Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[DJ Mentat]

Originally Posted by SLC PopPunk

Appears Sugarmont Apartments are on fire:
https://imgur.com/OJyT1LE

Video from SLCFD:
https://twitter.com/i/status/1585144877389869057

Not the Sugarmont Apartments; it was the under-construction Sugar Alley Apartments.

BSL already has an article up about it: https://buildingsaltlake.com/sugar-alley...nd-sugar-house-retail-and-housing-space/

[delts145]

It would seem like arson might be involved. These projects need to rethink their security. I gathered from BSL's report there have been several suspicious fires in the past few years.

[TheGeographer]

What a travesty. Hate to see this

[Atlas]

Here's a morning photo from the Tribune article. Salvageable?



Huge version

[Jbash]

Would hate to think people feel the need to go and burn down apartments, but having lived in Utah for long enough and seeing the hate and vitriol for any kind of density, I wouldn't be surprised

[delts145]

What a shame! I think this is one of the forum's favorite projects. I just hope their insurance will take care of it, and this won't set this particular developer back too much. They're one of better teams in the city right now.

[Atlas]

In other news, the vacant Sears department store building is coming down today. (see photo below) BSL says that the new hospital that will replace it will have 280 beds. Here's hoping for an attractive, urban design that has no surface parking.

The Trib also mentioned this awhile back:

Real estate brokers based in Dallas announced last week that Lee Development Group, also based in Salt Lake City, has purchased a half-acre parcel and vacant, 22,874-square-foot warehouse and office building directly north and across the street from the Sears site, for $3 million.

Source

[Potgut]

Originally Posted by delts145

What a shame! I think this is one of the forum's favorite projects. I just hope they're insurance will take care of it, and this won't set this particular developer back too much. They're one of better teams in the city right now.

Yeah, it reminds me of the fire in June 2021 of the apartment complex in the Millcreek Brickyard area that was under construction. It makes me wonder if these were built by the same company?

[Orlando]

Originally Posted by Atlas

That parcel is owned by Kensington Investment Company. There's been no public info on that project yet but I've heard that they don't plan on developing anything immediately in SLC after Astra. More recently, with the market slowing down and interest rates going up, my guess is they won't do anything with their parcels in the short/medium term.

That said, Makid has posted in the past about KIC's desire to build more city-defining projects like Astra in the future. Given that, I think a 10-story building would actually be surprisingly small for that lot.

It was posted about 1.5 years ago on here. It was designed by a firm in California. Forum members complained that it appeared boxy and unoriginal.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Orlando

It was posted about 1.5 years ago on here. It was designed by a firm in California. Forum members complained that it appeared boxy and unoriginal.

The only other recent projects I know about in that general area are Worthington (32 stories), Moda Luxe (9 stories, cancelled?), Cottonwood Broadway (6 stories), Block 200 (retrofit + 8 stories), and whatever Ivory Homes has up its sleeve to replace Ken Sander's Rare Books.

[Wigs]

Originally Posted by Paniolo Man

Just kidding.

Featuring a postcard from the Loves in Salina.

Hey, that looks like Edmonton

[Atlas]

Another shot of the damage, featuring Mayor Mendenhall:

[i-215]

Any word on how much of it will be saved? I know they were supposed to start doing emergency demolition work on the most damaged section starting tonight.

[bob rulz]

(delete duplicate)

[bob rulz]

No idea, but they have stated that they plan on rebuilding it exactly as originally designed.

Assuming it was arson, I understand the frustration around luxury apartment construction, but it doesn't accomplish anything. Any big apartment project like that is probably insured and most likely would just rebuild as originally intended.

Originally Posted by Potgut

Yeah, it reminds me of the fire in June 2021 of the apartment complex in the Millcreek Brickyard area that was under construction. It makes me wonder if these were built by the same company?

Not the same company. Sugar Alley is being developed by Lowe's, while the one in Millcreek I believe was Cottonwood Residential.

[Atlas]

Some updates:

BSL reports that Sugar Alley will be rebuilt to its original design. The fire is actually still burning as I type this so it remains to be seen what will be left. They probably have insurance though so rising interest rates and building costs may not be a huge barrier.

LOCAL SLC, which would be where the Crown Burger currently is on 200 S, may be a dead project. There was a rumor about it on Reddit a few weeks ago and they pulled out of their design review hearing that was originally scheduled for yesterday. Might be a casualty of rising interest rates.

This project next to Kilby Court on 800 S was approved yesterday despite opposition. It includes ground floor retail space, a midblock walkway with access to Kilby Court, and a potential path to ownership for the tenants of Kilby Court (which is currently owned by the developers).





Finally, the next phase of the Hardware District was approved. The design is nothing special but it has improved slightly since working with the planning department. Still disappointing compared to the old office proposal.

View from FrontRunner station side:



View along North Temple viaduct:

[kj_ut]

Have heard a rumor that the Lee's at 4th West is closing on Saturday (October 29).

[bob rulz]

Why all the opposition to the Kilby Court project? It preserves the venue and even improves access to it.

Originally Posted by Atlas

[SIZE="3"]LOCAL SLC, which would be where the Crown Burger currently is on 200 S, may be a dead project. There was a rumor about it on Reddit a few weeks ago and they pulled out of their design review hearing that was originally scheduled for yesterday. Might be a casualty of rising interest rates.

I saw that on the agenda and came here to ask about it. Would be a shame if that were dead as it looked like a good project.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Why all the opposition to the Kilby Court project? It preserves the venue and even improves access to it.

Mostly it was just people who were concerned that the size of the building and the new walkway were going to irreparably change the character of the venue and its little funky alleyway. They were also worried that new residents would make noise complaints. The developers said they wanted to preserve Kilby Court and are providing it with new bathrooms as part of the project. They may also offer a path to ownership to the operators but there's no firm commitment there yet.

Fisher Brewing was also opposed to it because they think that the construction is going to impact parking and operations, and they think the new residents will complain about the brewery odors.

In the end, the commissioners decided that even though some thought the design wasn't perfect for the location, they'd rather approve the project as it's designed now because 1) it's actually pretty nice and 2) the developers could just turn around and build something slightly shorter with fewer public benefits by right.

[Ironweed]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Mostly it was just people who were concerned that the size of the building and the new walkway were going to irreparably change the character of the venue and its little funky alleyway. They were also worried that new residents would make noise complaints. The developers said they wanted to preserve Kilby Court and are providing it with new bathrooms as part of the project. They may also offer a path to ownership to the operators but there's no firm commitment there yet.

Fisher Brewing was also opposed to it because they think that the construction is going to impact parking and operations, and they think the new residents will complain about the brewery odors.

In the end, the commissioners decided that even though some thought the design wasn't perfect for the location, they'd rather approve the project as it's designed now because 1) it's actually pretty nice and 2) the developers could just turn around and build something slightly shorter with fewer public benefits by right.

These Nimby's are mentally backward. This zone is completely dilapidated. This project helps tremendously! I sincerely hope this opens up the entire area! Some weird NIMBY group is responsible for the arson of multiple apt. buildings.