Salt Lake:Official development news thread

[TANGELD_SLC]

Originally Posted by cololi

Agreed. Height for the sake of height is a waste of resources in my opinion. Much more important is the realtion of buildings to each other and the public realm.

Originally Posted by scottharding

I prefer Arky's notion. I agree that it's a more functional design, and a more realistic one at that. Again, we have demand for a 1,000 room hotel. We do not have a demand for a 1,000 ft mixed use building. I know we're just fantasizing here, but where there is an acutal need for the hotel, I fall in with that one.
Also, in regards to the desire for an iconic tower, I understand that opinion. But I fall into the camp that would prefer better infill than some massive tower sticking way up beyond the skyline. I actually would prefer a 500 ft hotel, and two 250' towers to a 1000 footer. This is because I'm more concerned with downtown as a community than a skyline photo. It's my desire to see Salt Lake continue to evolve into a dynamic and sustainable urban center, economically healthy, diverse, and offering a vibrant lifestyle. I think this better achieved with smart planning sheep-dogging development that happens organically.
Again, I know we're just speculating here, but this forum is about opinions, after all, so I thought I'd throw out mine.

Ok I've got a GREAT idea. Let's fill downtown with dozens of new short, stubby, nondescript 200-400footers with humongous footprints, LOTS of parking lots and empty plazas.

I mean, what's the point of building UP when you can just build OUT? Why build ONE ICONIC 1,000ft tower when you can build several midrises wasting WAY more space?
We should be thinking about the PRESENT and not the FUTURE, and waste as much as possible, right?

THAT WAY when it comes time to build a supertall, we can waste money, energy and resources demolishing one or two stubbies for the supertall that should have just been built in the first place.
Yep. BRILLIANT IDEA.
I'm sure glad I thought of it.





BTW I hope you all recognized my extreme use of sarcasm.

[delts145]

Salt Lake City: Our theater will be on Main

Sandy is still pressing its own playhouse plans; county yet to weigh in



By Rosemary Winters
The Salt Lake Tribune

Salt Lake City plans to bring Broadway to Main Street.
Utah's capital has picked the former Newspaper Agency Corp. building between 100 South and 200 South as the spot for a 2,400-plus-seat Broadway-style theater. The site, just north of the former Salt Lake Tribune tower, also has a rear entrance on Regent Street.


On Wednesday, people walk past the old Mr. Mac building, 135 S. Main. Salt Lake City is planning to build a new theater on the site. (Michael Brandy, Deseret News)

The city has entered into "exclusive negotiations" with the private development arm of the LDS Church to buy the property, city spokeswoman Helen Langan said Wednesday.
Mayor Ralph Becker, along with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and LDS Church Presiding Bishop H. David Burton, plans to make a formal announcement today.
"Our downtown is the right place for a theater of this size," said Salt Lake City Council Chairwoman Jill Remington Love.
In Sandy, an Orem-based developer plans to erect a 2,700-seat Broadway-style playhouse near 10000 South and Interstate 15. Sandy could buy the $55 million theater - scheduled to debut in September 2011 - with redevelopment funds through a long-term, lease-to-own agreement.
Mayor Tom Dolan, who has said only one mega-theater will be built, was unfazed by Salt Lake City's announcement.
"We're not giving a lot of thought to what Salt Lake decides to do," he said. "We're working on our own project."
Salt Lake City's playhouse - expected to cost $81.5 million - also would be at least partially funded through redevelopment dollars, Love said. In addition, the city could collect ticket surcharges, sell naming rights and tap up to $18 million in federal tax credits.
The site was selected from four potential properties, including the old Utah Theater across the street.
"We were lucky," Love said, "to have options and, at the end of the day, this was the best option."
Rick Howa, owner of Main Street's Utah Theater, expressed disappointment.
"God, I miss Rocky [Anderson]," he said, referring to Salt Lake City's former mayor. Howa suggested his property could be razed to provide parking for the Broadway theater.
"They're going to need it," he said.
Bill Becker, the first-year mayor's Tony-award-winning brother who led the capital's theater search, called the city's pick a "wonderful site," providing a connection between the LDS Church's City Creek Center project and downtown's south end.
"The theater is really supposed to be a catalyst for further development of downtown," he said.
It could open as soon as 2012. Timing-wise that gives Sandy the lead. Most observers agree only one mega-playhouse can thrive in the Salt Lake Valley.
Salt Lake County could play the role of decider - it has a study due out early next month that will evaluate theater sites - if it steps in with funding or as an operator. Currently, the county hosts touring Broadway musicals at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City.
A new playhouse could hurt both the Capitol and Kingsbury Hall, which also stages Broadway shows, said John Caywood, Kingsbury's operations manager.
Losing those productions would cut a $600,000 hole into Kingsbury's annual budget, he said. "I don't think there is enough programming that can be done in this new theater to make it economically viable - even with the Broadway [acts]."
He questioned why Salt Lake City is moving ahead before the county's study comes out.
County Councilman Jim Bradley said there's no question a downtown location is "most appropriate." It makes sense, he said, to cluster cultural-arts venues.
But his colleague David Wilde would prefer a draw in any competition for public funds.
"I haven't seen anything so far that convinces me that we need a Broadway theater in Salt Lake City or Sandy."
[email protected]
---
* ROXANA ORELLANA and JEREMIAH STETTLER contributed to this story.

