Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 3

[Future Mayor]

They chose the architect based on key goals and objectives for the space, and for the partnership they have had with Pelli Clarke Pelli, and the many performing arts centers they have been a part of, including the Dayton OH PAC which was one of the directors that came to the presentation at the library last year. It was mentioned before they announced the architect team that one of the major reasons they picked HKS is because the had a vision for Regent St, that would transform it into a thriving part of downtown, I was particulary excited to hear that.

HKS expects the design to be done in about a year. It is going to be a very open to the public process, they will have three public forums during the design phase. Layton Construction will be the primary contractor on the project.

They had a perfomance by Elphaba with from the current Wicked tour. What a great voice and damn, she's pretty cute. To bad I'm not more connected to the art scene.

I pulled Kyle Lamalfa aside after the official presentation, he is a Council Member and Chairman of the RDA Board. The site plan on one of the Layton boards showed the Montgomery Ward/Bennion Jeweler building as not part of the theater plan, and another rendering included it. I asked him if that was because that was where the planned tower would be located. He confirmed that they are wanting a tower to be built there, but if that isn't going to happen he mentioned a tower being built next to Harmons. He said they are working to get a developer on board for the tower on Bennion location, because that is a key part of the financing for the theater. They still don't officially own any of the parcels, but that is obviously just a formality. I asked about Hamilton Partners being the tower developer, and he said they are in talks with several different organizations.

It was kind of funny, yet not very promising, as I walked away he said, in a joking tone "If you have a bunch of money to build a tower, come talk to us."

[SLC Projects]

None of this sounds very promising that this development will break ground anytime soon. Sounds like we are still YEARS away from ground breaking.

[StevenF]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

None of this sounds very promising that this development will break ground anytime soon. Sounds like we are still YEARS away from ground breaking.

I am guessing that it wont get started till next Spring by the earliest. With no real rendering and just picking the architects, I just don't see anything starting this Fall and definitely wont be starting in the Winter time. Of course, once the property is secured they could always start the demolition during the winter months, giving an oportunity to start official construction in the Spring. But at how fast they are working on this I am going to say more like next Summer or Fall before things start on the site.

[Future Mayor]

Originally Posted by Merewether

Walking down Broadway and seeing the Yardstick and adjoining stores (approx 70 E 300 S) which have been vacant for perhaps 20 years made me think about other similar locations. I can understand a landlord holding a property in abeyance waiting out a downward business cycle and in some cases an estate settlement may be Bleak House interminable.

Perhaps people on the forum more knowledgeable about real estate economics would comment why owner would pay property taxes but not find a tenant or sell?

Funny you should mention the Yard Stick building. After the UPAC announcment I went to Gandolfo's on Main, (best Gandolfo's in the chain) for lunch and as I was walking back to my car I noticed a gallery that I hadn't before seen. It is part of the Utah Theater retail space, apparently I missed the gallery in the past, they moved in in December. Oops

The gallery used to be the only business in the Yardstick building, and since they moved out in December it has been vacant. The were the only occupant in the building for about the last 20+ years. I inquired about the owners and she was very upfront with me. The owners live in Taiwan and have a lot of money, they don't really care much about the building or having renters. I mentioned to her that I had inquired about five years back about purchasing it and that they said it wasn't for sale, she said it didn't surprise her.

I guess one time in the past few years, someone was interested in moving into one of the spaces next to the gallery and the daughter came over to look at the building and work out a lease. The daughter didn't really put much effort into negotiating a lease with a new tenant, so it never happened. She said the building, due to years of neglect, really needs to be demolished. I would venture to guess that part of it is salvagable, maybe the orignal exterior is still behind there, who knows.

So it sounds as if the Yardstick building will be sitting there, in it's current condition, for a long time to come.

[DCRes]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54...tml.csp?page=1

According to the city’s timetable, the blueprints won’t be finalized until sometime in 2014, just ahead of the construction start. The grand opening is slated for March 2016.

Still a long way off, but good news that they are making definate steps forward. Just like when CCC finally opened and we all reminiced about how we remember the project being announced and the long time we had been following the project, we will be talking about this project when it is finally completed in 2016.

