PROVO, UT: Official Development News Thread

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by wrendog

List time!



http://www.forbes.com/sites/kurtbade...-for-business/


Shout out to Ogden as well:

From the article:

"During 2010 it [BYU] ranked third in the numbers of start-ups produced through university research—13 in total—behind only the nearby University of Utah (18) and MIT (17)."

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by Old&New

From the article:

"During 2010 it [BYU] ranked third in the numbers of start-ups produced through university research—13 in total—behind only the nearby University of Utah (18) and MIT (17)."

You do have to admit that both schools are really good schools no matter the rivalry.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

Took a quick shot of NuSkin and the atrium going up. It's taller than I expected.

Nice shot. I really like how the roof top is turning out.

[TonyAnderson]

Originally Posted by Old&New

From the article:

"During 2010 it [BYU] ranked third in the numbers of start-ups produced through university research—13 in total—behind only the nearby University of Utah (18) and MIT (17)."

BYU was only 3rd best in the entire nation? Losers...

[Old&New]

*double post*

[Old&New]

Was pointing out that UofU made the list too. Also just pointing out the superiority of the U over the Y. Go Utah schools!

[Bob The Builder]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

Hahaha! Maybe that's it!

I honestly don't really know what it is about it that I don't like--maybe it's that it feels so incongruous for the community that it's in. I guess I like the fake historicism of some of the other recent designs, like the Brigham City and Philadelphia and Hartford temples--they look more like they fit in with their communities. But I don't know the architectural terms to describe what it is about the Payson design that I don't like. So I'll just say I don't like it. It also looks too much like a lot of the other Wasatch Front LDS temples--Mt Timpanogos, Draper, Bountiful...white building, center spire...I dunno.

It COULD be that I'm tired and cranky.

I too don't care for the look and location of the Payson temple. I wish it was located on the two blocks of the Peteetneet and had an older historical look that match the Peteetneet or similar to the Manti Temple. South end of twon behind Walmart was a poor location. I am surprised it is as big as it is - 96,000 sq. ft. They typically don't build them bigger than 50-60,000 sq. ft. This one is similar in size as the Jordan River. I guess we are going to see more houses pop up around it.

[goldcntry]

I noticed on a quick run-through over the weekend, that they have 100 South blocked off now in preparation of converting the street to a plaza/park for the Provo City Center Temple.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Bob The Builder

I too don't care for the look and location of the Payson temple. I wish it was located on the two blocks of the Peteetneet and had an older historical look that match the Peteetneet or similar to the Manti Temple. South end of twon behind Walmart was a poor location. I am surprised it is as big as it is - 96,000 sq. ft. They typically don't build them bigger than 50-60,000 sq. ft. This one is similar in size as the Jordan River. I guess we are going to see more houses pop up around it.

I have to disagree with you about placing it on the two blocks of the Peteetneet, that is a great block and it would be a shame to lose the hill that is used for sleading. The newer homes in Payson are being built in the south end of the city, just east of the temple locaiton. The initial plan for the area surrounding the temple and west to I-15 is a very nice mix of housing types, open space and a retail corridor fronting I-15. Including single family homes on small and medium lots, Multi-family homes (apartments and townhomes), with a future interechange planned between Payson and Santiquin the location really does make sense, and it will serve not only all of southern Utah County but will serve places like Nephi as well.

[Bob The Builder]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

I have to disagree with you about placing it on the two blocks of the Peteetneet, that is a great block and it would be a shame to lose the hill that is used for sleading. The newer homes in Payson are being built in the south end of the city, just east of the temple locaiton. The initial plan for the area surrounding the temple and west to I-15 is a very nice mix of housing types, open space and a retail corridor fronting I-15. Including single family homes on small and medium lots, Multi-family homes (apartments and townhomes), with a future interechange planned between Payson and Santiquin the location really does make sense, and it will serve not only all of southern Utah County but will serve places like Nephi as well.