Salt Lake City will unveil details about its theater plans today at 1:30 p.m. from the Main Street site selected for the venue.


Salt Lake City is planning to build a 2,400-seat, $81.5 million Broadway-style theater at the former site of the Newspaper Agency Corp. presses on Regent Street between 100 South and 200 South, (Courtney Sargent, Deseret News)

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[arkhitektor]

Exciting news about the theater, except for this tidbit from Rick Howa:

Originally Posted by delts145

Rick Howa, owner of Main Street's Utah Theater, expressed disappointment.
"God, I miss Rocky [Anderson]," he said, referring to Salt Lake City's former mayor. Howa suggested his property could be razed to provide parking for the Broadway theater.
"They're going to need it," he said.

Oh, yes- lets tear down the Utah theater and turn it into a parking lot. Its not like there is already a parking garage the size of an oceanliner directly east of the new theater site or anything.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by TANGELD_SLC

Ok I've got a GREAT idea. Let's fill downtown with dozens of new short, stubby, nondescript 200-400footers with humongous footprints, LOTS of parking lots and empty plazas.

I mean, what's the point of building UP when you can just build OUT? Why build ONE ICONIC 1,000ft tower when you can build several midrises wasting WAY more space?
We should be thinking about the PRESENT and not the FUTURE, and waste as much as possible, right?

THAT WAY when it comes time to build a supertall, we can waste money, energy and resources demolishing one or two stubbies for the supertall that should have just been built in the first place.
Yep. BRILLIANT IDEA.
I'm sure glad I thought of it.





BTW I hope you all recognized my extreme use of sarcasm.

At least we all know you are really in love with smilies. If you are being sarcastic, the smilies portray a completely opposite sentiment. You probably are way into scrapbooking as well. Not that there is anything wrong with that.

I didn't say mid rises are the way to go in downtown. My point was that building need to be respectful of their surroundings and create great public spaces, not just be tall. tall buildings if not designed properly severely impact sunlight, wind patterns, cause problems with ice buildup on their north sides, ice falls, trafic patterns, parking dispersion, etc. All of these can negatively impact how people move around, where people prefer to be, and nearby land uses and structures.

I think the perfect example is the transamerica building. It certainly is an iconic, impressive structure, but it certainly does not create a great public realm the way the other tall building in San Fran. do. The redwood forest on the side of it is fenced off, only for use by those who work in the building. Walking by it is like watching businessmen in a zoo. I don't think that is what we want for SLC. I think what is appropriate are buildings that people can relate to. many of the iconic towers in NYC do an excellent job of relating to the street, the sidewalk, and the person. With appropriate design and an appropriate site, a tall building can work in downtown.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Exciting news about the theater, except for this tidbit from Rick Howa:


Oh, yes- lets tear down the Utah theater and turn it into a parking lot. Its not like there is already a parking garage the size of an oceanliner directly east of the new theater site or anything.

