Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Almaty, Kazakhstan is practically SLC's twin:


Source

Inversion aside, I think SLC/Ogden/Provo has the best mountain views of any large US city. CO Springs is very nice too and I haven't been to Anchorage but that also looks great. The mountains are much farther away from both downtown Denver and LA, albeit they both have much bigger and more impressive city skylines.

Internationally, Vancouver and Santiago stand out to me as more beautiful settings than SLC and with much more development. I haven't been to Santiago though so that impression is just from pictures.

Santiago look amazing from pics but I haven't been either. I almost went for work then COVID hit.

https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/02/19/10/13/1000_F_219101346_q6bipwE4TL9w0UHuh5VUTjLMY1G5mB6T.jpg

https://as2.ftcdn.net/v2/jpg/02/09/94/07/1000_F_209940755_YCKSj2Rccu7S6tLJPKvjHO3mmjaQLlqj.jpg

[Comrade]

The biggest difference between Salt Lake and a lot of other cities is that we don't have to use a specific zoom to make the mountains look more impressive than they are (oh you can for sure - as some skyline shots have done, but they stand out on their own).

This doesn't represent the true feel of those mountains outside Los Angeles:



In reality:



And that\s if you can see the mountains through the smog.

[locolife]

Originally Posted by Comrade

The biggest difference between Salt Lake and a lot of other cities is that we don't have to use a specific zoom to make the mountains look more impressive than they are (oh you can for sure - as some skyline shots have done, but they stand out on their own).

This doesn't represent the true feel of those mountains outside Los Angeles:

In reality:

And that\s if you can see the mountains through the smog.

You mean the Wasatch mountains and SLC doesn't really look like this?

[delts145]

At first glance, I had the same reaction as you guys. I'm not saying by any stretch of the imagination that this is going to become an architectural masterpiece. However, I'm developing a different take on the main front engagement after looking at the surrounding properties and taking into account the nature of the rendering itself. I'm taking into consideration that the sides and back are not the main public access views and merely access to garage entrances. Much like most of the multi-use and or residential structures constructed over the past millennia, you put the most articulated part of the design upfront on the main pedestrian corridor. In this case that is on 300 west. I mean take a look at the row-style commercial on most of the structures built over the past centuries throughout the world. Even many of the downtown vintage structures with beautifully articulated fronts can be pretty plain at the sides and back. Case in point, I was so glad when The Edison House on 200 W. covered up the west-facing side of the Broadway lofts on 300 S. even though the front of that old Broadway Lofts building is one of my favorites downtown. If the current surrounding dilapidated ugly single-story properties are replaced by new multi-story similarly shaped massings like this,(narrower to the front with depth reaching back) then it could evolve into a huge improvement in the streetscape. Of course, how attractive this area of 300 West will become depends on what type of projects are built to the north and south over this next decade. Given the depth of these properties, one could see a high-density population, which could easily translate into attractive commercial shops and restaurant/village-style businesses on 300 W. itself.

Again, consider the current condition of the site and its surrounding structures on either side. It's literally a hellscape of underdeveloped single-story commercial industrial ugliness. This structural frontage on 300 West is a mirage of relief to the eyes compared to its neighbors, (I'm also taking into account the flat low bar utilitarian nature of the rendering and I'm visualizing the front in 3D). The front is actually quite busy with articulation without being a hot mess of poorly arranged windows and materials, etc. as is one or two of the recent structures along and behind the 400 South corridor. I like the generous amount of half-plank trim around the attractively organized windows and balconies, and the vintage-style steel awning, which takes up the street-level front and also wraps around the southern corner. Again, the fact that the sizable length of the structure reaches back into the property and is not a massive expanse of in-your-face repetitive length from north to south on 300 West is a major plus in my book.

[TheGeographer]

Originally Posted by Comrade

The biggest difference between Salt Lake and a lot of other cities is that we don't have to use a specific zoom to make the mountains look more impressive than they are (oh you can for sure - as some skyline shots have done, but they stand out on their own).