Oooopppsss - I meant the two blocks west of the Peteetneet, at the base of the hill - not on it . Plus having it in town brings development and redevelopment to the center. It would be cool to have a nice, clean old town center rather development than at freeway exits.

[jtrent77]

Originally Posted by Bob The Builder

Oooopppsss - I meant the two blocks west of the Peteetneet, at the base of the hill - not on it . Plus having it in town brings development and redevelopment to the center. It would be cool to have a nice, clean old town center rather development than at freeway exits.

Yeah this is where forummers will have to fight....develop things downtown or next to planned transportation (such as the planned station that is coming with Front Runner eventually).

Also over time there is going to end up being a lot of development to both the south and west of Payson (thinking the Goshen area).

Just my two cents.

[chad.farnes]

I just took a trip to Boulder and Denver and I really enjoyed their downtowns, especially the Pearl Street Mall and the 16th Street Mall. I think that both add a great vibrancy to the downtown and are a nice draw for pedestrian traffic.

I was wondering what people would think about making a pedestrian mall, ala Pearl Street, in Utah. I know there has been talk about Main Street in Salt Lake City, but there are plenty of critics and I don't see it happening. What about other places in Utah, like Provo.

I was thinking that Center Street could be diverted to 100 North. It would take a some purchasing property, but hey this is my dream so anything can happen. The block that Albertsons is on would be purchased and then a couple of parking lots around 100 E. This would allow a nice curve to be established so that traffic on "Center Street" (which would be 100 N) would be able to flow at a relatively normal pace. No additional traffic signals would need to be added, other than the ones currently existing on 100 N. Additionally, since the speed limit on 100 N is 10 MPH faster than on center, you may still be able to get through downtown just as quick even with the turn. One objection would be the Provo police department because their revenue would go down dramatically since they wouldn't be able to hand out tickets on Center anymore.

So who's going to pay for it? Great question. While I do love downtown Provo, some of the areas could easily be developed, which are currently green areas or just nice grass. Buildings on these lots could be constructed which would come right up to Center, creating a more dense feel, allowing more interaction with the street, and providing some type of money for the project so that it doesn't all come from bonds or tax payers.

I studied psychology and not development, so I don't even know if this is possible or what huge flaws exist in my logic. I just really like development and architecture and thats why I think about it as a past time.

Anyway, below is a rough sketch I did. The red is the new path of Center Street, the blue is the pedestrian mall, and the yellow are the lots that could potentially be sold to raise some type of funds (they are behind the Covey Center, both sides of the entrance of the City Hall, between the new conference center and the building just to the west of it, and by the county building, in addition to between the new road on the block where the old albertsons was located). Thoughts?

[Future Mayor]

While I am not saying if I support it or not, I do like the concept.

One issue that I see is there there has become a decreased amount of cross traffic across Center St from North to South, years ago with the closing of 400 W for the City offices and now the closing of 100 W for the Nuskin expansion. Without traffic on Center St those same roads to the north of Center become virtually useless. From my viewpoint, cross traffic is a major key to a successful pedestrian mall, shops need to be seen, by pedestrian traffic on the mall and by vehicle traffic crossing the mall. There is only 3 crossings in a six block stretch. I do however think it would be more feasible than one on Main in Salt Lake City.

With that said, I don't see the street as a major deterent for Center St retail. The sidewalks are wide, the traffic is slow and there is a large abundance of trees. One thing that MUST go to make it a bit more appealing is the plasma Center. That space is way to large to not be used for retail opportunities.

I think this is a major reason why a pedestrian mall wouldn't work on Main St in Salt Lake. There is way to much distance between cross streets.

[gemery]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

While I am not saying if I support it or not, I do like the concept.

