Salt Lake MSA Development Thread

[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

I wouldn't worry too much about that as its a medical building. If it were retail then that would be a bit more annoying to see. And only a bit. Still though, big improvement on what is typically seen (even in Salt Lake).

In order to make the every day walking experience in that neighborhood enjoyable, new development must pay attention to the details.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Orlando

Chop those heights in half again and this might happen.

Maybe at this point that what it's going to take to finally get this project going. I'll take 8-12 story buildings there over nothing at all.

[arkhitektor]

I had some time to kill this afternoon after a quick rock chip repair turned into a full windshield replacement at TechnaGlass on 90th south.

I walked over to Rio Tinto Stadium to check it out as I'd never done more than drive by on State St. since it opened.

A few questions:
Who owns the stadium? Does Checketts, or Sandy or the county? Some other entity?

Also, are there any plans for the parcels around the stadium? It's set back from State Street by a field of dirt and weeds, and has dirt parking lots all around the place, and they seem to be using the abandoned RV dealer next door for storage. Why didn't they at least pave the lots that they use for event parking? Are they just a temporary measures until they do something more permanent?

It's a world-class stadium with the parking and transportation infrastructure of a county-fair - it makes no sense.

[SLC Projects]

My understanding is that there are plans for future develop to take place in frond and around the stadium. Once again another thing that Sandy city has TALKED about and yet nothing has happen.

[delts145]

Yeah, there are a lot of plans for the surrounding parcels around the stadium. I'm sure that little by little the parcels will be developed.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

My understanding is that there are plans for future develop to take place in frond and around the stadium. Once again another thing that Sandy city has TALKED about and yet nothing has happen.

I remember Mayor Dolan saying they had some major financial backers who wanted to build a Gateway-like outdoor mall to the south of and basically connecting to the stadium. HA HA HA.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by delts145

Yeah, there are a lot of plans for the surrounding parcels around the stadium. I'm sure that little by little the parcels will be developed.

Well, are there any actual plans?, or just "someday, someone will build something fancy there"

I recall them scheming a while back to get taxpayers to pay for a parking garage, what ever happened to that?

[jmonkey]

^The taxpayers of Sandy?? Or just more federal largess??

[arkhitektor]

I thought that Huntsman's compromise deal which siphoned $35 million in hotel tax dollars from the county was to be used to purchase the land and pay for a parking garage, with the stadium itself built with private money. (From Goldman Sachs IIRC) What ever happened to that money and the supposed garage it was going to pay for?

http://www.heraldextra.com/news/arti...b965b2625.html

[WeST]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

My understanding is that there are plans for future develop to take place in frond and around the stadium. Once again another thing that Sandy city has TALKED about and yet nothing has happen.

Projects you make comments as if it totally perplexes you that Sandy has not moved forward with numerous projects. I don't think you appreciate the magnitude of the recession this country and state is experiencing. I would be amazed if, in the environment, they went forward with many of these projects. There is hardly any demand out there and even if there was, businesses and individual are having an extremely hard time getting financing.

We use to talk about dozens of projects in Salt Lake City that have since stalled or been canceled. Given the necessary time, things will pick up again, but it may be a couple more years. It stinks, but is the truth.

[delts145]

This is very true WeST. Sandy would definitely be pushing the area around the stadium, if under differnent economic conditions. I am seeing quite a bit of building of specific kinds around the Metro. There is quite a bit of commericial and certain types of residential under construction in the northern Utah County areas of Cedar Hills, Highland, and North Lehi. Though these areas were considered underserved in certain categories, and are playing what seems to be a game of catch up. Even Highland, which is noted as a community of ranchettes and large lots is putting in a substantial row of mediterranean style townhomes in their town center. They are built right up to the sidewalk and curb, with garage entrances located at the rear. It's noteworthy in that those moving into these units will have every conceivable service available within easy walking distance.

[NYC Rick]

[QUOTE=arkhitektor;4929346]I had some time to kill this afternoon after a quick rock chip repair turned into a full windshield replacement at TechnaGlass on 90th south.

I walked over to Rio Tinto Stadium to check it out as I'd never done more than drive by on State St. since it opened.

A few questions:
Who owns the stadium? Does Checketts, or Sandy or the county? Some other entity?

Also, are there any plans for the parcels around the stadium? It's set back from State Street by a field of dirt and weeds, and has dirt parking lots all around the place, and they seem to be using the abandoned RV dealer next door for storage. Why didn't they at least pave the lots that they use for event parking? Are they just a temporary measures until they do something more permanent?

It's a world-class stadium with the parking and transportation infrastructure of a county-fair - it makes no sense.

[That area looks like a dump! Such a beautiful stadium to have the surroundings look totally like a dump.

[millhouse]

I worked a little on that project. The reason the parking areas were not paved is they simply ran out of money. So placing grass and road base was the best they could afford. This really sucked for me because that paving contract that got cancelled was mine.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by WeST

Projects you make comments as if it totally perplexes you that Sandy has not moved forward with numerous projects. I don't think you appreciate the magnitude of the recession this country and state is experiencing. I would be amazed if, in the environment, they went forward with many of these projects. There is hardly any demand out there and even if there was, businesses and individual are having an extremely hard time getting financing.

We use to talk about dozens of projects in Salt Lake City that have since stalled or been canceled. Given the necessary time, things will pick up again, but it may be a couple more years. It stinks, but is the truth.