Agreed Ark, I was particularly miffed by Howa's attitude. Frankly, he concerns me for various reasons, after watching him over the past few years in dealing with different projects. I really find myself wishing that someone else would step into the Pantages Project other than Howa. He just doesn't seem to get it! I would really like to push the film school concept, as we previously discussed on this forum in regard to the Pantages/Utah Theatre. There are many fabulously wealthy people with a passion for such an endeavor, who are also intimately connected with both Sundance and the film community of Hollywood. Utah will soon be poised to become one of the top handful of major film production communties outside of Hollywood. Once new pending legislation is implemented, which is being pushed by Huntsman, "the gloves will be off." This is the perfect time to look to the Pantages as a center piece of a future, prestigious school of film downtown. The Pantages could easily double as a venue for film premieres and a stage for live performance also. On site and adj. buildings would serve perfectly as classform and office accomodations.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by arkhitektor

Exciting news about the theater, except for this tidbit from Rick Howa:


Oh, yes- lets tear down the Utah theater and turn it into a parking lot. Its not like there is already a parking garage the size of an oceanliner directly east of the new theater site or anything.

It should be a city rule that there should be NO PARKING LOTS ON MAIN.

[scottharding]

I think Howa was just reacting dramatically because he's upset about it not being his property that gets the city's money. I doubt he or Becker would ever allow a parking facility there.
The film school/screening theatre is a terrific idea, and I echo Delts comments about how valuable it could be Utah. I work in the film industry here, and I think people would be suprised to know how much Los Angeles money is spent locally each year, and how much talent Utah has. The state really needs to get behind Utah's resources (both natural recourses, and human) and cash in on this notion as Utah as a film mecca. It could happen.

And Tangled SLC, subtle as it was, I did catch the sarcasm. I respect your right to disagree, and again, I understand your point of view. I'm not saying would should build wide cereal boxes and waste space. I think Arky's hotel design was a very efficient use of space, and taller than any building we have here in Utah. That's what I'm favoring. We have a demand for that building. While the design for the 1000 footer was kinda cool, it's impractical. And if such a thing were built for the sake of having an icon, we wouldn't see ANY other buildings- short or tall, wide or narrow- break ground for a long time, because the icon would over-saturate our hotel, residential, and commercial space.
I agree, build up. that's what I want to see. But I'd rather grow naturally, the way Chicago or Seattle did. I have no desire to be like Dabai.

[T-Mac]

Here's a photo I took a little while ago that partially shows where the broadway style theater will go.

[cololi]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

It should be a city rule that there should be NO PARKING LOTS ON MAIN.

It is, kind of. parking must be behind prinicpal structures or set back at least 75 feet to allow a principal building to be built in front of it; ground floors must be other uses (retail, restaurant, etc); horizontal levels, no slopes; and require a conditional use.

No additional driveways are allowed on main street, which is probably the biggest deterent to parking structures on Main.

Unfortunately, I don't see the City being able to do much to stop the demolition, unless the site is on the local register of historic buildings. Courts have ruled over and over again that demolition, unless it is a historic resource, is as much of a property right as the reasonable use of the land. What the City could do is not issue a building permit knowing that the matter would likely end up in the courts, which would delay the demolition.

Howa is just pissed that the City didn't purchase his building.

[delts145]

Becker hopes to tap sales tax for Broadway-style theater

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10738076

... Mayor Ralph Becker hopes to broker a deal to funnel sales tax from the LDS Church's City Creek Center and the new theater site to a state arts fund that in turn could finance the construction and operation of a 2,400-seat Broadway-style playhouse.
The scheme would require a so-called Community Development Area - and buy-in from the county and state - but would provide enough left-over cash to supplement other arts groups, Becker says, easing the box-office blow a new theater poses...

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[SLC Tortfeasor]

The Trib article on funding of the new theater states in part:

Both Bishop H. David Burton, presiding bishop of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, and Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. were on hand for the presentation.
Burton said h[e] is "honored" to help bring a world-class theater downtown, calling Thursday a "chocolate chip cookie day."
He said the theater will bolster downtown vibrancy and build on the successes of neighboring City Creek Center, scheduled for completion in 2012.
Huntsman said a downtown playhouse will provide a "huge boost" to the state, be a boon for young performers and help people "rise above the cacophony of life."
"We're all going to work really hard to make this a reality in Ralph Becker's city," Huntsman said.