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by DCRes

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54...tml.csp?page=1


Still a long way off, but good news that they are making definate steps forward. Just like when CCC finally opened and we all reminiced about how we remember the project being announced and the long time we had been following the project, we will be talking about this project when it is finally completed in 2016.

Still two years out from ground breaking. Was hoping for a sooner ground breaking. CCC took forever as well as 222 South Main. Both were worth the wait so hopefully this will be too. Just please don't take a decade to built like everything else.

[ajiuO]

Any word on when demolition of the SE corner of 100S and main will happen?

It would be nice if the property was ready for construction as soon as the design is complet.

[T-Mac]

Excited for the changes that are coming to this area of Main Street.

[Scraperdude801]

Since they are so far away from ground breaking, maybe the site can still be switched to the parking lot that surrounds the mini bank building across the street (keeping that little gem, of course)! If they switched the site to a current parking lot, they wouldn't have much to pay for in the way of demolition costs. I've grown to like all of the buildings there, and I would hate to see them gone when there is open land right across the street (which means, should they choose to move it there, they wouldn't have to do another study about what part of downtown is best for the theater). Regent Street could still be beautified with a plan like Future Mayor's old one. The theater project could create a cool pedestrian access to the cool, rustic buildings on Arrow Press Square (which could be revitalized as a mecca for some hip galleries, music venues in the vein of Kilby Court, and unique retail).

[wrendog]

Nothing about the tower in that article, so my interest is minimal.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

None of this sounds very promising that this development will break ground anytime soon. Sounds like we are still YEARS away from ground breaking.

Utah Performing Arts Center takes a big step toward reality


Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker makes an announcement regarding the new Utah Performing Arts Center proposed to be built on Salt Lake City's Main Street between 100 and 200 South in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2012. HKS Architects will design the center and Layton Construction will build it.Laura Seitz, Deseret News

By Jared Page, Deseret News

SALT LAKE CITY — Curtains literally were pulled back Wednesday to celebrate the selection of the architectural and contracting teams for the future Utah Performing Arts Center...

..."This is a momentous day for us in Salt Lake City," Becker said at the time, promising that the performing arts center would be "an asset that is unparalleled in our region."

On Wednesday, architects and city leaders pledged to create "an iconic structure" that will add to the diversity of construction in a city whose landmarks include the Salt Lake Temple.

"This will be something this community is proud of," said David Layton, president and CEO of Layton Construction...

..."We expect that this theater will be another representation of this community coming together, of this community achieving heights that only could have been dreamed of a few years ago," he said.

Wednesday's announcement came less that 24 hours after the Salt Lake County Council voted to partner with the city on the $110 million project...

...Design of the project is expected to take about a year, said D.J. Baxter, executive director of the city's RDA. A preliminary timeline has construction getting under way in December 2013 and the opening of the theater in March 2016.

Architectural and design teams plan to hold at least three public open houses in September to gather information from potential users of the performing arts center. Specific dates at times for those meetings have not been announced.

"Public investment is something no one here takes lightly," LaMalfa said. "We will work with the public and arts organizations to integrate the theater into our community's fabric. The programming and architecture of this theater will represent Utah."

.

[DCRes]

Seems to be conflicting information from the trib and desnews. Both state an opening in 2016 but the desnews has construction starting in late 2013. Either way, we'll have to wait patiently for renderings. At which point, i'm sure a great debate will ensue.

[Old&New]

Originally Posted by Scraperdude801

Since they are so far away from ground breaking, maybe the site can still be switched to the parking lot that surrounds the mini bank building across the street (keeping that little gem, of course)! If they switched the site to a current parking lot, they wouldn't have much to pay for in the way of demolition costs. I've grown to like all of the buildings there, and I would hate to see them gone when there is open land right across the street (which means, should they choose to move it there, they wouldn't have to do another study about what part of downtown is best for the theater). Regent Street could still be beautified with a plan like Future Mayor's old one. The theater project could create a cool pedestrian access to the cool, rustic buildings on Arrow Press Square (which could be revitalized as a mecca for some hip galleries, music venues in the vein of Kilby Court, and unique retail).