Definitely, the Wasatch Mountains are right in your face here in SLC. I may be biased but I can’t think of a better US city when it comes to a mountain backdrop. The best in the US and one of the best in the world

[i-215]

Tried recreating the same experience using StreetView (2x zoom, 2.25 miles from skyline except Boise which didn't have long enough sightline):



SLC clearly wins. Boise isn't awful. Both Los Angeles and Denver fail, simply because the mountains are far too distant to really impress.

[SLCHenry]

Anyone know of the plans Kensington has for 311 State Street or the Burt Brothers Tire Shop on 204E 300S? Both are in D1 zoning and only a block away from each other. They acquired 311 in 2019 and Burt Brothers in 2021.

[TheGeographer]

Originally Posted by i-215

Tried recreating the same experience using StreetView (2x zoom, 2.25 miles from skyline except Boise which didn't have long enough sightline):



SLC clearly wins. Boise isn't awful. Both Los Angeles and Denver fail, simply because the mountains are far too distant to really impress.

One issue with your Denver street view is you’re pointing south and not west towards the mountains. That said the mountains are more distant, so from a street view they will look dinky. In person they are there and not as horrible as people may think, but less impressive and in your face as the Wasatch. If you’re in Lakewood or western suburbs of Denver they become more and more apparent. SLC is the winner imo having lived in both cities, and may be the US winner. For what it’s worth I’ve gone on Reddit subs of people who live in LA and they say the San Gabriel are visible during the winter more often because the smog and coastal fog rolls out. Not sure if that’s true. Maybe Delts knows living there. Visibility definitely plays a factor. I know we struggle with that a handful of days during the year due to inversion and wildfire smoke

[delts145]

Originally Posted by TheGeographer

Definitely, the Wasatch Mountains are right in your face here in SLC. I may be biased but I can’t think of a better US city when it comes to a mountain backdrop. The best in the US and one of the best in the world

I would have to completely agree with you Geographer. Being well acquainted with most of the city proper and greater CSA's of the aforementioned metros, the Wasatch Front and Back definitely stands out as the most in-your-face dramatic scenery in relation to its population centers. To be sure, whether it's Vancouver, L.A., Denver, or also Metro Seattle, each has areas around their metro that are very beautiful, just usually not quite as close or accessible.

One caveat that I would add regarding L.A. I've lived in Los Angeles now for as much of my life as the Wasatch Front. All of that time has been either in the San Fernando Valley against the Hollywood Hills or Downtown L.A. and its immediate periphery. Also, my job required that I travel throughout the greater CSA several times a week. What would place Los Angeles above some of those previously mentioned western metros is how its population centers are dispersed amongst a menagerie of rugged valleys, hills, and mountains. While certain parts of the inland empire might seem broad and flat, you have to remember that millions of the population of the metro are surrounded by gorgeous vistas and a dramatic coastline. Often, one must travel through passes and wind their way through beautiful regions to access one population center to another. Not as dramatic as say going from SLC to Heber Valley, but beautiful, rugged, and, in-your-face all the same. Again, each pass or canyon leads from one major population center to another. I always say that the Salt Lake City CSA resembles the topographic setup of L.A more than any other metro in the nation. The difference being that the up-close bodies of water are large lakes, and reservoirs instead of an ocean, and the up-close hills, canyons, and mountain spines interspersed amongst the population are not as dramatically craggy or seemingly national park like in L.A.'s Metro as they are in Salt Lake's Metro.

