Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[H4vok]

Not sure if this has been posted before. I found a drawing/rendering of Liberty Crest Apartments.


Architectural Nexus

[stayinginformed]

Originally Posted by H4vok

Not sure if this has been posted before. I found a drawing/rendering of Liberty Crest Apartments.


Architectural Nexus

Is that the one on 200 E between 100 S and 200 S?

[SLC Projects]

There's a "Pizza Hut" on every corner in downtown London. Ok, not really, but there's a ton of them.

Wow, after posting my post I just notice the rendering of "Liberty Crest Apartments" Those are one of the better looking "Liberty" apartments. I'm guessing this is part of the overall Boyer Co. development.

[delts145]

Very nice, I wonder what materials they'll use on the exterior?

[ajiuO]

Originally Posted by delts145

very nice, i wonder what materials they'll use on the exterior?

stucco!!!!

[Scraperdude801]

Originally Posted by delts145

Very nice, I wonder what materials they'll use on the exterior?

Tin and styrofoam.

[delts145]

LOL, seriously though, Boyer seems to have really been raising their bar lately. That complex could be a great addition to Downtown.

[brankrom]

Originally Posted by utenation

This is what a downtown fast food model should be:





There is plenty of space on Main, 1st, 2nd and 3rd south for this. The demand is there.

I spent 4 days last week in Chicago (I know apples and oranges) but Chicago and SLC are pretty contemporary age wise I think Chicago has a decade on SLC. It was my first trip to Chicago and that place has some serious density. It seems every block face downtown has a Dunkin, and several restaurants not a lot of Subways or McDs but the sandwich shop of choice there seemed to be a chain called Potbelly's. But with all the food choices there were surprisingly few places to get pizza, go figure.

I spent the entire 4 days just walking as much as I could and soaking in the urban setting. A few things I notice It seemed to me that along with the many eateries there were also numerous bars around downtown and they filled up at quitting time every day not just Fridays. These were upscale bars not some beer joint under the tracks but really nice bars/restaurants that were packed to the gills every night in the CBD. Made me sad to come back home to the roll up the sidewalks at 6 downtown of Utah's capitol city. (aside from the fact that spring has sprung here in SLC and I just about froze in Chicago).

I guess my long winded point is that SLC still has a very suburban mindset even in the central business district and downtown SLC lunch choices are still pretty sparse and require a pretty decent walk... But hey we have parking.

[utenation]

Originally Posted by brankrom

I spent 4 days last week in Chicago (I know apples and oranges) but Chicago and SLC are pretty contemporary age wise I think Chicago has a decade on SLC. It was my first trip to Chicago and that place has some serious density. It seems every block face downtown has a Dunkin, and several restaurants not a lot of Subways or McDs but the sandwich shop of choice there seemed to be a chain called Potbelly's. But with all the food choices there were surprisingly few places to get pizza, go figure.

I spent the entire 4 days just walking as much as I could and soaking in the urban setting. A few things I notice It seemed to me that along with the many eateries there were also numerous bars around downtown and they filled up at quitting time every day not just Fridays. These were upscale bars not some beer joint under the tracks but really nice bars/restaurants that were packed to the gills every night in the CBD. Made me sad to come back home to the roll up the sidewalks at 6 downtown of Utah's capitol city. (aside from the fact that spring has sprung here in SLC and I just about froze in Chicago).

I guess my long winded point is that SLC still has a very suburban mindset even in the central business district and downtown SLC lunch choices are still pretty sparse and require a pretty decent walk... But hey we have parking.

My picture is of 16th street in Denver, which should be our proven western mountain region model of working. Denver is also ahead of SLC in denisty, size and green planning but I'm not expecting SLC to be Chicago or even Denver. I think the demand and blueprint is here now as well as progress. Main, 3rd, 2nd and 1st south are already well on their way to this type of blueprint.. I work, eat and walk the central district everyday and have a good handle on the urban activity.. At times Main, 2nd, 1st and 3rd are alive and well with walkers-eaters but nothing like other bigger cities but we will get there. I agree SLC has a ways to go and the bigger blocks and streets hamper things but places like Eye-sore burger and Carl's Jr are very much on the don't belong spectrum.

Another positive downtown is the Harmons. That place is always packed.. A good sign for urban living and working.

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by utenation

Another positive downtown is the Harmons. That place is always packed.. A good sign for urban living and working.

If only we could get those 2 lots on the West and East sides of Harmons developed.

[brankrom]

Its true Harmon's downtown is awesome.

I guess the same theme keeps coming up SLC has so much... potential.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by brankrom

I spent 4 days last week in Chicago (I know apples and oranges) but Chicago and SLC are pretty contemporary age wise I think Chicago has a decade on SLC. It was my first trip to Chicago and that place has some serious density. It seems every block face downtown has a Dunkin, and several restaurants not a lot of Subways or McDs but the sandwich shop of choice there seemed to be a chain called Potbelly's.

1) When we were discussing Washington DC a few posts back and we were talking eateries, I almost posted that I would give my left (arm, leg, anything I have two of) for Potbellys in Utah. Holy crap those are good sammiches. Better than anything we've got here, and we've got some respectable sandwich shops.

