Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[zurich]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Olympics 2034 is official

Sure hope the FBI investigation doesn't ruin it. I imagine the IOC's threat to pull the games if the US doesn't stop their own investigations into WADA, is probably just a threat. Because, where else would they go?

[bob rulz]

Phoenix/Tempe is actually a really interesting comparison to me, because their metro area has twice the population of the entire Wasatch Front, and yet they don't build tall either, with their tallest only being 40' taller than Astra, and only 2 total buildings over 400' (compared to 3 total for Salt Lake City). They are one of the metro areas that compares to Salt Lake City in suburban-mindedness. In fact maybe even moreso than Salt Lake.

And yet they still have far more buildings in that 15+ story range than we do. Which makes sense, considering they're also far larger still, which once again shows it's hard to make an apt comparison for Salt Lake City. I do think we will get buildings taller than 10 stories in Sugarhouse eventually, and I think at some point places like West Valley and Sandy will have no choice but to accept taller heights as well. But it will take time.

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

I think at some point places like West Valley and Sandy will have no choice but to accept taller heights as well. But it will take time.

Oh I'm sure it'll happen. I doubt it'll happen within the next 20 years - at least outside a one-off.

But it's absolutely correct to say that Salt Lake, as a mid-to-large US city, has maybe one of the more height-adverse suburbs in the United States. Especially when you consider how fast the area is growing and has been growing for decades.

As for the Olympics: I know the hope is to have the opening/closing ceremonies potentially at the MLB stadium if/when SLC lands a team, so, maybe this will speed things up.

[i-215]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Olympics 2034 is official

The IOC couldn't have made it more of a downer. Playing international politics and catching the mayor and governor off guard at the last second. What a dirty trick! They were scummy last time and it shows they aren't much better now. Probably bummed they can't make cities give them freebies anymore (escorts, fancy meals, etc.)

The announcement was on PAGE 2 of scrolling down on KSL.com

Night and day difference from the fanfare in 1996 when we were all glued to the TV and watched the announcement live and all cheered. Most Utahns probably don't even know. I mean, it's hard to celebrate when nobody else seems to care

[wrendog]

Originally Posted by i-215

Night and day difference from the fanfare in 1996 when we were all glued to the TV and watched the announcement live and all cheered. Most Utahns probably don't even know. I mean, it's hard to celebrate when nobody else seems to care

LOL. You don't realize why there was a difference between 1995 announcement and now?

[locolife]

Originally Posted by bob rulz

Phoenix/Tempe is actually a really interesting comparison to me, because their metro area has twice the population of the entire Wasatch Front, and yet they don't build tall either, with their tallest only being 40' taller than Astra, and only 2 total buildings over 400' (compared to 3 total for Salt Lake City). They are one of the metro areas that compares to Salt Lake City in suburban-mindedness. In fact maybe even moreso than Salt Lake.

And yet they still have far more buildings in that 15+ story range than we do. Which makes sense, considering they're also far larger still, which once again shows it's hard to make an apt comparison for Salt Lake City. I do think we will get buildings taller than 10 stories in Sugarhouse eventually, and I think at some point places like West Valley and Sandy will have no choice but to accept taller heights as well. But it will take time.

Yeah, they're both "sunbelt like" cities. In 1950 the SLC and PHX metro areas we're the same size, meaning the Wasatch front, including Ogden/Provo etc.. was quite a bit larger than the full Phoenix area. Phoenix took off like a rocket from there and surpassed SLC.

Since Emporis isn't around I had to use Wiki so not sure the counts are super accurate but that's what I can gather with as much time as I felt like spending looking into it.

PHX has about 61 built + 8 under construction + 7 proposed = 76
Tempe has 13 built + 5 under construction + 5 proposed = 23
SLC has 29 built + 2 under construction + 3 proposed = 34

[i-215]

Originally Posted by wrendog

LOL. You don't realize why there was a difference between 1995 announcement and now?

Unashamed of my ignorance (it's how I learn). I do know that they are using a "non-compete" bid system now, designed to prevent wasteful bidding (e.g. building a stadium, then letting it sit empty after the games).

But no, I can't say I entirely know why it's different this time. Forgive my nostalgia for last time. Having been around then, it was pretty awesome.

[TheGeographer]

Found this map interesting (link below). Sorry I couldn’t upload it, it’s a Reddit post and I couldn’t take a decent screen shot of it.

The map in the link provided shows high rise construction (10 stories or more) in 2024. Found it interesting to see where cities are actively building high rises. I would have expected more high rises going up in the Western cities. Texas is going crazy along with Atlanta, Miami, NYC, and the Canadian cities.

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyscrapers...nder/#lightbox

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by i-215

But no, I can't say I entirely know why it's different this time. Forgive my nostalgia for last time. Having been around then, it was pretty awesome.

The fact you were around then should tell you why it's different.

But here's why:

1. Salt Lake was long expected as being a lock for these games as there was no legitimate competition. It was pretty much an open secret the city was going to be given the bid.