[Ironweed]

We do have an idyllic backdrop in Utah for certain. It is obvious however, that LA, Denver, and other cites mentioned have a significant advantage of having created the "Pyramid" dynamic with their high-rises. Ours (SLC) looks like a slightly sloping table top. The city planners in the master plan said they wanted that aesthetic. It is not even close, nor do I believe even a possibility with what has developed downtown.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by TheGeographer

One issue with your Denver street view is you’re pointing south and not west towards the mountains. That said the mountains are more distant, so from a street view they will look dinky. In person they are there and not as horrible as people may think, but less impressive and in your face as the Wasatch. If you’re in Lakewood or western suburbs of Denver they become more and more apparent. SLC is the winner imo having lived in both cities, and may be the US winner. For what it’s worth I’ve gone on Reddit subs of people who live in LA and they say the San Gabriel are visible during the winter more often because the smog and coastal fog rolls out. Not sure if that’s true. Maybe Delts knows living there. Visibility definitely plays a factor. I know we struggle with that a handful of days during the year due to inversion and wildfire smoke

Yeah. These aren't equal comparisons. Take that Boise street view - that very well could be Salt Lake looking north from State:



Of course, it's also possible those are the only mountains visible with the Boise skyline in the photo, so, if that's the case, it's a fine comparison.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Ironweed

We do have an idyllic backdrop in Utah for certain. It is obvious however, that LA, Denver, and other cites mentioned have a significant advantage of having created the "Pyramid" dynamic with their high-rises. Ours (SLC) looks like a slightly sloping table top. The city planners in the master plan said they wanted that aesthetic. It is not even close, nor do I believe even a possibility with what has developed downtown.

Continue to be patient. I know we've been waiting for too long but the towers will continue to get taller. There are still plenty of missing teeth/under-developed plots for those 600-plus footers between south temple & 6th south, and 2nd east & 300 west. Also, the skyline will continue to stretch south this coming decade. What would now be considered the pinnacle of the pyramid will creep south over time. Salt Lake is just beginning to experience the heavy-weight capital developers like Hines and Kensington that build the major towers. There will be a number of deeper pockets entering the scene that are not so dependent on smaller more conservative local institutions. I really do think Salt Lake's skyline will take on a much more dynamic appearance by the time 2034 rolls around.

[felixg]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Tehran is up there too for mountain views

I know people from Tehran and I’ve heard the salt lake comparison my entire life. Photos of the lower Alborz foothills near the city are sometimes literally indistinguishable from places like emigration or parley’s, it’s insane. I’ve even met Iranians initially aware of and attracted to Salt Lake City primarily due to this likeness hahah

As for comparisons to US cities, I think delts is spot on. There’s something very unique that the LA and SLC metros have in common, likely has to do with terrain informing auto-centric growth, rather than the other way around like in most places. Phoenix too to a smaller degree — though it really only feels significant when you’re in the north valley/Scottsdale area. No one’s yet brought up Reno but I’ve also always thought of it as another sister city in this regard

[SLCHenry]

Originally Posted by SLCHenry

Anyone know of the plans Kensington has for 311 State Street or the Burt Brothers Tire Shop on 204E 300S? Both are in D1 zoning and only a block away from each other. They acquired 311 in 2019 and Burt Brothers in 2021.

Also the tire shop is across from the worthington so it would be nice to see something get built there.

[Paniolo Man]

Originally Posted by SLCHenry

Anyone know of the plans Kensington has for 311 State Street or the Burt Brothers Tire Shop on 204E 300S? Both are in D1 zoning and only a block away from each other. They acquired 311 in 2019 and Burt Brothers in 2021.

I assume Kensington will wait until they are done with Astra. They are probably working on plans behind the scenes.

[Atlas]

I've heard that Kensington won't develop anything else in SLC for awhile after Astra. This was before the spike in interest rates, so I imagine that it's even more true now than it was when I heard it.

I don't doubt that they have long term plans for these sites but I don't think they will move on them anytime soon.

[Atlas]

Some new, high quality renderings of West Quarter Block C were included in the project's most recent submission to the portal. They included some new visualizations of Block D! Not sure I like what I see compared to the last version but I'm guessing that it's still conceptual at this point.









More:

[taboubak]

Those are BEAUTIFUL I hope really hope this comes to fruition.

[ctobsl]

Isn't there a Nevada/Reno/Vegas
thread somewhere?

[wrendog]

Yeah block d not as cool or tall. Block c looking a bit shorter too