PROVO, UT: Official Development News Thread - Page 129

Reachforthesky · #**2561** Posted: **May 23, 2012, 1:43 PM**

Forum focuses on Provo in 30 years

http://fox13now.com/2012/05/22/forum...o-in-30-years/

TonyAnderson · #**2562** Posted: **May 25, 2012, 5:37 PM**

My perception after living in Provo (and first time in Utah County) for the past two months is the downtown is pretty decent, quite busy on weekends, and has a ton of potential, and that the city has a surprising amount of 'white trash'. It's not really what many outsiders would perceive it as.

People say Provo needs to change its perception, but what if it likes that perception? The city is theoretically run by the people, so shouldn't it reflect their values?

If I were Provo my number one goal would be trying to attract the many companies of Utah Valley to locate there as most seem to be in the suburbs. That'll create the most positive change I believe.

Future Mayor · #**2563** Posted: **May 25, 2012, 6:57 PM**

I agree with you Tony. Provo needs to do something to lure business when relocating or expanding to choose downtown Provo as their new home. While it might not initially make a difference I think the fact that FrontRunner is directly south of downtown could make a difference as the younger generation, that appreciates the benefits of proximity to transit work their way into the decision making ranks of those companies, or as the travel any distance on any freeway mentality starts to diminish a bit more.

Another thing Provo could do is offer tax incentives to corporations and small businesses along with RDA programs for new construction or rehab on existing buildings, within the area of downtown extending down to FrontRunner. Tax increment financing is a great way to jump start business development, and building. People look at it as taking money away from schools, however TIF is for new businesses in the designated area, which would only be contributing more to the schools, because they may not be locating there if the TIF wasn't offered. So it's not as if they are reducing the amount of money currently being collected they are simply reducing the amount on new revenue.

Wasatch_One · #**2564** Posted: **May 25, 2012, 9:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

My perception after living in Provo (and first time in Utah County) for the past two months is the downtown is pretty decent, quite busy on weekends, and has a ton of potential, and that the city has a surprising amount of 'white trash'. It's not really what many outsiders would perceive it as.

People say Provo needs to change its perception, but what if it likes that perception? The city is theoretically run by the people, so shouldn't it reflect their values?

If I were Provo my number one goal would be trying to attract the many companies of Utah Valley to locate there as most seem to be in the suburbs. That'll create the most positive change I believe.

I do sense some people lower down the socioeconomic scale that hang out in the downtown area along with the college students. This contrasts with the Riverbottoms on the north end of the city with some of the nicest neighborhoods (imo) in the state like:
The Woods at Riverside http://www.utahcountyonline.org/hous...247/501001.jpg
Vintage http://www.utahcountyonline.org/hous...137/398101.jpg
StoneGate http://stonegateprovo.com/villas.html)

My guess is that the "white trash" you notice in downtown has to do with the Pioneer neighborhoods immediately surrounding it (there are 4 of them).

The Joaquin neighborhood (NE of downtown) is probably in the best shape (but isn't saying much). This ranges from Center St. east of Univ up to 800 N on the southern edge of BYU. You could actually subdivide this neighborhood into a North and a South as well. College students dominate the populace from about 500 to 800 N east of Univ. Ave. to 900 E

The city is attempting to infuse grants for homeowners in the southern half (500 N to Center). The problem, is that there is a very high proportion of historic homes, turned rentals and people don't really care about or take care of the homes. Often times, landlords live in other areas and don't really care either.

As the downtown continues to gentrify with all of the new development, I predict that these neighborhoods start to see interest and turn into something with more of a Sugarhouse feel. It's not going to happen overnight, but it will happen.

I also believe that the proposed higher density development immediately surrounding the FrontRunner station will assist in speeding up this process.

I also think Provo needs to focus on the airport and try to get another flight to the west coast (LA) This could really help support future business in the area.

The Riverwoods business park bothers me as it continues siphoning away corporations from the downtown. Right now Ancestry.com is a billion dollar company, Vivint is private, but probably close to a billion dollar company, Qualtrics is probably a $500M company, MoneyDesktop is growing and Tahitian Noni is also a good sized company and all have HQ's in this northern Provo business park. I wish the economic development team could start luring these types of companies out of the business park and downtown (although Vivint and Tahitian Noni both built their HQ's, so I doubt they're leaving anytime soon).

