Salt Lake MSA Development Thread

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by delts145

Murray may unshackle height limits downtown

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/neighbo...king.html.csp#

Murray • The sky could be the limit soon.

The Murray Planning Commission voted at a Jan. 20 meeting to recommend approval of ordinances that allow builders to go as high as they want in the City Center District and require new buildings in part of the area to be at least four stories tall.

The idea is to create a cultural, entertainment and civic center. And with land in the city already 98 percent built out, planning officials thought unlimited height and density was the way to go...

.

While it does make sense that a city that is built out could only go up at this point, I just don't really see it happening anytime soon. Maybe we'll see 4-6 story office buildings popping up here and there, but that's about it as far as bring density to the area. For years we would hear about cities upping their height limit or making it unlimited height, but nothing has really happen. Sandy, south Salt Lake, Murray and Lehi all had proposals to built high rises to their cities, but again........nothing has happen. Those sites today are still undeveloped fields or rundown buildings that are yet to be torn down. So I'm kind of to the point now that when ever I hear stories of this kind of thing I just don't really believe that anything like that is going to happen anytime soon......if ever.

Also we need to be careful of just how high these cities/developers want to develop this isn't going to take away from downtown SLC. I think that if these cites stay within building buildings around 4-10 stories that's fine. However building skyscrapers at lets say 20+ stories that close to downtown that isn't downtown maybe isn't the way to go. Just a thought.

[Future Mayor]

While these new heights haven't happened in any of these cities yet. I like that fact that Murray is ahead of a potential development, proactive rather than reactive.

Again, we can't limit heights in other cities simply because we are skyscraper geeks want downtown to have all the 20+ story towers. It's just like anything else in a capitalistic country and state, if demand dictates a tower in Murray, Sandy or Lehi, then it will be built, if the demand isn't there it won't just happen simply because they have eliminated their height limits. It goes right back to your first point, these cities have eliminated their height restrictions and nothing has happened. Why? Because there hasn't been a demand for it.

I like that Murray is being proactive in it's approach. If a developer sees a demand there, they will have already eliminated one obstacle from the process of having it built, if council approves the ordinance change. I really like the height minimums west of State in the project area, it may take a little longer to develop, but it will eliminate a bunch of lame one story strip mall/office type developments from occurring, resulting in very little density increase.

After reading the entire article I really like the extent of the changes they are making to the ordinance to make that area much more pedestrian friendly and much more urban in nature.

[delts145]

Top 41 Places To Go For 2011

http://travel.nytimes.com/2011/01/09...pagewanted=all

#9. Park City, Utah

9. Park City, Utah
Beyond the film festival, a growing group of top-tier resorts.

Many film aficionados have been lured to Park City for the annual Sundance festival, missing the slopes entirely, which is a shame. This year, new hotels, expanded terrain and events at area ski resorts make on-mountain exploration imperative. Last month, at Deer Valley, Montage opened a 220-room Craftsman-style midmountain lodge ; it offers ski-in, ski-out access, gas fireplaces in every room, and a spa.

Other recent openings include the St. Regis Deer Crest, the Waldorf Astoria Park City and the Hyatt Escala Lodge.

Over at the Canyons Resort, 300 acres of new skiing and snowboarding terrain includes 10 new trails that range from intermediate to expert gladed tree runs. The resort is also introducing what’s billed as the first heated chair lift in North America and opening an après-ski “beach,” an outdoor gathering place with beach-style lounge chairs, food and cocktail stations and expansive views of the mountainside.
— BONNIE TSUI

.

[skyguy414]

A nice honor for PC. It was one of only 5 places in the US that made that list.

Tourism is definitely increasing. The crowds this year for Sundance and the Outdoor Retailers convention is definitely much higher than last year. The airport has been packed for the last two weeks.

What is typically a very slow part of the year for the majority of the country is a goldmine for local tourism.

