Liquor Store. A two story building and a 9 FLOOR PARKING GARAGE seems ridiculous for downtown. This is just a block east from that horrid planned building on Broadway to replace the Yardstick and even that was at least a three floor building.

This means everyone on the west side of the 9 floor Moda Luxe building (directly east adjacent) will only have a view of a parking garage for the liquor store, since the garage will likely be taller than or the exact same height as Moda Luxe.

I think this design is better suited for a D-2 or lower zone, not right in the heart of downtown (minus the 9 floor parking tower). I mean, the 31 floor tower (Worthington Tower) replacing Tabernacle that people have been arguing about is half a block further east from this. That means this is closer to the city center than that.

Since the building isn't at least 100 feet (though the parking garage will likely exceed that), which is lower than the D-1 minimum, can the city stop this from happening?

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by Blah_Amazing

I'm actually really pissed by the Liquor Store. A two story building and a 9 FLOOR PARKING GARAGE seems ridiculous for downtown. This is just a block east from that horrid planned building on Broadway to replace the Yardstick and even that was at least a three floor building.

This means everyone on the west side of the 9 floor Moda Luxe building (directly east adjacent) will only have a view of a parking garage for the liquor store, since the garage will likely be taller than or the exact same height as Moda Luxe.

I think this design is better suited for a D-2 or lower zone, not right in the heart of downtown (minus the 9 floor parking tower). I mean, the 31 floor tower (Worthington Tower) replacing Tabernacle that people have been arguing about is half a block further east from this. That means this is closer to the city center than that.

Since the building isn't at least 100 feet (though the parking garage will likely exceed that), which is lower than the D-1 minimum, can the city stop this from happening?

I think because it is a state building, they do not need to follow local planning/design guidelines of the city.

[Orlando]

Guys, I think the 9-story garage is an existing garage, not a new one for the liguor store. That's ridiculous. The stores that I've seen are so non-descript. So, this is actually nice.

[Blah_Amazing]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Guys, I think the 9-story garage is an existing garage, not a new one for the liguor store. That's ridiculous. The stores that I've seen are so non-descript. So, this is actually nice.

It is not an existing garage. You can see it behind the building, which is definitely new since the property is currently a surface lot. According to the architecture firm, the parking garage is planned to be 9 floors tall. It's possible a floor or two will be underground (unspecified (I hope at least a few will be)), but this is would be a large parking garage with hundreds of parking stalls.



I made a quick map of the block.

[ThePusherMan]

I understand what you’re saying but if we want surface lots to go away parking structures are going to get built and there is no chance that we would get a 9 story liquor store. Also every single lot isn’t going to be a tower. That’s not ever going to happen in salt lake and nor should it.

[Blah_Amazing]

Originally Posted by ThePusherMan

I understand what you’re saying but if we want surface lots to go away parking structures are going to get built and there is no chance that we would get a 9 story liquor store. Also every single lot isn’t going to be a tower. That’s not ever going to happen in salt lake and nor should it.

Honestly though, I'd rather have the surface parking lot at that point. It doesn't need to be tower, but this is an absolute disgrace. If the surface lot was kept behind the building, it would still be over 40 stalls. 9 floors x 40 stalls = approximately 360 or so parking stalls. This is insane for one two-story retail store, even if it is a state liquor store. Especially in addition to the abundance of parking around it and in the CBD where there is a higher level of walkability and public transportation.

[Blah_Amazing]

Not to mention the impact this will have on Edison. It would create a literal parking structure canyon with no street engagement along another 20% of its streetscape (In addition to the one across the street). These two parking structures will become the dominant features of the street, instead of residential, commercial, or retail as it should be.

[Blah_Amazing]

As for the building itself, I don't care for it at all. All they did was slant the glass slightly on top and add a weird wood box detail in front. Otherwise, it is a cinder block and glass liquor store like all the others from the suburbs.

I'm surprised that so many seem to like this standard suburban-style design, but throw shade on all of the towers being planned for looking somewhat similar because they mostly have flat roofs.

[Blah_Amazing]

In other unsurprising news, Sugarmont Apartments' opening date has been moved back again (for like the 7th time (remember, it was supposed to open back in 2019)) from April 2021 to to June 2021.
https://www.sugarmontapartments.com/

This has to be one of the most often delayed under construction projects we have had recent times.

[Blah_Amazing]

Speaking of Moda Luxe...
https://hpadesigngroup.com/portfolio-item/moda-luxe/
https://jfcapital.com/projects/
Under Construction: completed by Winter 2023.
Location: 242 S 200 E, Salt Lake City.
9 floors. 217 residential units.
The majority of the units will be a mix of studio, one and two bedroom apartments with four, three-bedroom penthouse units on the ninth floor. The ground floor will host the residential lobby and two restaurant-oriented commercial areas. At the second above-ground level, proposed residential amenities include a deck and swimming pool, with a canopied area and dog park planned to occupy the roof level.














Unfortunately for them, this will now be a view of the 9 floor liquor store parking garage. Cause that's worth it.