I do agree that a lot of this has to do with this crappy economy and yes I'm sure once we do finally get out what seems like an endless recession a developer ( with funding ) will finally develop something around the stadium. I do agree with NYC Rick when he said that area around the stadium does kind of look like a dump. I've been to a few Real Salt Lake games and I have enjoyed my time there. However parking is a joke. I've said this before that the city of Sandy needs to step up and build a parking garage for not only the stadium, but for the expo center as well. There has been talks in the past the Sandy city wants to develop the area around the stadium as a mix-use ( Gateway ) kind of development. I'm all for that. I think having a hotel or two in that area would be a good idea as well having shops/restaurants all walling distance from the stadium. The stadium is nice, the surrounding area ( other then the Jordan Commons ) not so nice.
Yes I understand that there is hardly any demand out there and even if there was, businesses and individual are having an extremely hard time getting financing. However that doesn't seem to stop other cities like South Jordan with the Daybreak project that even during this hard times they are still building homes at a impressive rate. The U of U just broke ground there the other day. Salt Lake city has countless project that are under construction or about to break ground as well as the U of U. There's develop happening at the north end of Utah county as well as Thanksgiving Point. We are starting to see a construction boom in downtown Provo. Seems like where ever I go I see a ton of 4-story apartment buildings popping up all over the valley. ( I'm sure that has to do with all the forecloses and with people losing their homes there's a big demand right now on apartments. ) I could go on. My point is that all these other cities and developer seem to find a way to get the funding and get their projects moving forward. But at this time there seems to be nothing going on in Sandy. They had a condo project under construction by the Jordan high school that has since stalled. All their proposals are dead or on hold.

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by delts145

Even Highland, which is noted as a community of ranchettes and large lots is putting in a substantial row of mediterranean style townhomes in their town center. They are built right up to the sidewalk and curb, with garage entrances located at the rear. It's noteworthy in that those moving into these units will have every conceivable service available within easy walking distance.

I'm glad these were able to go through. The city folk didn't seem too pleased about them.

[WeST]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Yes I understand that there is hardly any demand out there and even if there was, businesses and individual are having an extremely hard time getting financing. However that doesn't seem to stop other cities like South Jordan with the Daybreak project that even during this hard times they are still building homes at a impressive rate. The U of U just broke ground there the other day. Salt Lake city has countless project that are under construction or about to break ground as well as the U of U. There's develop happening at the north end of Utah county as well as Thanksgiving Point. We are starting to see a construction boom in downtown Provo. Seems like where ever I go I see a ton of 4-story apartment buildings popping up all over the valley. ( I'm sure that has to do with all the forecloses and with people losing their homes there's a big demand right now on apartments. ) I could go on. My point is that all these other cities and developer seem to find a way to get the funding and get their projects moving forward. But at this time there seems to be nothing going on in Sandy. They had a condo project under construction by the Jordan high school that has since stalled. All their proposals are dead or on hold.

I think that you wouldn't be so concerned if you knew the background on many of these projects. First, Daybreak is a great development that has slowed but not stalled because people realize the quality. Further, they have very deep pockets and nice cash reserves. It is much like why the LDS Church has been able to keep going. As for the U, they had the money saved up for these projects years ago. Many of these projects have had money set aside for years. As for the other places I don't know what you are specifically referring to so I can't comment. The cities don't have a lot to do with whether builders undertake projects in their cities, other then possibly standing in the way of supply and demand. We still live in a largely market driven economy (though sadly changing), so don't fret.

While economy as a whole is still referred to as the Great Recession, the housing market is undoubtedly in a depression, that will take more time work out the inventory and have banks feel good about lending.

[TonyAnderson]

Some MSA updates from UUF:

330-unit townhome development to be constructed in Midvale

By Barbara Rattle, The Enterprisw
June 28, 2010

Midvale, Utah - Solstice Homes, Holladay, is planning to break ground in August for The Roof Tops at 7800, a 330-unit townhome project on 15.6 acres on the northwest corner of 7800 South and 1039 West in Midvale.

It will be the latest development in an area now known as Bingham Junction — a large, former Super Fund site that was remediated and is now home, or soon will be home, to hundreds of apartments, a WinCo Foods grocery store, a shopping center and a 170,000 square foot facility for FLSmidth, a Danish firm that supplies equipment and services to the minerals and cement industries.

Bingham Junction News

Redeveloped Murray downtown could rise near rail stations

By cathy mckitrick

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Jul 8, 2010 12:00AM

Spurred on by the growth of light-rail and commuter-rail networks along the Wasatch Front, mid-sized Murray is joining other cities eager for transit-oriented developments.

“In 10 or 15 years, mass transit will play a critical role in the future success of this valley for economic and environmental purposes,” said Murray Mayor Dan Snarr.

Murray News

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by delts145

Even Highland, which is noted as a community of ranchettes and large lots is putting in a substantial row of mediterranean style townhomes in their town center. They are built right up to the sidewalk and curb, with garage entrances located at the rear. It's noteworthy in that those moving into these units will have every conceivable service available within easy walking distance.

I'm all for townhomes and increased walkability, but why in the world would they be building Mediterranean anything in Highland, UT? The trend toward Tuscan and Mediterranean design is gaudy and does a dis-service to the actual architectural history of Utah. What's next? High-end Chinese pagoda townhomes in Bluffdale?

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Some MSA updates from UUF:

"“This is the most high density, public transit-oriented, pedestrian-friendly project possibly in the valley right now,” Ensign said."


Not to sound rude, but I don't think 3-story buildings is class as "High density"

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

I'm all for townhomes and increased walkability, but why in the world would they be building Mediterranean anything in Highland, UT? The trend toward Tuscan and Mediterranean design is gaudy and does a dis-service to the actual architectural history of Utah. What's next? High-end Chinese pagoda townhomes in Bluffdale?

It could be interesting to see high-end Chinese pagoda townhomes in Bluffdale.