Salt Lake MSA Development Thread

[StevenF]

Went to SOS looking for a job today and while I was there I took some shots of the Embassy Suites hotel in West Valley. Its coming along nicely and should be completed sometime in December.












FEATURES OF THE HOTEL INCLUDE:
Complimentary cooked to order breakfast, a great way to start your day!
Complimentary Evening Managers Reception, serving cocktails and snacks to kick off your evening
Complimentary Business Center featuring Windows and MAC operating systems
Over 7,500 square feet of flexible meeting space
An indoor saline pool and spa
Guest Laundry
Personalized “Pod” check-in
Expansive lobby with water features and fireplace
Embassy Suites was rated by Consumer Reports as one of the best hotel chains in the luxury category in customer satisfaction, and is number one in the upper-upscale category according to JD Power & Associates
A restaurant, bar, and lounge
Room service
Two exterior Courtyard areas for enjoying the natural landscape
Stunning views of the mountains on both the East and West
Future smartphone check-in and keyless entry technology on guestroom doors
Complimentary Guest Laundry

[StevenF]

Here are some shots of the Fireclay and Birkhill area. Decided while I was out and about I would get some photos of the changes. My wife and I are also looking at renting a 3 bedroom in the Birkhill this February and have put ourselves on the waiting list.


Birkhill Apartments











Now the Fireclay apartments.







walked into the Fireclay office and talked to them for just a few minutes and they are saying January/February is the time frame to be fully completed.

Prices for Fireclay are:

1x1 bed/bath
693 square feet
$820

2x1
804 square feet
$899

2x2
847 square feet
$949

3x2
1016 square feet
$1099

the bottom 3 floors come with standard 9' ceilings but the 4th floor has 14' vaulted ceilings.

[delts145]

Fantastic update pics StevenF! Thankyou so much for taking the time and effort. It really makes a big difference for the forum.

[delts145]

Ski Magazine annual resort rankings for 2012-2013

http://propertyinparkcity.com/park-c...-2012-2013.htm

Ski Magazine’s resort rankings for 2012-2013 are in! Every Year the Readers of the famous Ski Magazine get to rank the top ski resorts in America. Last year was Deer Valley’s 5th consecutive year of being ranked #1, it appears there is a new #1. Its hard to imagine that anyone else in the country could rank any higher than Deer Valley could based on what they accomplished with a horrible snow season. I dont know if any other resort could be ranked higher given the snow making equipment, and the way they manicured their ski runs. Lets not forget their service!!!!

SEE ALL RESORT RANKINGS BELOW

Ski magazine rankings for Utah
The Ski resort rankings from Ski Magazine are taken by survey of more than 20,000 skiers and snowboarders who review every aspect of the resorts from: Dining, Access, Lodging, terrain parks, and more. As of right now, I now what the Utah rankings are, but not the rest. All three Park City Utah Ski Resorts made the top 10 list! Deer Valley ski resort dropped to #2 from first place, Park City Mountain Resort jumped to 4th from sixth, and The Canyons jumped to 10th from number 16 last year.

This is big news from Ski magazine for all 3 Park City resorts, but mainly The Canyons. They have never been in the top 10, and have worked hard to get there. Since 2010, there has been over $50 Million in infrastructure, which includes the only enclosed heated-seat chairlift in North America (known as the “bubble chair”), adding another 300 acres of terrain, many upgrades in both the dining, and resort village area. This is a VERY large leap they just took from being #20 almost three years ago.

To see the rest of the Ski Magazines Rankings, keep tuned for the October issue which will hit the news stands on October 15th or 16th. This will provide a large list of all resorts, and other rankings such as: Access (Canyons was ranked #3) to terrain parks (#9) to lodging (#10) and dining (#11). They should also list the most “family friendly” resort, which Park City Resort ranked #1 last year.

1.Whistler Blackcomb, BC
2.Deer Valley, UT
3.Vail, CO
4.Park City, UT
5.Telluride, CO
6.Jackson Hole, WY
7.Sun Valley, ID
8.Snowmass, CO
9.Beaver Creek, CO
10.Canyons, UT
11.Whitefish, MT
12.Aspen, CO
13.Steamboat, CO
14.Breckenridge, CO
15.Crested Butte, CO
16.Aspen Highlands, CO
17.Snowbird, UT
18.Mammoth, CA
19.Taos, NM
20.Copper Mountain, CO
21.Brighton, UT
22.Solitude, UT
23.Big Sky, MT
24.Winter Park, CO
25.Alta, UT
26.Keystone, CO
27.Northstar, CA
28.Heavenly, CA
29.Squaw Valley, CA
30.Snowbasin, UT
.