DCRes · #**2565** Posted: **May 25, 2012, 10:26 PM**

I've always thought that Ogden, and to maybe a slightly lesser extent Provo, downtowns struggle because they are further away from I-15. You can't see them very well from the freeway and you have to travel a ways on surface streets to get downtown so business locate closer to the freeway or in areas like Orem, Lehi, Riverdale, and Layton (sorry, I'm talking about Provo and Ogden both here, but i think there are some parrallels. This is in no way intended to start a Provo vs. Ogden debate). Salt Lake's downtown is very visable from the freeway and therefore has an advantage. I think that Ogden and Provo's downtown's were hurt when the location of i-15 was selected.

Bob The Builder · #**2566** Posted: **May 26, 2012, 4:04 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wasatch_One

I do sense some people lower down the socioeconomic scale that hang out in the downtown area along with the college students. This contrasts with the Riverbottoms on the north end of the city with some of the nicest neighborhoods (imo) in the state like:
The Woods at Riverside http://www.utahcountyonline.org/hous...247/501001.jpg
Vintage http://www.utahcountyonline.org/hous...137/398101.jpg
StoneGate http://stonegateprovo.com/villas.html)

The Riverwoods business park bothers me as it continues siphoning away corporations from the downtown. Right now Ancestry.com is a billion dollar company, Vivint is private, but probably close to a billion dollar company, Qualtrics is probably a $500M company, MoneyDesktop is growing and Tahitian Noni is also a good sized company and all have HQ's in this northern Provo business park. I wish the economic development team could start luring these types of companies out of the business park and downtown (although Vivint and Tahitian Noni both built their HQ's, so I doubt they're leaving anytime soon).

I know Vivint isn't going any where because they are going to have another building built next to their current one. It is 4-5 stories. I suppose that they could build one building down town Provo since they are a tenant for their current and new building, they are leasing from the Gradner Company. One 10-14 story in down town Provo would have been cool....

Orlando · #**2567** Posted: **May 29, 2012, 2:39 AM**

Apparently, the Wells Fargo building in downtown has apartments or condos on the upper levels of the building. Expensive and posh kind, apparently. Did any of you know this? A friend of mine went to one of these units that his friend owns or rents.

Wasatch_One · #**2568** Posted: **May 29, 2012, 5:15 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Orlando

Apparently, the Wells Fargo building in downtown has apartments or condos on the upper levels of the building. Expensive and posh kind, apparently. Did any of you know this? A friend of mine went to one of these units that his friend owns or rents.

One of my friends owns one of the units. I believe it was supposed to be floors 4-7 that were condo's (7th floor being 4 - 3,000 sq. ft. penthouses) however, one of the Nu Skin guy's bought all four penthouses and turned them into office space for his charity or something to the effect. It actually kind of screwed the existing condo owners, cause it messed up some residential sq. footage ratio for getting financing and/or refinancing.

Sidenote, I noticed that a new MultiLing sign just went up on the Zions Bank Financial Center. They must have moved their headquarters out of the Wells Fargo Center, up a block to the ZBFC. (www.multiling.com) I've heard that they are growing. Hopefully they are taking up a decent chunk of space in the newest midrise in downtown. (edit: just found this article - http://dev.utahbusiness.com/articles/view/trading_up)

I also noticed that Nellie's Diner just opened in the retail space on the first floor of the ZBFC. http://www.nelliesdinerprovo.com/ordereze/default.aspx
I kind of feel bad for these little guys, they have been trying to open for close to a year and finally (found funding to complete the buildout?) I may have to check it out and see if it's tasty.

The retail space may now all be taken on the first floor. There is a Zion's Bank branch, Zion's Bank Wealth Management office, Craig's Cuts barber, Nellie's Diner and Braza Express Brazilian Churrascaria at fast food type speed.

Wasatch_One · #**2569** Posted: **May 29, 2012, 5:36 AM**

And here is a quick photo update on some projects that haven't been covered here, thus far:

BYU Life Sciences Building

Const. Photo from today:

New Downtown Provo Recreation Center
Rendering

Link to more info: http://www.provo.org/userfiles/downl...april_2012.pdf

Construction photos:

Utah Valley Convention Center looking north from Center St. 200 W (Freedom Blvd.) intersection

Nu Skin's new addition is starting to get its façade. Here are a couple of pictures of the glass/skin that will be on it.

poodledoodledude · #**2570** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 3:51 PM**

i posted a picture of the new condos being built on center street on my facebook page: NEW PROVO DEVELOPMENT

the developer is planning on changing this design and adding balconies, and nice materials than whats shown in the picture.

