Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[Future Mayor]

That is such fantastic news! Hey Sandy, KISS IT!

That is a great location, I'm trying to figure out where they could put a new 2,500 seat theater within those boundaries. They could but it on top of Carl's Jr. and the old eat a burger next to it, except the parking ramp would be in the way. They could also put it on grass area next to Arrow Press and or next to the little Zions on 100 South, between the bank and the Dinwoody furniture building. That seems to be the largest parcel without having to take down the building kiddy corner from the Shilo. I think they could expand the Capital lobby by going either East or West. The space to the West never seems to be able to keep a restaurant ever since Marie Calenders left about 8 years ago or so, or to the east is a parking structure that could be relocated to the interior of the block. There also seems to be plenty of interior block space on that block with all the vacant space in Arrow Press for Ballet West. While having Ballet West in Sugarhouse would have been a decent idea I like the thought of having the academy right by Capital. Image if you are part of BW, you could live, shop, work and practice all downtown without ever needing a car. Yet another example of Salt Lake's transformation into an Urban City.

My preference is either the grass and weird office/parking building on the corner of between Dinwoody and Zions. The goal of having it completed by the time CCC opens, very impressive. What a year that would be, opening of CCC, a new arts district, 222?(couldn't remember the date) and my project.

Good job DT Alliance.

[Comrade]

That photo is so fucking old. Probably taken in the late 90s. You think they would have been able to get an updated photo for this...trash.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Viperlord

The Downtown Alliance hopes to have all of these changes completed by the time the City Creek Center opens in 2011.

Cool so by 2011 downtown will have CCC finish and get it's arts and culture district at the same time. I can't wait til 2011.

[Viperlord]

anybody want to take a look at this place, and report back to us??? 120 S. Main

With $3 billion in development currently under way in downtown Salt Lake City, civic leaders found it appropriate to open the doors of Downtown Rising's new "home base" with the small full-time staff.

Its the downtownrising headquarters. A place for people to go and learn about development projects in Downtown SLC. I bet we know of most of them though. lol.


http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695234373,00.html

[Viperlord]

Downtown makeover plan: Movies a Main magnet?
Cinema center and public market are envisioned as the arts center anchors

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_7667484

[delts145]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

Cool so by 2011 downtown will have CCC finish and get it's arts and culture district at the same time. I can't wait til 2011.

I almost kind of wish 2011 were already here. Oh well, that's not that far off.

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I'm trying to figure out where they could put a new 2,500 seat theater within those boundaries.

So am I future mayor. Personally I am a little perplexed about the narrow boundaries of the study- as if they are trying to channel the theater to be an appendage of City Creek. Seems like a "broadway style theater" should be located ON BROADWAY! (300 South) I can think of a lot of great locations on that street near West Temple. If creating an "arts district" is the goal, seems like another arts venue should at least be within sight of the location (like Rose Wagner). Also there are plenty of restaurants nearby on Pierpont, Market street, and Broadway itself. But this is just a minor issue, the most important thing is that this theater is built downtown.

[WASDEN]

[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by WASDEN

Seems like a "broadway style theater" should be located ON BROADWAY! (300 South)

I was actually irritated when DowntownRising designating the Broadway district as a theater and arts district. I felt it was a little pretentious on their part. I've always wanted a Broadway Style theater on the same block as both the Utah and Capitol theaters, creating a "Theater Square" if you will. I think there is actually plenty room on that block. If you measure the footprint of other theaters in different cities on GoogleEarth, you will see that even that grass lawn would be a large enough area to house a Broadway-scale theater. Of course the Utah Power and Light building would need to be removed. I think this spot makes the most sense.

[WASDEN]

Urbanboy are you referring to the grassy spot at Arrowpress Square? I think that site would be a stretch simply because you're right, they would have to move that power substation or whatever it is. Remember when Boyer wanted to move that power substation at the Gateway on 500 west? Thier argument was more could be built on the site, and the city could actually make the mid street park blocks continuous. Made perfect sense to me but I think the cost was too high in the end. Also there is little if any parking at that location. Do you think below grade parking would be incorporated into the design? Personally I hate that we have to consider accommodating cars for every stinking project, but that is the reality of how most Utahns will get themselves to such a theater. The biggest determinant of the location will probably be who owns the land.

[urbanboy]

I don't think parking will be an issue if a theater is placed on any of these two blocks. This is because of the parking that will be available at both City Creek Center and the Convention Center. However, I didn't know about the Boyer and Gateway ordeal. It could still be possible though. I really don't know the feasibility of moving the Utah Power and Light operation. But ideally, if it could work, that is the location I like best for the Broadway-style theater.

[Future Mayor]

I like that location as well, I think they could incorporate the grass area with the lame building on the corner to the south and put a nice grand entrance facing the corner of the intersection.

There is plenty of parking that Urban Boy mentioned as well as the gigantic Regent Street Garage a block away.

The entire grass parcel is owned by UPL, it is 1.25 acres. The parcel to the south on the corner is .86 acres. Capital Theater only sits on .49 acres and is the exact same depth as the corner lot, but nearly half the width. My suggestion is take down that lame 4 story parking/office building and build the theater facing south or southwest and expand it back onto the grass area. I like the idea of the marquee being visible from Capital vice versa. The only draw back of this suggestion is that when you exit this great new theater BAM, you have to look at the hideous Shilo Inn.

