Salt Lake MSA Development Thread

[RFPCME]

Originally Posted by stevena07

Yet another reason to build a new convention hotel. I wish the city would realize the potential of the empty sites around the city and place the hotel in one of them, especially the sites by the Salt Palace

Stevena07: I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but conventions that fill up all the hotels for 3 or 4 or even 5 or 6 weekends a year are not going to pay for a 1,000 room hotel. I don't know what current occupancy rates are for local hotels, but I will bet they are down, like almost everywhere else in the country. In addition, the mega-conventions that SLC is attracting are those that have some logical link to the City, like the Outdoor Retailers Convention. I'm not sure what the link would be to other major meetings, like APA (American Psychological Association), NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), ABA (American Bar Association), et cetera. Of course, one could argue Utah is a great place for these meetings because of the tremendous local need for the services offered by members of these groups (so said, with tongue firmly in cheek).

[delts145]

Hey RFPCME, Whether your a lawyer, medical technician, in a barbershop quartet, or a Baptist Ministry, nobody has a problem with the proximity of the Wasatch Mountains and being able to take multiple half-a-days away in places like Park City or Snowbird. All, and many more continue to hold large conventions in Salt Lake, LOL

As far as this convention hotel adj. to the Palace is concerned, I'm beginning to develop the same opinion as the broadway-style theatre. Let's just pick the site and develop it already.

[RFPCME]

Originally Posted by delts145

Hey RFPCME, Whether your a lawyer, medical technician, in a barbershop quartet, or a Baptist Ministry, nobody has a problem with the proximity of the Wasatch Mountains and being able to take multiple half-a-days away in places like Park City or Snowbird. All, and many more continue to hold large conventions in Salt Lake, LOL

As far as this convention hotel adj. to the Palace is concerned, I'm beginning to develop the same opinion as the broadway-style theatre. Let's just pick the site and develop it already.

Delts: Forgot about the mountains...what happens when you move to the flatlands. You're right. Time to pick a site and get the damn thing built! "If you build it, they will come."

[SLC Projects]

I agree. Enough talk, let's build it already!

[delts145]

Lack of cash shrinks flashy Leonardo plan


http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10183975

"We have essentially re-scoped the project," said Peter Giles, former head of The Tech Museum of Innovation in San Jose, Calif.

...The center's latest moves come in the wake of an apparent denial from Sorenson Legacy Foundation to give The Leonardo $5 million to $8 million for naming rights. Sorenson announced this week it is giving $12 million for a new arts and education center at the University of Utah.


.

[NYC Rick]

Originally Posted by RFPCME

Stevena07: I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but conventions that fill up all the hotels for 3 or 4 or even 5 or 6 weekends a year are not going to pay for a 1,000 room hotel. I don't know what current occupancy rates are for local hotels, but I will bet they are down, like almost everywhere else in the country. In addition, the mega-conventions that SLC is attracting are those that have some logical link to the City, like the Outdoor Retailers Convention. I'm not sure what the link would be to other major meetings, like APA (American Psychological Association), NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), ABA (American Bar Association), et cetera. Of course, one could argue Utah is a great place for these meetings because of the tremendous local need for the services offered by members of these groups (so said, with tongue firmly in cheek).

I do not think you are raining on the parade, you are speaking the truth.

[UTPlanner]

I guess this whole hotel conversation confuses me. I don't understand what people mean by, "Lets build it." Hotels are not and should not be publically financed in any way. This is very different from a theater downtown. The public should help to sponsor the arts as it helps to elevate and define humanity, but a hotel? I think it's great to dream big and a new hotel downtown would be awesome, but "lets not build it." Lets have a private development group build it.

[delts145]

I think that 'let's build it' is just a very loose term in this case. I don't think that forumers are campaigning to have a hotel built with public money.

[urbanboy]

Let's get someone to build it!

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by RFPCME

Stevena07: I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but conventions that fill up all the hotels for 3 or 4 or even 5 or 6 weekends a year are not going to pay for a 1,000 room hotel. I don't know what current occupancy rates are for local hotels, but I will bet they are down, like almost everywhere else in the country. In addition, the mega-conventions that SLC is attracting are those that have some logical link to the City, like the Outdoor Retailers Convention. I'm not sure what the link would be to other major meetings, like APA (American Psychological Association), NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), ABA (American Bar Association), et cetera. Of course, one could argue Utah is a great place for these meetings because of the tremendous local need for the services offered by members of these groups (so said, with tongue firmly in cheek).

You're underestimating SLC as a destination. Psychologists, Lawyers, Teachers, etc. have been to conventions in SLC.

Last year, SLC hosted the Rotarians, with 40,000 conventioneers, it is one of the largest conventions there is.