2. Salt Lake had never hosted the Olympic Games before when they won the 2002 Olympics. Ever.

3. Salt Lake had put in previous bids prior to their successful 2002 bid.

4. In 1991, Salt Lake bid to host the 1998 Winter Olympics, held a massive party downtown and was seen as the favorite to win - but Nagano won in a surprise bid. Three years later, they were again seen as the favorite and coupled with losing previously, the win, while expected, was still a massive development since, you know, they finally got it after multiple tries.

Beyond that, there was a celebration at the City-County Building in the middle of the night. Sure, it wasn't as big as 1994 but it was still big enough:

[Comrade]

Originally Posted by TheGeographer

Found this map interesting (link below). Sorry I couldn’t upload it, it’s a Reddit post and I couldn’t take a decent screen shot of it.

The map in the link provided shows high rise construction (10 stories or more) in 2024. Found it interesting to see where cities are actively building high rises. I would have expected more high rises going up in the Western cities. Texas is going crazy along with Atlanta, Miami, NYC, and the Canadian cities.

https://www.reddit.com/r/skyscrapers...nder/#lightbox

That's depressing for Salt Lake lol

[Tippy]

Originally Posted by Comrade

That's depressing for Salt Lake lol

For real, is it lack of demand? Why is SLC so little compared to other similar sized cities?

[TheGeographer]

Thanks Comrade for posting the map. A little depressing indeed for SLC. Illistrates that despite the great development SLC has had, we’re not blowing up like Austin, Nashville, Denver etc. An interesting map would be the amount of 3-10 story buildings. We’d rank high on that map

[Utah_Dave]

I read an article in KSL that the large parking lot west of the temple will once again be used as a Big Air venue and Olympic related events. I figured Ryan Smiths project might encourage the church to do something in conjunction with the Delta center overhaul but I guess not. Here’s to hoping KSL is wrong about that!

[wrendog]

That map saddens me

[MountainSkyline]

Canadian cities are on steroids. Vancouver CSA is almost identical in size to SLC and its out building all us cities except NYC!

[zurich]

Originally Posted by MountainSkyline

Canadian cities are on steroids. Vancouver CSA is almost identical in size to SLC and its out building all us cities except NYC!

So many of these cities have huge selling points that Salt Lake doesn't. Vancouver has the beautiful oceanfront, Stanley park and MANY MANY JOBS. Even tiny little Boise has a beautiful river and 20 mile running path. Until SLC creates some sort of destination park, dam up the Jordan River near Fairpark and create something appealing other than what we currently have, I just don't see that big spark that will bring in the developers. Maybe the green loop and entertainment district is the answer...

[Atlas]

Give me a break. SLC mountain and wilderness access is second to none in the USA. Green loop or not.

Wilderness also tends to attract a lot of transplants who don't really want to live in apartments and condos, especially when the nightlife scene is nothing special. So that, coupled with car culture and Utah's idiosyncrasies, might be part of why there are fewer high rises.

Someone on Reddit also pointed out that you have to dig pretty far down to get to bedrock in SLC, and that concrete is relatively expensive compared to other places.

But I think we will see another boom soon. Lots of investment in downtown SLC on the horizon, which is encouraging.

[zurich]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Give me a break. SLC mountain and wilderness access is second to none in the USA. Green loop or not.

Wilderness also tends to attract a lot of transplants who don't really want to live in apartments and condos, especially when the nightlife scene is nothing special. So that, coupled with car culture and Utah's idiosyncrasies, might be part of why there are fewer high rises.

Someone on Reddit also pointed out that you have to dig pretty far down to get to bedrock in SLC, and that concrete is relatively expensive compared to other places.

But I think we will see another boom soon. Lots of investment in downtown SLC on the horizon, which is encouraging.

I live in Salt Lake and I am a huge fan. I am talking about accessibility to these things and having them at your fingertips. What park does everyone go to downtown? Where is the long hike and bike trail? I think we need to make the mountains more accessible or trails FROM downtown. For instance, say you live in the new Liberty Sky..where do you walk to? Where do you run? That is what people want -- especially active people.

[Utah]

Originally Posted by zurich

I live in Salt Lake and I am a huge fan. I am talking about accessibility to these things and having them at your fingertips. What park does everyone go to downtown? Where is the long hike and bike trail? I think we need to make the mountains more accessible or trails FROM downtown. For instance, say you live in the new Liberty Sky..where do you walk to? Where do you run? That is what people want -- especially active people.

Memory Grove is right there, and the trail follows City Creek and is tree covered so it is 10 to 15 degrees cooler. I don't know how far the trail goes but it is many miles.

Ensign Peak trail is another option.

[Atlas]

I agree we need more green space downtown. The green loop will help with that.

Outside of downtown, it's better. Liberty Park and Sugar House Park are great, and the west side is getting a new park where Raging Waters used to be.