Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[felixg]

How likely is it the building’s physical design will change? Seems to me no ones had an issue with it visually, just with what it’s replacing

I for one think it’s the best tower proposal we’ve seen yet for slc, both aesthetically and functionally

[palmloverking]

Of all the projects currently proposed for SLC, the theatre tower is definitely my favorite. I love its position in the skyline and the density it would bring to the area being sandwiched right between two other buildings, really gives a big city feel, and I'm quite a fan of the design too, the thin profile and alternation of facades at the lower level is not bad at all for a residential highrise of the current age, I think it's beautiful even. I really hope this tower gets built exactly as it is depicted in the renderings. It would look so. good.

[Atlas]

I like the design too and I really hope the final building has the exterior lighting features that are shown in the rendering. Something tells me those were flourishes to make the dusk rendering look more dreamy.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by palmloverking

Of all the projects currently proposed for SLC, the theatre tower is definitely my favorite. I love its position in the skyline and the density it would bring to the area being sandwiched right between two other buildings, really gives a big city feel, and I'm quite a fan of the design too, the thin profile and alternation of facades at the lower level is not bad at all for a residential highrise of the current age, I think it's beautiful even. I really hope this tower gets built exactly as it is depicted in the renderings. It would look so. good.

Well said, and I very much agree.

[i2theSKY]

In a perfect world we would get both the theater restored and the tower built. It required moving the theater but I really liked some of the ideas Old&New came up with. Since it's most likely going to come down to one or the other I would personally choose the tower. Admittedly your going to get biased opinions on a skyscraper forum, but it's honestly the best use for the property at this point IMO. I agree with those saying the theater tower is a very nice design and location. With the developer having already committed to incorporating some of the theaters elements, a mid-block walkway, a public park (maintained by the developer) and additional affordable housing I think it would be a real benefit to the city.

[RC14]

The BSL article has a link to a virtual tour of the Pantages theater. When I started the tour I thought something like "This is cool. it really is a shame that we're loosing this theater." but when I got to the actual auditorium I became even more convinced that the city is making the right choice. The auditorium is basically gutted already and contains few of the decorative elements of it's past. At this point, there isn't much left to loose and when you consider the cost to renovate it vs what the community would benefit from it, the value and potential uses of the land that the theater is on, the current housing crisis and all that this tower proposal brings to the table (housing, low income housing, mid block connection and the park. Not to mention the beautiful tower itself.) All things considered, building the tower is the right choice.

Still sad though.

[Orlando]

That tower might not turn out to be what it currently looks like. Just giving you all a heads up.

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Orlando

That tower might not turn out to be what it currently looks like. Just giving you all a heads up.

Hopefully sexier and taller!

Ha. Probably gonna be chunkier and shorter.

[taboubak]

Man I sure hope it turns out taller and not shorter. Something 450 plus would look soooooooo good here, right smack in the middle of the skyline.

[Utah_Dave]

Originally Posted by Orlando

That tower might not turn out to be what it currently looks like. Just giving you all a heads up.

Uh-oh! How disappointed will we be? Shorter? Or more budget friendly design?

[Atlas]

392 ft is what they're asking for in the design review, so it's not going to be taller. I don't honestly expect the design to change much at all.

[Orlando]

Don't be too sure.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Don't be too sure.

I'm curious as to why you are pessimistic about this project in particular.

Hines is a huge company and has built many larger projects before. They have their design and it's being reviewed for very specific exceptions to the code. Why would they change it after it's approved?

[RC14]

Project updates:
I tried something new today with YouTube shorts. Let me know what you think.

Downtown projects:
• Video Link

Midtown projects:
• Video Link

[Boz]

^^^

Nice for sure, but I would suggest filming horizontal instead of vertical.

[Schmoe]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Hines is a huge company and has built many larger projects before. They have their design and it's being reviewed for very specific exceptions to the code. Why would they change it after it's approved?

I know nothing about this project, but Hines being a big company with a successful track record should be the exact reason to be skeptical the final version will look like the current one. As costs escalate, labor gets trickier, and appraisers and lenders get tighter about what they'll accept for rent projections, developers need to look for ways to cuts costs. The skin is particularly vulnerable to this exercise, changing nice-looking renderings into rather bland realities.

[Marvland]

If Orlando says prepare to be underwhelmed, well then I'm prepared. I would even take a "whelmed" at this point. With RDA land gift, all the talk of a signature tower and the city's big talk of the same, we should fully hold their feet to the fire. I'm not a theater pearl-clutcher but we need something badass there. Period.

[Atlas]

I guess I can't speak for Hines, and I don't claim to have any inside knowledge. That said, apart from cost considerations I would think they would be concerned with their reputation, particularly in a local sense, if they were to botch such a high-profile, highly visible project.

I would encourage you all to watch the design review presentation later today. I would not be at all surprised to see questions from the commission related to this concern.

[khabah]

I may have missed this upthread, but it appears that the Element initially proposed for the Block 67 project by Vivint Arena has been swapped out for a Le Méridien property as per the developer's page here: https://azulhospitalitygroup.com/hotel/le-meridien-salt-lake-city-downtown/

According to the page, Le Méridien Salt Lake City Downtown "boasts 144 guestrooms, approximately 10,000 sq ft of meeting space, a rooftop bar, and Adelaide Restaurant and Bar, featuring elevated farm-to-table cuisine that pays homage to the traditional cooking of New Orleans and the South."

Their separate page for the Adelaide Restaurant indicates an opening of summer 2022, which would imply that this one should be well under construction by now. Link with renderings here: https://azulhospitalitygroup.com/hotel/adelaide/

Looks great, and a wonderful hotel brand that I'm glad to see expanding in the US.

khabah

[i2theSKY]

Originally Posted by Boz

^^^

Nice for sure, but I would suggest filming horizontal instead of vertical.

I would also suggest up close shots of each project with a quick walk around, that said I appreciate all videos and pictures posted!


( Theater Tower ) ..... I could be wrong but if I recall correctly the RDA wanted a minimum of 30 stories. The lot size requires a slender East/West front & backside, if 30 stories is still a requirement (hopefully it is) then I would be surprised to see the size change much. I agree it would be in Hines best interest to build an attractive tower, it will be interesting to see what happens with this project.