One issue that I see is there there has become a decreased amount of cross traffic across Center St from North to South, years ago with the closing of 400 W for the City offices and now the closing of 100 W for the Nuskin expansion. Without traffic on Center St those same roads to the north of Center become virtually useless. From my viewpoint, cross traffic is a major key to a successful pedestrian mall, shops need to be seen, by pedestrian traffic on the mall and by vehicle traffic crossing the mall. There is only 3 crossings in a six block stretch. I do however think it would be more feasible than one on Main in Salt Lake City.

With that said, I don't see the street as a major deterent for Center St retail. The sidewalks are wide, the traffic is slow and there is a large abundance of trees. One thing that MUST go to make it a bit more appealing is the plasma Center. That space is way to large to not be used for retail opportunities.

I think this is a major reason why a pedestrian mall wouldn't work on Main St in Salt Lake. There is way to much distance between cross streets.

The plasma center closed a while back, I thought. Yeah, I'm pretty sure it closed a year or two ago (I think the sign is still up, though).

[Wasatch_One]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

While I am not saying if I support it or not, I do like the concept.

One issue that I see is there there has become a decreased amount of cross traffic across Center St from North to South, years ago with the closing of 400 W for the City offices and now the closing of 100 W for the Nuskin expansion. Without traffic on Center St those same roads to the north of Center become virtually useless. From my viewpoint, cross traffic is a major key to a successful pedestrian mall, shops need to be seen, by pedestrian traffic on the mall and by vehicle traffic crossing the mall. There is only 3 crossings in a six block stretch. I do however think it would be more feasible than one on Main in Salt Lake City.

With that said, I don't see the street as a major deterent for Center St retail. The sidewalks are wide, the traffic is slow and there is a large abundance of trees. One thing that MUST go to make it a bit more appealing is the plasma Center. That space is way to large to not be used for retail opportunities.

I think this is a major reason why a pedestrian mall wouldn't work on Main St in Salt Lake. There is way to much distance between cross streets.

You described it well ...I was going to state a similar thought (about the street closures/accessibility issues created by shutting down Center) but was too tired to write anything last night

[TonyAnderson]

The downtown LDS temple work is picking up. I saw a small building being demolished yesterday and an un-assembled crane on site this morning.

[jedikermit]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

The downtown LDS temple work is picking up. I saw a small building being demolished yesterday and an un-assembled crane on site this morning.

...they've put scaffolding up inside the tabernacle/temple as well.

[shakman]

Originally Posted by jedikermit

...they've put scaffolding up inside the tabernacle/temple as well.

It must be Temple work month. The Temple just outside of DC is finally being repaired from last summer's earthquake damage. Damage was quite noticeable from a distance.

[poodledoodledude]

heard through the grapevine, and property owners in the area that provo is planning a "city creek" type development south of the new temple area. i heard it was to be smaller, but still, a HUGE development for downtown provo. dont know the schematics, or who is going to be the developer (LDS church, GGP, or who.....) but heard they were going to announce it in a few months.....

i've asked where, and i heard the two blocks south of the temple....dont know if its the blocks EAST and WEST or SOUTH...but IMO, i may be where the old motels are, and the block SOUTH of the new utah county health and justice building. those two blocks need help BAD.

ill let you know what i find out....

poodledoodledude

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by poodledoodledude

heard through the grapevine, and property owners in the area that provo is planning a "city creek" type development south of the new temple area. i heard it was to be smaller, but still, a HUGE development for downtown provo. dont know the schematics, or who is going to be the developer (LDS church, GGP, or who.....) but heard they were going to announce it in a few months.....

i've asked where, and i heard the two blocks south of the temple....dont know if its the blocks EAST and WEST or SOUTH...but IMO, i may be where the old motels are, and the block SOUTH of the new utah county health and justice building. those two blocks need help BAD.

ill let you know what i find out....

poodledoodledude

My first thought was: What will this do to Center Street? With the recent closure of the street for the nu skin development, there's even less of a connection from that part of town to Center Street. If done right, I think this could be a very good thing for downtown.