Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[delts145]

U.S. Farm Bureau is drawing 5,000 to Salt Lake convention

By Jenifer K. Nii
Deseret Morning News
Conservation, innovation, preservation, growth.
Agriculture producers from around the country will be in Salt Lake City next week to debate and discuss the most pressing issues affecting the industry.
For the first time, the American Farm Bureau Federation will hold its annual convention Sunday through Wednesday in Salt Lake City, bringing together about 5,000 delegates from around the country. Key presenters will include U.S. Agriculture Secretary Mike Johanns, AFBF president Bob Stallman and ABC News personality Sam Donaldson.
Top discussions will include biofuels and energy, trade and the controversial 2007 Farm Bill, which is set to expire in September — and which may be a point of vigorous tug-and-pull in the upcoming legislative session.
"More groups than ever want to be a part of writing the next farm bill," Stallman said in a prepared statement released ahead of the convention.
According to Randy Parker, chief executive officer of the Utah Farm Bureau Federation, the Farm Bureau "would like an extension of the current Farm Bill with minor changes to it, while others want to start over from the beginning."
And extending the farm bill until new trade and tariff agreements can be reached — which the bureau views as imperative — will allow farmers and agricultural producers to plan and make decisions about their operations.
"Currently, the average world tariff on agricultural products is 62 percent, with many nations exceeding 100 percent, whereas the average U.S. tariff is 12 percent," Parker said. "Additional factors include the EU (European Union) spending in excess of 75 percent of the world's expenditures on domestic export subsidies, putting U.S. farmers at a market disadvantage."
Grazing rights and water and land use issues, contentious and divisive all, also likely will have their time in the spotlight in 2007, Parker said, as states, environmentalists, special interests and producers try to access and manage limited resources.
"Living in the second driest state in the country brings its shares of challenges," he said. "Having to ward off the driest state in the country (Nevada) that is trying to divert groundwater is an added challenge. Competition for water rights and the ability to use water for livestock and crop production will always be critical to agriculture's future."


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[delts145]

Utah economy to remain strong for decades PDF | Print | E-mail


PAUL FOY - The Associated Press

Every sector of Utah's economy added jobs in 2006, just one sign of a "rip-roaring" economy, Gov. Jon Huntsman said Thursday.

Utah added nearly 60,000 non-farm jobs last year for a total of more than 1.2 million, led by increases in mining, construction and manufacturing. Construction accounted for a quarter of the new jobs.

Huntsman was gloating over those and other statistics prepared by his economic advisers in an 226-page annual report, telling business and government leaders the state's economy was "on fire."

"The fundamentals look like we're going to have another good year," Huntsman told the gathering at the University Marriott Hotel. "I'm absolutely thrilled."

Utah's economy is off the charts by many measures. Huntsman's advisers say they've never seen it so strong, with job growth running nearly four times the national average.

The governor's chief economist, Robert Spendlove, predicted job growth would remain at least twice the national average for the next three decades. In an interview, he said he makes projections that long for water, transportation and infrastructure needs for a growing population.

"Utah is unique demographically compared to the rest of the nation," he said. "We have the largest household size, the highest fertility rate, the third-highest life expectancy and the lowest median age."

Utah also has the nation's second-highest education attainment rate, as measured by the 92.5 percent of the adult population with a high school diploma, he said.

"It means Utah has a young, well educated, productive, dynamic work force that's very attractive to employers," Spendlove said.

The state's largest economic sector involves the movement of goods and services. Grouped together, wholesale and retail trade, transportation and utilities accounted for 234,800 jobs, up by 8,900, according to the report compiled by Huntsman's Office of Planning and Budget.

Other leading sectors are government and professional and business services.

The construction sector added the most jobs, 14,800 last year, for a total of 122,800, it said.

The value of all construction in Utah last year was more than $7 billion, led by nearly 30,000 new houses.