The Salt Palace is packed with conventions 365 days a year. The thing SLC needs to move up to the next level and get MORE large conventions (not some as it already gets several) is a 1,000-room convention hotel.

[delts145]

Wow,!! With CCC, Station Park, Sugarhouse, The Cottonwood and now the huge HAFB all underway,not to mention everything else, such as the TOD's, TRAX and FrontRunner, say's a lot about the confidence in the future of the Wasatch Front.

Work on Station Park gets under way - $200M center will have 6-story hotel, ice skating rink, shops, restaurants

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1...250697,00.html



CenterCal Properties

FARMINGTON — So what if the earth movers, graders, steamrollers and front-end loaders jumped the gun by a week? It's about time that developers officially began work on Station Park, a mixed-use development on 62 acres right next to Farmington's FrontRunner station.
Wednesday, while the yellow machines worked, officials and business leaders gathered for an official groundbreaking ceremony.

Developer Rich Haws began buying land in 1996 to build what's known as a transit-oriented development, or TOD.

TODs are popular because they give commuters a chance to spend money as soon as they get off of a train or other mode of transit. It's the same reason gas stations like to locate next to freeway offramps.

...CenterCal is currently in negotiations with retail and restaurant tenants, some of whom will be new to Utah, said Craig Trottier, CenterCal vice president of development, recently. The developer will also eventually begin leasing office space, as well.

Crews are working on building an offramp that will feed directly into Station Park from Park Lane. And architects are pursuing design standards to earn LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

CenterCal expects to open Station Park in the spring of 2010.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by RFPCME

Stevena07: I hate to rain on anyone's parade, but conventions that fill up all the hotels for 3 or 4 or even 5 or 6 weekends a year are not going to pay for a 1,000 room hotel. I don't know what current occupancy rates are for local hotels, but I will bet they are down, like almost everywhere else in the country. In addition, the mega-conventions that SLC is attracting are those that have some logical link to the City, like the Outdoor Retailers Convention. I'm not sure what the link would be to other major meetings, like APA (American Psychological Association), NCTE (National Council of Teachers of English), ABA (American Bar Association), et cetera. Of course, one could argue Utah is a great place for these meetings because of the tremendous local need for the services offered by members of these groups (so said, with tongue firmly in cheek).

A list of conventions in SLC this year (only through Sept as that is all that the SLCVB has posted on their site):
CONVENTION CALENDAR
OUTDOOR RETAILER WINTER MARKET
January 23-26
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 15,000)

WESTERN HUNTING & CONSERVATION EXPO
February 6-9
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 10,000)

ASSOCIATION OF BIOMOLECULAR RESOURCE FACILITIES
February 9-12
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,200)

International Technology Education Association
Feb. 21-22
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 2,200)

Society for Mining Metallurgy & Exploration
Feb. 24-27
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 4,000)

American Medical Directors Association
Mar. 6-8
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,600)

American Youth Soccer Organization
Mar. 6-9
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,100)

Novell "Brain Share"
Mar. 16-21
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 7,000)

Mary Kay, Inc.
Mar. 27-28
South Towne Expo Center
(Est. Attendance: 2,000)

ForeverGreen
Apr. 3-5
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,000)

National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Apr. 10-12
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 18,000)

Devine Racing of Salt Lake City
Apr. 17-18
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 19,500)

American Association of Occupational Health Nurses
Apr. 29-May 1
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 2,000)

National Association of Fleet Administrators
May 2-6
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,800)

Society of Gastroenterology Nurses & Associates
May 14-21
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,800)

Alpaca Owners and Breeders Association
May 21-25
South Town Expo Center
(Est. Attendance: 1,000)

Zrii
May 22-24
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 4,000)

North American Benthological Society
May 25-29
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 1,000)

ASSOCIATED FOOD STORES
June 11-13
Salt Palace
(Est. Attendance: 6,000)

ASHRAE, INC.
June 21-24
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 1,000)

EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH IN AMERICA
June 29 - July 4
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 7,000)

USA VOLLEYBALL
July 1-10
South Towne Expo Center
(Estimated Attendance: 13,000)

WOMEN OF THE EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA
July 10-13
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 2,500)

SENIOR SOFTBALL WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS
July 14-15
Cottonwood Complex
(Estimated Attendance: 1,500)

STAMPIN' UP
July 30 - August 1
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 17,700)

OUTDOOR RETAILER SUMMER MARKET August 8-11
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 22,000)

SENDOUTCARDS
August 14-16
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 1,000)

MELALEUCA
August 20-23
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 8,000)

USANA
August 28-30
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 10,000)

AGEL ENTERPRISES
September 5-6
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 3,000)

INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL & ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS (IEEE)
September 8-10
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 1,200)

AST DEW TOUR
September 11-14
EnergySolutions Arena
(Estimated Attendance: 7,500)
Utah Sports Commission event

MONAVIE
September 18-20
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 3,000)

AMERICAN RAILWAY ENGINEERING & MAINTENANCE-OF-WAY ASSOCIATION
September 21-24 Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 2,400)

MAX INTERNATIONAL
September 26-28
Salt Palace
(Estimated Attendance: 4,000)

[ski_steve]

I notice Station Park in Farmington every time I take Frontrunner. They have been working on it for a few weeks now. They have just cleared alot of land and there are huge piles of dirt and equipment.