[jedikermit]

Yeah, Steven--thanks for the pics, especially of the Embassy Suites. I've seen it from 215 several times, but haven't been down on 3500 to check it out up close. This will be a great asset to WVC; hopefully it will spur some more development in that immediate area.

[StevenF]

Right across the street from this hotel is an old abandoned tire shop, that looks like it sits on about 2 acres of land. Someone needs to buy that land, demolish the old tire shop and build something at least taller than the hotel. That would give the area a slight urban feel and the beginnings of a urban canyon. I grabbed the number from the sign out front if anyone is interested.

[bob rulz]

I'm really glad that the old Granite High building is being put to good use! That's a really cool idea and I think the demand for film space in the city is high enough for it to work. I guess we'll find out.

However, a part of me honestly was wishing for some retail development...as a resident of South Salt Lake, it can get pretty tiring having to go out of SSL for almost everything.

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I have to agree with Councilman Luke on this matter. They should have allowed for a zoning change. A zone change would have provided more control by council in the overall development plan, which would have resulted in a much more attractive, and energy efficient development.

I know this is a late response, but I'm really glad other people think this.

I used to live very close to that area (east of Sugarhouse Park) and I really couldn't believe the opposition to it. A Wal-Mart was going in there one way or another, unfortunately it's going to end up being in the same ugly, inefficient piece of property instead of being made more attractive (well you know, as attractive as a Wal-Mart can be lol).

Originally Posted by SLCdude

I work at Midvale Elementary now. The school opened its doors for the fist time this year. It's a beautiful building, but very unorthodox as far as elementary schools go. I'm not sure how I feel about it, because although it's beautiful, with nice facilities, navigation is a little inconvenient. The foyer is a nice space, but not a very welcoming space, since you face a wall upon first entering. Here are some photos:

http://www.njraarchitects.com/newsMidvale.html

Originally Posted by delts145

Wow, that's an elementary school? I was born in the wrong century!

I'm not sure if I like it, honestly. What is the need for such an extravagant building for an elementary school? Sure, they don't all need to stay in that old, cookie-cutter brick-and-mortal building, but it just seems a tad bit excessive to me. I guess this is just becoming the norm though.

Originally Posted by StevenF

Even though I would love my flying car I don't think I would want the general public having one. Just think of all the crazies we already have here in the state. Not only that but can you imagine people buying tops of the mountains, chopping a bit off the top to have some acreage and building homes there.

I don't think we have anything to worry about. Flying cars will probably not be invented, at least not in any practical way, during our lifetimes. It's popular in sci-fi because it sounds cool, but they're impractical in so many ways. Haha, not to get too far off-topic though.

[arkhitektor]

Am I the only one that thinks these apartments are possibly the ugliest buildings ever constructed in Utah?





The odd combination of colors, the red metal roofs, the white vinyl rails and general cheapness of it all really don't come together well at all....

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by StevenF

Right across the street from this hotel is an old abandoned tire shop, that looks like it sits on about 2 acres of land. Someone needs to buy that land, demolish the old tire shop and build something at least taller than the hotel. That would give the area a slight urban feel and the beginnings of a urban canyon. I grabbed the number from the sign out front if anyone is interested.

I thought about that too when ever I drive by the old tire shop. I hope the owners/city leaders see the potential here.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

These Fireclay apartments are kind of a letdown. First of all these apartments are no where near as "Urban" as the developers said these would be. I thought these buildings were going to have street level retail spaces on the bottom level. But by looking at these photos these apartments look like.......well apartments. Nothing more.
I like the idea of having more housing units develop in that area, but I just thought that these apartments would be a bit more mix-use. And since this development takes up about half of the land space for that area then this is truly a waste of what could of been a true TOD development.