Another $2 billion in new construction and renovation is planned for downtown Salt Lake City over the next five years. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has started demolition of three city blocks for a new retail core, a project valued by state economists at $1.5 billion.

Wages, meanwhile, were up by an average 5.4 percent last year, the biggest jump in 14 years, Spendlove said.

Utah has only to worry about a labor shortage, which could restrain job growth this year, economists said. Huntsman said 1,000 engineering jobs were going unfilled in Utah because of the shortage.

People moving to Utah are helping to fill that gap, including a growing Hispanic workforce described in the economic report as largely "invisible."

Utah had a confirmed net migration of 30,000 residents in 2006, plus 52,000 births -- the highest birth count of any year in state history, Spendlove said.

Among the downsides of the vibrant economy is traffic congestion and crowded schools.

Traffic is increasing twice as fast as the population and "we're not keeping up," said Carlos Braceras, of the Utah Department of Transportation. "There's less open space on the roadway."

Braceras said the one-hour evening commute between Salt Lake City and Provo could grow to three hours in 25 years if Utah does nothing to improve the highway or mass transit system.

The burgeoning school population is causing a teacher shortage that Huntsman blamed partly on paltry salaries, which vary by school district.

"I think the rates we're paying our teachers is embarrassingly low," he said.

[SLC Projects]

2006 has been a great year for utah.

[delts145]

Westminster may call campus a university
Task force looking into making the change to draw more students
By Sheena McFarland

The Salt Lake Tribune

Article Last Updated: 01/05/2007 01:31:16 AM MST


Giovale Library


Westminster College may soon become a university.
A task force made up of faculty, students, staff and alumni will make its recommendation in February or March about a possible name change.
"We're asking our constituency if a change would benefit us in name recognition," said Dick van Klaveren, task force chairman and a Westminster alumnus. "We want to know if it would attract more students to be named a university."
The private college currently enrolls about 2,000 undergraduates and 500 graduate students, with 25 undergraduate degrees and six graduate programs. The school has 28 buildings on 27 acres at 1300 East and 1700 South, Salt Lake City. A name change from college to university would require no additional funding or programs, van Klaveren said.
The motivation comes as about 150 colleges nationwide have changed their name from college to university between 1990 and 2000, he said.
"They have changed their names to reflect the feeling of feeling larger," he added.
President Michael Bassis says he isn't sure there would be benefits to the name change and hopes the task force can find such answers.
"There are a lot of schools that have grown and matured to a point where a university name seems appropriate," Bassis said. "But we're just asking the question, 'Does this make sense for us or not?' "
In his directive to the task force, Bassis asked members to consider compatibility with image and direction, views from faculty, staff and students, and any costs involved.
While the topic has come up in several forums over the years, this is the first time in Bassis' five-year tenure that a name change has been discussed formally.
However, he adds that a new name wouldn't change the college's goals.
"The institution has its character and vision for its future, which will have a much greater impact than what the name might be," he said.
---
* SHEENA MCFARLAND can be contacted at [email protected] or 801-257-8619.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

2006 has been a great year for utah.

It's amazing all of articles in the papers this-morning. Seems like every metro community has plans for multiple big projects!!!

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by delts145

It's amazing all of articles in the papers this-morning. Seems like every metro community has plans for multiple big projects!!!

Yea there were TONs of articles this morning. That's a very good sign that great things are happening here and around salt lake city. I can see this year being even better then last year.

[SLC Projects]

"WOW!!! Westminister may become a University"


Wow is right. I had to read that twice to make sure i saw that right. LOL. I would have never thought that Westminster could become a University. It's a another sign of growth here in salt lake. First UVSC and now Westminster.

[delts145]

SLC, I hope your not supersticious. Your last reply here was number 666 OOOOOOOOOSPOOOKY.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by delts145

SLC, I hope your not supersticious. Your last reply here was number 666 OOOOOOOOOSPOOOKY.