[SLCdude]

Doesn't Salt Lake City have height restrictions? Does this mean you could potentially build higher in Murray than in Salt Lake City?

[Stenar]

I had to go out to Magna for work today. While I was there, I took some photos of the new Magna Library, which is under construction. It looks really nice, nicer than I thought it would be based on the plans. I think the pink area around the top of the library is going to be covered in copper panels.

I also took a photo of the fairly new, VERY nice looking Magna Senior Center.

New Magna Library






Magna Senior Center

[delts145]

Those are cool Stenar, I really like the styles...very appealing.

[delts145]

Major Hollywood Studio Coming To Park City? - One of Hollywood's oldest, largest and most prestigious studios still determined to call Park City home.

Film executive wants movie studio in Park City
- Raleigh produces blockbuster movies and television shows

http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_1729636...ce=most_viewed

After making several visits to the Park City area in the past few years, an executive at a motion picture studio in California said his company is interested in building a production facility at Quinn's Junction...


The Park Record/ ..."This particular site, I think gives everybody the best chance of success We did an awful lot of research trying to determine what would work and what wouldn't work," Penrod said. "I have been to Utah several times and have looked at numerous sites for even different parties over the last five years."

Filmmakers working in Park City would attract top talent for their productions, he explained.

"The scenery itself is beautiful and there are so many things nearby that would appeal to anybody, whether it's a high-profile cast or crew," Penrod said. "I don't think you could ask for a better place to hang out and make a movie."

Nowhere in Utah is there a production facility comparable to what Raleigh Studios envisions developing at Quinn's Junction.

.

[delts145]

Bank unveils its plans for the Claim Jumper building - Application filed at City Hall calls for apartments, restaurant-nightclub, event space

http://www.parkrecord.com/ci_17395318


hauntedhouses.com

A Park City architect representing the ownership of the Claim Jumper building on Main Street last week filed papers at City Hall in anticipation of a major renovation of the historic building, a signal that the vacant property could someday reclaim its status as one of Park City's grandest historic buildings...

.

[delts145]

WVC’s City Center project coming together


http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/51...lley.html.csp#

West Valley City • Little by little, the City Center project is being pieced together, and officials think its future looks bright.

Negotiations are under way with a major chain to bring in a seven-story hotel. A development company is assisting with plans for an office tower. A pedestrian promenade is on the drawing board.

The project has drawn the interest of developers to the area around City Hall at 3600 South and 2700 West, according to Brent Garlick, West Valley City’s redevelopment director. Contributing to the interest is Valley Fair Mall across the street, which has added numerous stores and restaurants in the past few years and expanded its square footage.

“You can’t beat the location,” Garlick said.

The City Center project, envisioned to create a downtown for West Valley, involves the urban renewal of the area surrounding and to the west of City Hall, 3600 S. Constitution Blvd. (2700 West)...



.

[i-215]

You know how I'm always opposing high-density projects (cough, Midtown Villiage) because it's a bad location?

This is a GREAT location for downtown growth! Fantastic rail access with direct access to SLC. The new feeder-road offramp system coming next year along I-215 will bring excellent access for cars.

Let's do it. Downtown West Valley!

[scottharding]

I agree, i like what West Valley is doing, and I think Sandy would be wise to take a look at how they're doing it. They're not trying to build Rome in a day. They're working to improve what's already there, utilize the transit options there, and develop a bit at a time. A 7 story hotel is a good start, and an office tower that I imagine would be in the 6-10 story range would be great too. I hope they plan on making the road system there a little more condusive by cutting up some of those blocks a bit.

[SLC Projects]

I too think this is great for West Valley City. Seven story Hotel and a Office Tower will fit in well in that area that will soon have a trax line. I say go for it West Valley.