You are correct, it's not too late to move the project across the street. There are serious discussions going on with key players in both the private and public sectors regarding the potential of the site across the street. Discussions include placing the theater on 100 south across from the Cascade, closer to the Convention Center allowing it to be used as meeting space, which could free up the Convention Center's ballroom for additional exhibit floor space. A tower, or at least the base of a future tower would also likely be part of the project if moved to this location. Moving it could potentially speed up the process since there would be very little demolition involved.

[UTPlanner]

I don't think it's necessarily too late to find another location but personally I don't think it's very likely. In talking with people from the Mayor's Office, the Council and the RDA they are firm about the current location. Obviously, until ground is broken it's not too late but if they were going to consider a new location a decision would need to happen ASAP as the architects will be designing a theater and will need to know an exact location.

I have to say that I personally was not a big fan of building a new theater downtown but I went to see Wicked a few weeks ago at the Capitol Theater and it really changed my mind. The Capitol is a beautiful setting for a show but is just not designed for shows in the 21st century. The seats and sightlines in the theater are not up to par and the crowds attempting to get into the restrooms while others were purchasing treats in the same tiny upstairs lobby created a very chaotic situation. Not to mention that they sold every ticket for the 6 week tour of Wicked in a couple of hours. Even as someone who is not really into the arts scene in SLC, I could see the need for a new theater.

[Old&New]

Not all council members are firm with the current proposed location. And a proposal that could potentially save tax payer's dollars would, I'm sure, change the hearts and minds of the mayors office.

[delts145]

You are so right UTPlanner. Those problems with the Capitol are going to be corrected for Ballet West, but for an extended stay, major broadway musical, the Capitol will never be able to handle Salt Lake's pent-up potential.

[Stenar]

Originally Posted by SLC Projects

So how do they choose an Architect(s) when none of them designed anything yet?

Based on their previous work in designing performing arts centers.

[chad.farnes]

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54...hotel.html.csp

This really interesting article popped up on the trib for a couple hours in the afternoon. I was surprised at how supportive it is. I was even more surprised reading the comments (which I only do very cautiously, and rarely get through the first 2 because I disagree so much). The majority of the comments were actually in support of the hotel. I think the best one was this one: "I would have said it wasn't necessary until a friend tried to book a hotel in Salt Lake at the same time as the Outdoor Retailers Convention. The closest hotel he could get for less than $100/night was on the south side of Utah County."

[SLC Projects]

Originally Posted by Stenar

Based on their previous work in designing performing arts centers.

Oh ok, Thank you.

[delts145]

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

They chose the architect based on key goals and objectives for the space, and for the partnership they have had with Pelli Clarke Pelli, and the many performing arts centers they have been a part of, including the Dayton OH PAC which was one of the directors that came to the presentation at the library last year. It was mentioned before they announced the architect team that one of the major reasons they picked HKS is because the had a vision for Regent St, that would transform it into a thriving part of downtown, I was particulary excited to hear that...

Indeed, the HKS partnership with Pelli is very interesting and exciting. I am now an even bigger proponent of this location for the Theater and Tower project. That specific Bennion-plus corner in that specific location, adj. to CCC in it's current massing, is incredibly underdeveloped. This is especially accute, given the potential of what could now be an amazing and vibrant Regent Street. We must understand that the UPAC/Tower project is the necessary synergy for creating what will be an amazing Regent St. Project. Without this UPAC/Tower Project, Regent would be underserved in it's scope, and it's timeline would be extended for many years into the future.

I am as anxious as anyone to see the parking areas surrounding the historic Zions Bank corner also reach it's potential. I believe that developing the anemic Bennion area corner into a jewel of a spectacular venue/tower, along with a vibrant Regent St. will also speed up the development of the Pantages and the parking areas surrounding the Zions corner. Not using this current location would fail to push forward the potential of Regent St., and would be a major misfire IMO.