LOL, good thing i'm not. But it's cool to think that this thread has make it to 667+ posts now. This is by far the biggest salt lake thread i've even seen on this site.

[SLC Projects]

Last night i sent an e-mail to the Harmons store asking them when they think ground will be breaking on the Harmons store as well as the towers. Then today i got a reply......


"Thank you for inquiring, Harmons is excited to be opening a grocery store in down town Salt Lake City. Our hopes are to have the demolition, site work, and some structural work done in 2007, with plans to open in 2008."

Sincerely,

Brenda Ivie
Director of Property Management


So it looks like they will breakground for sure this year, i'm guessing work could begin last spring to early summer.

But i wounder what the demolition will be since the site is a empty lot.

[delts145]

Thats cool that they replied. Do you think you could get them to cough up a rendering for us?

[delts145]

'Magnificent deed' gives Riverton a Catholic school
By Roxana Orellana
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/05/2007 09:00:23 PM MST


"It's a tremendous gift. We hoped for some help but not the total construction of the school. We're all very enthusiastic."
THE REV. FRANCISCO PIRES

RIVERTON - The five-acre parcel of land at 11800 S. 3600 West is empty. Construction machinery won't even make it to the site until spring, but already the calls from interested parents have started to come in.
"What will tuition be? When can I sign up my child?" are questions the Rev. Francisco Pires has been fielding since the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City announced a gift that will enable St. Andrew's Catholic Church to build a school.
The ALSAM Foundation donated an unspecified sum to build the new school.
"It's a tremendous gift," Pires said. "We hoped for some help but not the total construction of the school. We're all very enthusiastic."
St. Andrew's, which serves about 200 families, formed as a parish three months ago and without a place to call home yet, meets for Sunday Mass at Megaplex Theatres in West Jordan. Other activities, such as spiritual education classes, are taught at Wasatch Memorial Park. Confirmation classes are held at Pires' home, which doubles as the parish rectory.
Construction of the school is expected to begin in May and be completed by August 2008 on land the diocese bought a couple of years ago. Because
the school is expected to be built before the actual church, the congregation will use the gymnasium and classrooms for Mass and other church activities.
Plans call for a pre-kindergarten to sixth- or eighth-grade school for families in fast-growing Riverton, where there is no Catholic school. The nearest schools are St. Francis Xavier, at 4501 W. 5215 South in Kearns, and St. John the Baptist, at 300 E. 11800 South in Draper.
Sister Catherine Kamphaus, superintendent of Utah Catholic schools, said St. Andrew's school will feed into Juan Diego High School, in Draper.
Juan Diego and St. John the Baptist also were built thanks to a 1999 donation from the ALSAM Foundation, funded by L.S. and Aline Skaggs.
"We're kind of overwhelmed. They keep giving like that. We are just so grateful," Sister Kamphaus said. "We do not lose sight of the fact that it was a gift, pure gratitude, pure philanthropy."
Ronny Cutshall, president of the ALSAM Foundation, said the Skaggs simply seek to further Catholic education in the state.
Additional grades will be added to St. Andrew's depending on the number of students who apply and are enrolled. Kamphaus said tuition will be the same as that of other Catholic schools (approximately $3,500 annually), and tuition assistance will be available to those who are eligible.
Beatriz and Rigoberto Ramirez, of West Jordan, called ALSAM's donation "a magnificent deed" that will help provide children like theirs a religious aspect to their basic education.
Jose and Marina Ramirez, of Riverton, also members at the parish since it began, said they hope the school and church will be built soon.
Utah's Catholic school system has about 5,600 students in its 14 schools, which include three high schools, one middle school and 10 elementaries.
"We're really excited. We'd like 10 more [schools]," Kamphaus said.
Not having to worry anymore about how to build the school, Pires said the parish will now focus on building the church.
"This donation makes our objective clearer of where we want to go. If we had to start from zero it would be a lot more difficult," Pires said. "It makes my job and the community's easier."
---

[delts145]

Then and now: Salt Lake City



Deseret Morning News archives
A CENTURY AGO — An undated picture from the early 1900s, above, shows what the intersection of 300 South and Main looked like then. The Walker Dry Goods and Department Store was the dominant business in the area. Today, the Clift Building is in that same area, below left.