And I doubt they will be able to get a Lacoste in Farmington haha There isnt even one in Salt Lake yet. But anyway this development will work well with Lagoon and its visitors. I hope they build that monorail line from Lagoon that they have been talking about

[delts145]

Steve, Do you think they might be talk more along the line of a Lacoste outlet?

Holy Moly, a monorail line from Lagoon!! That would be waaaaay cool! Hey, I would even be happy with a Trolley line.

[SLC Projects]

I've heard about a monorail line to Lagoon awhile ago, but I aways thought it would never happen.

[ski_steve]

My dad is a reporter for the Des news and hes done alot of stories on Lagoon and such. He always talked that it is Lagoon intention to build a monorail line from the entrance over to the Frontrunner station. But ya i havent heard anything on the lines that they are going to do it very soon, but ya never know. A monorail line makes the most sense in that location, it has to cross over I-15, The Legacy parkway, and the railroads. Ill ask my dad if he knows any more current info on it.

As far a Lacoste is concerned, the closest stores are in Denver, Las Vegas and Phoenix. So Salt Lake is probably due for a store...maybe. I highly doubt they would put a store in Farmington before Salt Lake. Even a outlet would probably be doubtful, it would be more likely at Tanger Outlets in Park City IMO. I wouldn't be surprised is there was a Lacoste in the City Creek Center. After all its suppose to be higher end and it just makes sense to have one there IMO

But then again the Lacoste store are in places like Bellevue instead of Seattle, and Scottsdale instead of Phoenix so ya never know i guess

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

I've heard about a monorail line to Lagoon awhile ago, but I aways thought it would never happen.

Monorails are super expensive, so I doubt it will happen.

[ski_steve]

Found this, its from 2003 though



Monorail proposed for Lagoon Park. (4/5/03)
Farmington, Utah. The owners of historic Lagoon Amusement Park are talking with developers about building a monorail system to connect the park to a possible nearby commuter-rail station. A station is proposed to be open by 2007 for as part of a high-speed rail system between Ogden and Salt Lake City. The monorail would serve park visitors as well as many of Lagoon's 1,500 young employees in the summer. The line would only be about 1/4 to 1/2 mile long, but it may also serve an intermediate station where a complex of movie theatres have been proposed, about two blocks from the rail station. Park owners are currently investigating possible sources for funding the monorail.

http://www.monorails.org/tmspages/archive043003.html



Its definitely been talked about and still a possibility but ya its not likely, since it probably should have been done by now.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by stevena07

I wouldn't be surprised is there was a Lacoste in the City Creek Center. After all its suppose to be higher end and it just makes sense to have one there IMO

But then again the Lacoste store are in places like Bellevue instead of Seattle, and Scottsdale instead of Phoenix so ya never know i guess

The key to what retailers are looking for is the "coolness" factor of a development. this comes after the expendable incomes of people who are likely to make 2-3 trips a week to the site, visibility, the amount of secondary visits (like tourism, major events, etc). The biggest knock on SLC is the expandable income part. It is skewed due to some of the lower income neighborhoods, but a good retailer will look more into it. This is the knock on most urban cores as well. That is why you see so many high end retailers in suburban malls and not so much in downtown areas (generally speaking). Having these types of retailers in downtown would be huge benefit to downtown and add to downtown attractions.

[delts145]

There are certain stores downtown now, which have kind of paved the way for even more of the same in the future. Stores, like D.Grant limited or Nordstrom are usually not found in traditional downtowns anymore. I think CCC and the continued success of Gateway, and the new Trolley Square is going to open up some incredible opportunities for downtown retail over the next ten years. City's like Salt Lake, Portland, San Diego, Denver and a few others, should see continued improvement in their downtown retail scenes.

I'm looking forward to what the future destinations like The Cottonwood and CCC, will bring in the way of new retailers to the Wasatch Market.

When you think of this big Station Park as a part of the ever expanding lagoon, and also a major FrontRunner Station, well then, I can easily see a lacoste, and a short distance monorail as possibilities. As many forumers have commented previously, I also think that residential will become a factor in the next development phase of Station Park.