I will second the info about the Gateway substation. The wouldn't move it and it really is a shame, because a continuous parkway would have been really nice.

[delts145]

( Everyone make sure to at the very least send in your comments on this article at the provided, "comment on article section.")

Theater battle brewing between Sandy, Salt Lake

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695233997,00.html

Less then a year after attracting a Major League Soccer stadium away from the state's capital city, Sandy may be in position to do the same with a theater capable of booking Broadway shows.

Dolan Says,that he doesn't have "a lot of confidence " in Salt Lake City's plans for a theater. He said those plans have been in the discussion phase for more than 20 years. Having one broadway-style theater in the Salt Lake Valley is better than none, he said.

Perhaps, this 'something is better than nothing logic' worked for the stadium, and I was definately a proponent for MLS soccer in Sandy rather that no MLS in Utah at all. But, that same logic in regard to a broadway sized theatre in Sandy,(supported by the state and county) at the expense of no major broadway sized venue downtown, would be ludicrous !!!

..

[jedikermit]

This is what I added in the comments...it may not be exactly what you were looking for...

I'd much rather see a theatre like this in Salt Lake than in Sandy too, but if we don't want to see it scalped from underneath us by Tom Dolan and his henchmen, Salt Lake needs to get its act together and step up.

I don't blame Sandy for seeking more amenities. Of course they should. Salt Lake City needs to stop the infighting and work together towards a common goal. If they want that theatre district, quit talking about it and start offering developers enough incentives to get the theatre built. There have been plans for a theatre like this (and refurbishing the Utah Theater, and others) for decades--it's time SLC stopped wishing and started working.

[Comrade]

The problem people don't see is that Salt Lake has constantly been undermined by the conservative legislature and I know it's a direct result of it not supporting Republicans. I know this sounds a bit conspiracy theoryish, but it isn't. There are many Republicans on Capitol Hill who still can't get over the fact that the largest city in the state and the home to the LDS Church votes Democratic 99.9% of the time. Every Salt Lake representative in the Utah Legislature is a Democrat, the city council is now mostly Democratic and of course, the mayor is Democratic. Its petty politics at its finest and it's always been like this.

You saw it specifically with how they bent the rules to force Salt Lake out of the running for the MLS stadium and then bent them back to give Sandy the upper hand in funding. You're going to see it here, again, because they will do everything they can to stick it to the capitol city. Why do you think the E Center is in West Valley City and not the original proposed location a block south of the ESA? The same reason. Salt Lake was drafting up a plan for a new hockey arena next to the Delta Center when, pushed by the suits on Capitol Hill, West Valley swooped in with a plan of their own.

I honestly believe many in the legislature want to see Salt Lake fail. Yet they don't understand that without a vibrant core city, the suburbs will take a hit, too.

[urbanboy]

This has always irritated me! The majority of the Legislators on the Hill are so interesting. Their should really be some sort of study or documentary put together about what slimy things the Utah legislators have done as far as petty politics and what ludicrous bills have been passed or have tried to be past. I'm sure it would make a very good documentary! Let's expose these Bastards!

[SLCforme]

yep, I really do think that it's out of spite. The whole funding fiasco for RSL was, to me, the epitome dirty politics. Change the law so SLC can't use it's proposed funding mechanism so the stadium goes to Sandy, then change the law back so Sandy can use the exact same mechanism that SLC was proposing. I honesty don't know how those legislators can justify what they did. Doesn't their religion say something about honesty and integrity? I thought it did... but maybe as long as you follow the letter of the law it doesn't matter whether or not you are actually a just and honest person.

I sincerely hope the theater doesn't go to Sandy. But Dolan is sort of right when he says that SLC has been talking about this for years and has done nothing to make it a reality. So if Sandy's proposal gets SLC off it's ass and actually getting the theater built then maybe it is a good thing. Nothing like a little competition to rip you out of complacency.

[urbanboy]

Originally Posted by SLCforme

I sincerely hope the theater doesn't go to Sandy. But Dolan is sort of right when he says that SLC has been talking about this for years and has done nothing to make it a reality. So if Sandy's proposal gets SLC off it's ass and actually getting the theater built then maybe it is a good thing. Nothing like a little competition to rip you out of complacency.

Yes. But could it be, that said legislators have withheld moneys or other resources from the Capitol City that could have gone towards arts and new venues such as a new Broadway-style theater?

[Sight-Seer]

Urbanboy:

In your documentary about the legislature you could mention their schizophrenia regarding alcoholic beverages. They want to sell lots of it, because they get the money, but drinking it is bad, so they don't want anybody to drink it. They're talking about putting up screens so the public won't be offended by the sight of alcoholic drinks. Sometimes I wish a UFO would come and take me away to someplace normal.

[WASDEN]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

There should really be some sort of study or documentary put together about what slimy things the Utah legislators have done as far as petty politics and what ludicrous bills have been passed

Agreed Urbanboy. But we only have ourselves to blame for not putting thier weaknesses to work for us! With simple gifts legislators can even be convinced to allow unregulated amounts toxic waste to make its way from around the globe and into Utah. (Funny because like Real Stadium, they changed the rules for this one too. Apparently an indian reservation can't make ungodly amounts of money stockpiling radioactive waste but Energy Solutions can). Obviously the secret to getting your way is JAZZ TICKETS! Certainly if we could come up with some of these "Jazz tickets," we could persuade them to build 2 broadway theaters in my back yard!