Here is a photo from 1910 on what is now 3300 south. This would be looking east between main street and state street. South Salt Lake use to have some very nice historic buildings. Sure would be great to have them still.

[delts145]

Trolley meeting planned

A public meeting to discuss recent developments with the proposed Sugarhouse Trolley will be held Tuesday, Jan. 9, 7 p.m., at Pioneer Craft House, 3271 S. 500 East, South Salt Lake City.

[SLC Projects]

Krispy Kreme hopes for success downtown
By Lesley Mitchell
The Salt Lake Tribune
Article Last Updated: 01/05/2007 11:55:13 PM MST


Beleaguered doughnut franchise Krispy Kreme is retrenching in the Utah market by closing a fairly large store in Midvale and opening a smaller location in the downtown Salt Lake City area.
The Midvale store and its doughnut-making operation, which closed in November, will give way to a smaller downtown location that will ship in doughnuts from Krispy Kreme's two remaining Utah stores in Layton and Orem, said Mike Fortier, a district manager for Krispy Kreme franchisee L&L Enterprises.
Fortier said he could not yet divulge the downtown location or its projected opening date. He did say no additional closures of Utah stores are planned.
"The Layton and Orem stores are doing extremely well," said Fortier.
Fortier said the Layton and Orem locations have good wholesale and retail sales. But Midvale's retail sales had not been as good, he said.
Krispy Kreme nationally is moving toward smaller "tunnel oven" stores that do not produce doughnuts in house but ship them in from other locations, Fortier said.
The smaller stores use heating systems that allow customers to buy hot doughnuts, instead of simply selling them unheated in boxes as grocery and convenience stores do.
The "tunnel oven" stores are significantly less costly to operate than the traditional stores with doughnut-making equipment, Fortier said.

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The Midvale store was actually converted to this new style of store in May 2006, but its performance still necessitated that it close prior to the holidays, he said.
Krispy Kreme, once one of the hottest food concepts in the country, is taking a number of steps - such as closing underperforming stores and switching to smaller stores - to shore up its financials.
The Winston-Salem, N.C., company had no money worries when it went public in April 2000 at a split-adjusted $5.25 a share. Shares peaked at nearly $49 a share in August 2003 but eventually started to fall.
Its executives blamed the low-carb craze, but disappointing financial results and probes into its accounting practices also played a large role as well in the company losing favor on Wall Street.
Krispy Kreme shares reached a low of $4.40 in October 2005 and now trade between $10 and $11 a share.
Krispy Kreme has nearly 400 stores worldwide, about one-quarter of which are company-owned.
[email protected]







All i can say is it's about time they open up a store in downtown. I wonder where in downtown they will open their new store in? Thoughts?

[terryaki]

All i can say is it's about time they open up a store in downtown. I wonder where in downtown they will open their new store in? Thoughts?

Dunkin Donuts or Winchells > Krispy Krap

It's a shame we don't have DD here.

[pdxman]

Originally Posted by terryaki

Dunkin Donuts or Winchells > Krispy Krap

It's a shame we don't have DD here.

Mmmm Dunkin Donuts...the starbucks of the east coast.

[delts145]

Here's another view of 3300 south, between main and state shot on the last page. This is from 1909. Wow, hard to believe that grazing field was there. Cool Italiante style school on the left. There's still quite a few of those left around the state.
www.history.utah.gov/utah_history_research_center/shiplercommercial.html

[delts145]

Let's hope this picks up some steam.