[Future Mayor]

It's been a while since I drove through, but if I recall correctly, there is first floor retail in the eastern most part of the eastern most buildings. This is really the only place that makes sense, because this is where all the apartment dwellers will walk by on their way to and from trax. Much more retail I think would be over kill. I think the addition of these apartments will actually help to kick start the retail in the Fireclay Condo Building on Main.

[StevenF]

There is no retail in the Fireclay development, its just a bunch of apartments.
The only Urban about them is the fact that they are placed up against the sidewalk. Now the Birkhill may not have any retail on ground floor but it has much more of a urban vibe to it than the Fireclay. The Birkhill also does not have surface parking lot but a parking structure in behind.

To also answer the question about where the parking is, its behind the buildings in a large central parking area. to get to it you go past 2-3 buildings and there is a road taking you in behind.



Here is the old tire shop I was refering too and it is straight across the street from the Embassy Suites hotel.

[Future Mayor]

There is one retail spot in the Fireclay apartments, in the eastern most building. The leasing office is a different location.

[Stenar]

No, there are much uglier buildings in Utah.

And I quite like the design of these apartments.

Sure they could've used something nicer than stucco on that part, but overall I do like the design.

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Am I the only one that thinks these apartments are possibly the ugliest buildings ever constructed in Utah?





The odd combination of colors, the red metal roofs, the white vinyl rails and general cheapness of it all really don't come together well at all....

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by Stenar

No, there are much uglier buildings in Utah.

And I quite like the design of these apartments.

Sure they could've used something nicer than stucco on that part, but overall I do like the design.

I'm with you. I like em.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by wrendog

I'm with you. I like em.

AND I'm grateful that they're not TAN, a "color" Utahns really love at the moment.

[arkhitektor]

Originally Posted by Stenar

AND I'm grateful that they're not TAN, a "color" Utahns really love at the moment.

I don't mind the colors, even the multi-colored striped brick doesn't bother me-
But, the red metal roofs and too-tall parapet walls (along with the white vinyl railing) really kill the look IMO. The top 1/4 of the buildings look like they were designed in the style of a fast food restaurant.

[delts145]

I agree with you Stenar on your assessments. Looking at Dick's Sporting Goods at Gateway, I think it would have been somewhat better if they had just continued with the solid darker brick pattern and color where there is now the funky colored stucco, but I'm okay with it. Definitely a lot better than more TAN blah.

[delts145]

Loveland family of Xactware donates $2.5 million to the Living Planet Aquarium - Construction Moves Forward

Alpine family gift means new home for aquarium



http://www.heraldextra.com/news/loca...73d2cd81b.html

By Caleb Warnock, Daily Herald

A $2.5 million gift from an Alpine family is helping move the Living Planet Aquarium into a much larger home.

The Loveland family -- founders of Xactware in Orem -- will now be the namesake of the Loveland Living Planet Aquarium when it opens in December 2013, director of public relations Angie Hyde said. The Loveland Foundation did not immediately return calls for comment.

Nearly 40,000 Utah County residents visited the aquarium in the past year, Hyde said. When the aquarium first announced its search for a new home, officials announced plans to close this month. Instead, they are breaking ground on their new building next week and will remain in their existing location for another year.

Staff have been busy collecting new animals for their much larger home, and some of those animals are going on display now...


An artist's rendition of an exhibit at the proposed Loveland Aquarium. Courtesy Image.



An artist's rendition of an exhibit at the proposed Loveland Aquarium. Courtesy Image.


One of the most popular exhibits is the touch tank, which now has some new inhabitants -- horned sharks, a leopard shark, crabs, giant sea stars and urchins.

"That is pretty exciting," Hyde said. "The leopard shark will come right up to you and you can touch it."

All these new animals will find a permanent home when the 136,000-square-foot, two-story expansion opens -- a far sight larger than the 43,000-square-foot building that has housed this aquarium for years.

There will be new species of penguins and a shark tube replicating walking underwater with sharks swimming overhead.

The $20 million expansion is being funded with a $14 million bond from Draper, which will be repaid by the aquarium over 20 years "and does not affect taxes at all," Hyde said. "It is really a direct loan."

The Legislature has given $2 million, the Loveland family has donated $2.5 million and the rest has been raised from donors and sponsors. A groundbreaking will be held on Oct. 24...

[Orlando]

Is it moving to Utah Valley or is it staying in Sandy?