[Future Mayor]

Sandy was once again mentioned, here are a few suggestions for "downtown Sandy" in case Tom is reading this. lol

Sandy needs to propose some sort of minimal tax on businesses in their downtown, including the mall, similar to what SLC does in the CBD. Sandy should sponsor either a free, or minimal cost shuttle system that runs on a regular schedule M-F. The Shuttle should run from Traxx at 100th S to FrontRunner on the other side of I-15, with a few stops in the downtown area, including a jaunt down to the mall with a stop at the food court entrance. In conjunction with the shuttle Sandy needs to find some way to kick start the bankrupt housing project at the Traxx stop, encourage a mixed use development, not merely an office building at the FrontRunner stop, and encourage some sort of Urban flats in the downtown area, similar to those that have been built in Day Break, not a traditional suburban apartment complex, something with some first floor retail space.

The addition of some residential units, and the ease of access from a shuttle system would do wonders in "downtown Sandy" being a little bit viable. A city can create energy in an area without as scottharding said attempting to build Rome. Downtowns need to grow organically, it is only once a downtown is established that a mega project can be accomplished.

[Future Mayor]

Just because I am posting ideas for Sandy doesn't mean I don't think WVC is doing a terrific job, they just seem to know what the hell they are doing a little better than Sandy. lol

I took a previous map of some ideas and added the shuttle system. Yellow blocks are some row houses/town homes or flats over retail. The Orange building is new apartments/condos over remodeled existing retail.

The yellow shuttle would run in a loop, arriving at Trax just before each departure and leaving just after the next arrival (not sure of the schedule), with a stop in front of City Hall/Promenade. Or just a standard, arrives at each stop every 15 minutes.

The Red shuttle would do the same thing, run on a set schedule with stops at the Food Court, near the orange block (apartments/retail), in front of Target, just north of the townhouses at the bend, City Hall, and one in front of the building on the west side of the promenade. I feel that the Target loop is important because of the addition of the housing component I mentioned in my previous post, (grocery store access without a car)



When I say shuttle, I'm not talking about an airport parking type shuttle. I have in mind a vehicle similar to the Cleveland Trolley's that run free through downtown, on two loops.

Image courtesy of wximpact

Thoughts?

[scottharding]

Very good indeed, Future Mayor. I'd say if such a plan was implemented for Sandy for the next 5-10 years, it would work wonders in moving downtown Sandy in the right direction. It's shame Mayor Dolan and his staff of family members aren't nearly as qualified to plan a city as you (or most of us on here, for that matter). Just looking at that photo is sad, trying to do anything with that sham of planning is a task, but I think if such measures were taken in Sandy, then some of the more grand proposals they dream about would actually be within the realms of possibility, ie. the scaled down procenium. Whatever it's called now.

[John Martin]

Holladay city voted tonight to approve the village center concept. If all works out with the developer, it will be 3 stories with ground level retail on Holladay Blvd. and 4800 S, with no more than 58 apartments if I remember correctly (a reduction from 75). This project has been very controversial and has been in planning for years, so it's a relief that it's finally been approved.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by John Martin

Holladay city voted tonight to approve the village center concept. If all works out with the developer, it will be 3 stories with ground level retail on Holladay Blvd. and 4800 S, with no more than 58 apartments if I remember correctly (a reduction from 75). This project has been very controversial and has been in planning for years, so it's a relief that it's finally been approved.

That's great news! I hope it all works out. My grandparents have a town house a few blocks from that area and it sure is depressing to see that mall property in its current state.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by s.p.hansen

That's great news! I hope it all works out. My grandparents have a town house a few blocks from that area and it sure is depressing to see that mall property in its current state.

This isn't the mall property that has been approved. That was approved previously and is simply waiting for the owner General Growth to figure their finances out and for the economy to turn around.

The Village Center is at Holaday Blvd and 4800 S, about a mile east of the mall property.

[s.p.hansen]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

This isn't the mall property that has been approved. That was approved previously and is simply waiting for the owner General Growth to figure their finances out and for the economy to turn around.

The Village Center is at Holaday Blvd and 4800 S, about a mile east of the mall property.

Well, uh....good for them anyway...I guess. (-_-*)