New master plan aims to keep charm of original square mile

By Amelia Nielson-Stowell
Deseret Morning News
SANDY — Scott Cowdell remembers spending his youth on Sandy's Main Street — seasonal events in the park, city parades, shopping downtown.


Michael Brandy, Deseret Morning News
Councilman Scott Cowdell at the Sandy Museum, 8744 S. 150 East.

But today's historic Main Street is a far cry from what it was in Cowdell's youth. With broken curbs and sidewalks, the poorly lit street is dotted with few businesses. On an average day, the street is like a ghost town and appears crime-ridden because of its run-down look.
"This area is like no other area," said Cowdell, now in his 18th year on the Sandy City Council. "I wanted to make sure what we have here, our heritage, is kept. There's not much left here, and we need to preserve what's left. It's such a nice part of town, and it's kind of a hidden secret."
Led by Cowdell, Sandy has completed a comprehensive master plan of the 131-year-old historic district. The aim: restoration and preservation.
The district includes the original square mile of Sandy, which runs from 8400 South to 9000 South and from State Street to 700 East. That includes the Sandy Museum and numerous homes that are on the National Register of Historic Places. A TRAX line also runs through the area, with a stop at 9000 South.
Through a plan that addresses land use, zoning, trails, parks, infrastructure and architectural-design standards, city officials hope to maintain the charm while improving the deteriorated streets and providing a blueprint for the future.
One of those plans includes design standards for new homes. Architectural outlines have been split into three tiers, ranging from those for the homes built in the late 1800s to the larger modern homes built in the past five years. Home builders will have to comply with the standards of each.
The new zoning standards will help stabilize the area, Cowdell said, and stop the "hodgepodge" of construction that's gone on in the past.
"In my opinion, it's the closest thing in the valley to a small-town atmosphere while still being in the middle of all the stuff that goes on here. I understand it will never be a place like the Avenues, but we feel there's such a strong feeling in the area that we want to keep it preserved," Cowdell said. "We want the quietness, the neighborhood approach, the uniqueness, the small-town feel to stay."
He hopes to see more young families moving into the area, restoring older homes and taking pride in their property. Cowdell himself was raised in the district and currently resides in the home his grandfather built in 1922. Most of his children and grandchildren also live in the district and Cowdell knows the majority of the people in the area.
"This is a more alive area of Sandy then any other area of the city I've lived in," he said. "You know your neighbors."
Also slated for major changes is the quaint Main Street and the rest of the TRAX line corridor. City officials envision a mixed-use area with professional offices, local shops and condos.
Bertha Rand, who was director of the Sandy Museum for 15 years, said she hopes the changes will increase museum visitors.
"You want to keep things being historic, but on the other hand, there's a lot to consider when you want to improve the area," Rand said.
More than 1,000 residents participated in crafting the master plan, said Nick Duerksen, Sandy's assistant community-development director. The city began hosting public open houses to solicit suggestions this past January.
"The greatest story about this plan is we had incredible participation from the neighborhood. It's truly a neighborhood plan," Duerksen said. "In the 15 years I've been doing this work, without a doubt it was the best participation in a master plan I have seen. Hands down."


Michael Brandy, Deseret Morning News
Sandy's Cowdell hopes to see more young families moving into the area and restoring older homes.

The Sandy City Council unanimously adopted the plan in October. And Duerksen said since then, there's been "a great urgency to get this plan under way."
The first step will be complete reconstruction of the road and lighting on 8680 South, between State Street and 700 East, the main thoroughfare through historic Sandy.
Cowdell hopes to see a well-rounded, stabilized neighborhood that keeps its small-town atmosphere. Next year, he wants to see a Founders Day carnival and maybe even a small amphitheater in Main Street park.
"I think if a lot of people knew the nature of the area, a lot of people would be scrambling to get here," he said.


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[SLC Projects]

"Sandy's Cowdell hopes to see more young families moving into the area and restoring older homes"


Hang on sandy, give me a year or two and i'll buy one of these older homes.