should be a nice development and will fill that lot in.
since university towers seems to have fallen through, maybe they've decided to split up the land and make smaller developments, as opposed to one giant one.

from what i remember, this lot was supposed to be the LAST piece of the university towers project--but now they are starting with this one first.

im also wondering if the announcement of the new LDS Temple in downtown had anything to do with this too.

the provo mayor did say that since the announcement of the temple downtown, its put the development in downtown provo ahead 10 YEARS.

your thoughts??

poodledoodledude

Future Mayor · #**2571** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 4:11 PM**

While I think the announcement of the temple is a good thing, I don't think it has as much power to push development forward ten years, as the mayor has stated. I think it's a combination of things that is moving downtown Provo in this direction. The NuSkin expansion, the Gary R Herbert Utah County Convention and Exposition Center

and the soon to be completed FrontRunner. These are the things moving Provo forward.

The temple is a nice thing for downtown, but it's not a catalyst project like CCC is for SLC.

Poodle, please post the pics on the forum, I would love to see them but I am not going to go to another location to do so.

StevenF · #**2572** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 5:00 PM**

Future Mayer, here is a link to the Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pr...98811923487655

Future Mayor · #**2573** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 5:02 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by StevenF

Future Mayer, here is a link to the Facebook page.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pr...98811923487655

I appreciate that, but seriously, why can't the photo's simply be posted on here?

Future Mayor · #**2574** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 5:10 PM**

It's as easy as these 5 steps.

Right click on the photo
Select properties
"copy" the address
Select "Insert image" on the tool bar above
Paste address

image from Provo New Development

Stenar · #**2575** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 5:23 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

While I think the announcement of the temple is a good thing, I don't think it has as much power to push development forward ten years, as the mayor has stated. I think it's a combination of things that is moving downtown Provo in this direction. The NuSkin expansion, the Gary R Herbert Utah County Convention and Exposition Center

and the soon to be completed FrontRunner. These are the things moving Provo forward.

The temple is a nice thing for downtown, but it's not a catalyst project like CCC is for SLC.

Poodle, please post the pics on the forum, I would love to see them but I am not going to go to another location to do so.

I don't know that it's pushed forward development 10 years, but it will be a catalyst for a few condo buildings, if they're within a block or two of the temple.

SLC Projects · #**2576** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 6:25 PM**

Why does everything over three stories on center st. have to be setback? I think it could look better if the top three floors wasn't setback. Other then that I like it. Downtown provo could use more housing.

Future Mayor · #**2577** Posted: **Jun 7, 2012, 7:43 PM**

I personally like the set backs on Center. I think it helps to create and continue the more pedestrian/human scale that currently exist on Center. With that said I am all for being right up to the n/s streets when the building is on the corner, set back on Center, no set back on 200 West etc.

Orlando · #**2578** Posted: **Jun 8, 2012, 12:34 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Future Mayor

It's as easy as these 5 steps.

Right click on the photo
Select properties
"copy" the address
Select "Insert image" on the tool bar above
Paste address

image from Provo New Development

I think the design could be refined a bit, but I think this is rather encouraging that there is this kind of development being proposed in downtown Provo. I hope with all of the NuSkin stuff, the new Convention Center, and new Temple we get more housing/mixed-use developments like this. I also hope that a new hotel will rise up in downtown. There is apparently a huge population of Asian travelers that come into town for NuSkin.

Deek1978 · #**2579** Posted: **Jun 19, 2012, 11:48 PM**

Driving through Provo yesterday and today I've noticed that 100 South has been closed off. Also, the main support columns for the new Life Sciences (Or whatever its called,) building at Zoobie U, are up and they are getting ready for steel.

Oh, and just because I called BYU, Zoobie U, doesn't mean I don't love them with all my heart

I just don't want to go to school there.

kbashby · #**2580** Posted: **Jun 20, 2012, 3:15 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Deek1978

Driving through Provo yesterday and today I've noticed that 100 South has been closed off. Also, the main support columns for the new Life Sciences (Or whatever its called,) building at Zoobie U, are up and they are getting ready for steel.

Oh, and just because I called BYU, Zoobie U, doesn't mean I don't love them with all my heart

I just don't want to go to school there.

I see the U-tards have approved a nice new training center for their football team. Looks to be a pretty nice facility.

Oh, and just because I called U of U, U-tards, doesn't mean I don't love them with all my heart

I just don't want to go to school there.