2) If you end up in Chicago again (or anyone here does) spend the time and money to take one of the tours given by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. I did that in 2008, and I'm going back there this summer for a few weeks to teach other teachers about architecture and urban planning and how they can be used to teach history. The CAF does some amazing things, and the way their docents know buildings and planning, you'll get insight that you've never had before, and bring it home to SLC. At least, that's what happened to me.

Love it.

That said, I do think comparing SLC to Chicago isn't quite reasonable...which isn't to say we can't learn from them. Our blocks are so huge, streets so wide, that even restaurants a block apart seem too far to go for a quick lunch. I'd love to see more options in the inner core for office peeps to hit up.

[Future Mayor]

What's interesting is that several decades ago, Wendy's had a very urban location in the Karrick Building on Main St. (the building directly south of 222), and they had a staircase that you could eat in the upstairs dinning room as well. I loved eating at that Wendy's, it was so cool.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

What's interesting is that several decades ago, Wendy's had a very urban location in the Karrick Building on Main St. (the building directly south of 222), and they had a staircase that you could eat in the upstairs dinning room as well. I loved eating at that Wendy's, it was so cool.

My dad managed that Wendy's for several years in a transitional period between careers. Used to eat there all the time too. Ah, the kind of gross memories.

[utenation]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

Our blocks are so huge, streets so wide, that even restaurants a block apart seem too far to go for a quick lunch. I'd love to see more options in the inner core for office peeps to hit up.

Main feels like a real city street to me.. With Trax, large trees, tower density and ground level density with bars and eats. It has a nice flow into City Creek.. 3rd south around state and main is starting to feel more city like to me..

BTW, anyone downtown that likes Burgers needs to try Rich's on 3rd in between State and Main.. A good Ole Texas Boy with some grill skills. Walk into the Jimmy John's and you'll see about 30 bike delivery guys running around with their heads cutoff.. Very urban.

[UTPlanner]

So I learned a bit of info about the new convention center hotel. There is definitely not a location or developer in mind yet. The RFP will go out in the next couple of months. There has been a lot of discussion whether the County should choose a location and then a developer or leave it up to the developer to find an appropriate site. There is a lot of interest in this project and pretty much every major hotel company in the country has called.

They are also calling for the building to be the tallest in the city at 35+ stories. It may also include condominiums as a part of the project. Because it will have such an impact on the skyline of the city there are those at City Hall that want to make sure that the city's hand is heavily involved. I hope that doesn't become an issue.

Also something that should be mentioned is that the Royal Wood Office area that has been mentioned as a future site for the hotel is zoned D-4, which doesn't allow buildings in excess of 120 feet in height. Any location west of the convention center will probably need to be rezoned.

[bflatflat9]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

So I learned a bit of info about the new convention center hotel. There is definitely not a location or developer in mind yet. The RFP will go out in the next couple of months. There has been a lot of discussion whether the County should choose a location and then a developer or leave it up to the developer to find an appropriate site. There is a lot of interest in this project and pretty much every major hotel company in the country has called.

They are also calling for the building to be the tallest in the city at 35+ stories. It may also include condominiums as a part of the project. Because it will have such an impact on the skyline of the city there are those at City Hall that want to make sure that the city's hand is heavily involved. I hope that doesn't become an issue.

Also something that should be mentioned is that the Royal Wood Office area that has been mentioned as a future site for the hotel is zoned D-4, which doesn't allow buildings in excess of 120 feet in height. Any location west of the convention center will probably need to be rezoned.

Always look forward to seeing UTplanner input.
So..... who is They.
I'm puttin the opening at late '18.

[utenation]

Originally Posted by UTPlanner

So I learned a bit of info about the new convention center hotel. There is definitely not a location or developer in mind yet. The RFP will go out in the next couple of months. There has been a lot of discussion whether the County should choose a location and then a developer or leave it up to the developer to find an appropriate site. There is a lot of interest in this project and pretty much every major hotel company in the country has called.

They are also calling for the building to be the tallest in the city at 35+ stories. It may also include condominiums as a part of the project. Because it will have such an impact on the skyline of the city there are those at City Hall that want to make sure that the city's hand is heavily involved. I hope that doesn't become an issue.

Also something that should be mentioned is that the Royal Wood Office area that has been mentioned as a future site for the hotel is zoned D-4, which doesn't allow buildings in excess of 120 feet in height. Any location west of the convention center will probably need to be rezoned.

How long does it take to rezone? Great news on the interest level..

[H4vok]

Cool video of some guy flying around a drone-copter downtown:

• Video Link

[Makid]

Originally Posted by bflatflat9

Always look forward to seeing UTplanner input.
So..... who is They.
I'm puttin the opening at late '18.

They will be able to still have the hotel open in `17. They can finish work on the condo's when the hotel is open.

The condo's I hadn't heard about but it seems reasonable. Now, I have heard of some locations that the County would like for the CCH. While I cannot state where, just note that we have discussed them all. Furthest West though is RWP. I don't think the rezone would be an issue.

One question on the rezone. If the County bought the property, would it still be required to match the zoning of SLC?

I ask because I have heard previously that a government building on government land doesn't need to go through the same processes as a regular developer and that they are basically allowed to build as they want.

As the demand has been shown to be great, this is why I would expect a 2nd hotel to begin construction before the main CCH is complete.