[delts145]

Speaking of Moda Luxe has there been any further movement construction-wise? Also, the same with Brinshore.

Regarding parking garages, I hate them all. I realize they're an ugly necessity, but they could at least take responsibility for disguising them. Three of my least favorite are the two bookending Pierpont between W. Temple and 2nd West, and the one on Market Street next to the old Stock Exchange. What is most egregious about these beasts is the fact they are located on streets that could easily become iconic pedestrian residential/commercial strips. Again, we need parking structures, but they should at a minimum be required to have street-level commercial engagement, and also be attractively disguised at the exposed facades.

Blah_Amazing is right in demanding better. Here we have had the opportunity to create a fantastic pedestrian mid-block thoroughfare with Edison and no one in city power that we know of is demanding creative ways to make the parking tower curtains attractive. There's no way anyone can convince me that any number of students at the U. couldn't create some attractive alternatives. Sure we need taller towers, hopefully in the soon to come future. And yes, we could use a few iconic crowns on those towers. However, let's not forget one of the most basic priorities that we've been hammering away at for the last 20 years. Cutting up the big blocks with attractive Euro-style walkable designs. Really, City Creek is just an attractive updated aesthetic of street design you would see in a Rome/Milan urban setting.

As Blah_Amazing is pointing out, we shouldn't be allowing planners to get away with gunking up one of Salt Lake's most lofty goals of creating beautiful walkable inner blocks. Let's see some design creativity on these parking towers.

[Makid]

Are we sure that the parking garage is part of the Liquor Store project?

The State is fairly cheap and I don't see them building a $30+ Million Dollar parking garage. Not when there is a surface lot that is already available.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by Blah_Amazing

Unfortunately for them, this will now be a view of the 9 floor liquor store parking garage..

This sort of thing happens all the time. Unless you own the land to preserve a view corridor, there’s nothing to guarantee someone else’s building project won’t obscure those views. Frankly, the potential loss of that view corridor should have been taken into consideration by the developer when designing the project. But when someone gives you lemons, try to make lemonade. I bet the developer of this project could reach out to the developer of the parking structure and work together to make the garage something cool and interesting to look at. Perhaps some kinetic art installation. I imagine the residential building will still be taller than the garage though. Aren’t parking floors shorter than residential floors? On the bright side, the addition of this garage would likely provide the block with additional parking needed to justify building another tall residential tower on the NW corner of 300 S. and 200 E. (the future Ivory Homes development (maybe Ivory Tower?)) The parking garage would ideally have retail space on Edison though.

ALSO, this rendering is a lie, the broadway parking garage is a lot closer than pictured, and in reality it already blocks a large chunk of the view shown.

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by Blah_Amazing

Not to mention the impact this will have on Edison. It would create a literal parking structure canyon with no street engagement along another 20% of its streetscape (In addition to the one across the street). These two parking structures will become the dominant features of the street, instead of residential, commercial, or retail as it should be.

Yeah I didn't see the parking garage as part of this idea, which is a mess. Along with the RDA owned parking garage across Edison, this would destroy fully a third of the street level possibilities on Edison. At least the RDA parking garage has Copper Common in it facing 3rd. Also, the state is working on a drive through concept and if they succeed this would turn Edison street into a drive through disaster. Not really sure why they would need so much parking unless it is meant to service the State complex across the street to the south on 3rd? Need more info.

But I do love the design of the actual store. Nothing wrong with cinderblock, which is really amazingly expensive nowadays.

[Orlando]

I think there are problems exacerbating the parking issue in downtown...

1)tech companies locating in car-centric developments in sprawl land, and the new out-of-towners reverse commuting from downtown SLC to tech sprawl land. Instead of tech companies integrating into a smart-developed urban development that already has public transportation and residents and urban amenities within walking or easy-transit proximity.
2) These new developments are not entirely mixed-use with retail at the ground floor. Therefore, the residents in these new developments are car dependent to go get there groceries and commute to work, etc.

[RC14]

I think I have to side with Blah_Amazing on this. At minimum, this new parking garage needs ground floor retail and I haven't exactly been one of those who has been demanding ground floor retail in every new development. I just think that a parking structure on Edison like this, with no ground floor street engagement, would make the new mid block connection between State and Edison almost pointless as there would be nowhere for pedestrians to walk to besides their cars.

[Blah_Amazing]

95 State has finally launched their website.
https://www.95stateslc.com/
I noticed the website included renderings, some I've definitely have seen, but a few renderings were definitely new to me as well.


Looking South


Looking West


Looking East


95 South


Floor Cross-Section


95 State Main Lobby


The Link. The design of the meeting house has changed slightly, with what appears to be additional slats than prior renderings.


Patio Area


Patio Area


The Link and City Creek


The Link - Lower Level


Main Lobby

The website also includes a brochure:

[Always Sunny in SLC]

Since it imposes itself so much in the skyline because of its orientation, it would have been great if it were more architecturally interesting. Regardless, it is nice added density.