I'm thinking that when you have the Governor and the presiding bishop of the LDS church both effectively endorsing the construction of the theater in downtown SLC, the Sandy project hasn't got a prayer.

What do you all think?

[delts145]

I also thought that was cool that Gov. Huntsman said, "We're all going to work really hard to make this a reality in Ralph Becker's city." It seems like the Governor and the Mayor have become good friends.

If the Sandy theatre ever gets off the ground, it will be by it's own bootstraps.

[T-Mac]

Drove past Marmalade this afternoon and there is heavy machinery on the west side hauling dirt and moving gravel.

[urbanboy]

The Peery Hotel is being repainted. At first I was horrified, then after a closer look, I decided I really liked the new color.

[Scraperdude801]

Originally Posted by delts145

Salt Lake City: Our theater will be on Main

[FONT="Arial Black"][SIZE="4"]\

Rick Howa, owner of Main Street's Utah Theater, expressed disappointment.
"God, I miss Rocky [Anderson]," he said, referring to Salt Lake City's former mayor. Howa suggested his property could be razed to provide parking for the Broadway theater.
"They're going to need it," he said.
[/COLOR][/B]

.

What the hell? It is STEPS from traxx and there are 2 HUGE parking structures already on regent street. It will come online when there is a lot more residential downtown and CCC parking will be available. I think people can walk across the street from any of the previously listed locations! I don't think we need to tear down a historic theater for a f*($^n% parking garage! ... This makes me worry about Rick Howa, does anyone here know if the Utah Theater is on the historical registrar? I hope to hell we get some smarter developers in this city real soon. Utah theater could make a great film theater like we discussed before. It needs its historical facade and interior restored and that alone would attract people to it. ... Really? ... What a dumba$$


A million kudos on the NAC site though!!!! That is great news.

[SLC Projects]

Ok guys I was at that unveiling for the broadway theater today. But it wasn't really a unveiling other then "Ok this is where were want to place the theater at" so there really wasn't anything new to go off of that we didn't already know. There wasn't any renderings or models to look at other then a map. But there was free food.

I did a few pics, but I'll post those tomorrow.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

The Peery Hotel is being repainted. At first I was horrified, then after a closer look, I decided I really liked the new color.

I notice that today as well while I was downtown. I hope it turns out ok.

[TANGELD_SLC]

Cololi.....
SCRAPBOOKING?

[delts145]

Originally Posted by urbanboy

The Peery Hotel is being repainted. At first I was horrified, then after a closer look, I decided I really liked the new color.

What is the new color?

[delts145]

Many are questioning necessity of Salt Lake Theater - Funding, scheduling, number of patrons are among concerns

http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705255938,00.html

...With Salt Lake City's announcement that officials have chosen a location for the new 2,400 seat Broadway-style theater, the local theater heavyweights are weighing in — but not about the location on Regent and Main streets in downtown Salt Lake City....

... "Our big question would be scheduling," said John Roake, marketing director for Ballet West. "There are times we could use the theater for our bigger productions, like 'The Nutcracker.' Would we get to use the space?"...
"There are some pretty significant impacts that aren't being taken seriously — as far as what it would do to Capitol Theatre and Kingsbury Hall," Plan-B Theatre Company producing director Jerry Rapier said.

Since Plan-B's focus is on original work, Rapier isn't concerned about the effect of his own company. "I think one good arts experience breeds another. There are so many arts-loving people here and more options isn't bad in that regard.

Becker's Broadway plan boasts goodies for other arts groups

http://www.sltrib.com/ci_10738076

Salt Lake City has choreographed how to finance downtown's Broadway-class theater, and how's this for a curtain call? There would money left over for other arts groups...

...The financial blueprint would require a so-called Community Development Area - including buy-in from Salt Lake County and the state - and would provide extra cash to arts agencies statewide, Becker said, easing the box-office blow a new theater could pose to other venues.
"There would be substantially more revenue than we would need for this theater," Becker said after a Thursday ceremony to unveil the site at the former Newspaper Agency Corp. building. "That's for both capital costs and the operation."

...Ultimately, Becker said, the theater could be owned by the city or in combination with a private partner - but probably not the LDS Church, which some insiders feared could create controversy by censoring content.
"The church does not have an interest in being a long-term partner," Becker said.

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