Cache Valley:Official development news thread

[TonyAnderson]

Alcohol bill a boon for downtown Logan?

Posted: Sunday, March 7, 2010 12:15 am | Updated: 10:12 pm, Sat Mar 6, 2010.

By Jay Patrick | 10 comments


ALAN MURRAY Server Niki Athay fills a glass of wine for a patron at Le Nonne in Logan Friday. Utah has a proposed bill that would make more restaurant liquor licenses available throughout the state. (Alan Murray/Herald Journal)

Some members of the downtown Logan business community think their area would benefit from a proposed bill that would make more restaurant liquor licenses available across Utah.

Right now only three licenses are left because Utah caps the number available based on population. One license enabling a restaurant to serve hard liquor is issued for every 5,200 residents. Licenses to serve heavy beer and wine only are issued one per 9,300 people.

House Bill 223 aims to convert 40 available tavern licenses (light beer only) into restaurant licenses.

Rep. Jack Draxler, R-North Logan, said he supports the measure, as long as it does not increase the total number of licenses available. That is not proposed in HB223, but talk of loosening the state’s license-to-population ratio has been part of the overall debate.

“I think the system we have of tying number of licenses to population has got a good track record,” Draxler said, noting that rates of incidents related to drinking are lower in Utah than the nation as a whole.

If the cap keeps a restaurant chain from coming to Utah, so be it, Draxler said.

Some people working to liven up downtown Logan hope a dearth of licenses doesn’t result in the city missing out on restaurants, which planners have

identified as key to boosting economic and social vitality in the city’s core.

Joe Needham, a former Logan Municipal councilman, a downtown businessman and a leader of the Downtown Alliance, said he’d like to see the license-to-population provision dumped.

“It’s just part of being accepting to all different groups of people,” Needham said.

The availability of a license was critical for the Iron Gate Grill to locate downtown, Needham said.

Without a license, “it probably would have fallen apart,” he said. “It’s prohibitive economically.”

Logan Economic Development Director Kirk Jensen also wants to see more licenses available so Logan doesn’t miss out on a business that could boost downtown.

Steven Bogden, managing director of Coldwell Banker Commercial, told the House Business and Labor Committee this week that a client of his, the restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings, is looking to open several locations in Utah. But that would only happen if licenses were available, he said.

“If they can’t get their business plan, let’s go to Sacramento. If they jump over Salt Lake, let’s go to Portland or somewhere else and we’ve missed it,” Bogden was quoted in the Salt Lake Tribune as saying. “And it’s got nothing to do with alcohol. It’s about economic development, jobs and growth.”

The Business and Labor Committee passed the bill. It now goes to the full House.

http://news.hjnews.com/news/local_ne...cc4c002e0.html

[TonyAnderson]

Logan’s most famous native son, Merlin Olsen, dies at 69

Posted: Thursday, March 11, 2010 9:13 am | Updated: 4:05 pm, Thu Mar 11, 2010.

Herald Journal staff report


Merlin Olsen, 1940-2010


Merlin Olsen, a Logan native who went on to national fame as a football player, TV commentator and actor, has died. He was 69 years old.

The passing was announced this morning by Utah State University, where Olsen played college football and was recently honored with the naming of the football field at Romney Stadium after him. A park in Logan's Island neighborhood, near where Olsen grew up with his nine siblings, also carries his name.

Olsen died at City of Hope Hospital near Los Angeles. He had been undergoing chemotherapy to treat mesothelioma.

Olsen first gained national recognition as an All-America football player at Utah State in 1960. The next year, he won the Outland Trophy as the nation's top defensive lineman and was taken by the Los Angeles Rams in the first round of the 1962 NFL draft.

As a member of the Ram's legendary defensive line, known as the "Fearsome Foursome," he earned 14 trips to the Pro Bowl and was elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_...cc4c03286.html

[TonyAnderson]

Q1 update - 4/18/10

Downtown:

Iron Gate Grill has officially moved downtown:





Logan Art cinema undergoing revival
Brothers remodeling venue for shows, parties


Logan Arthouse and Cinema owner Jonathan Ribera, left, and his brother Joe work on installing seats in the theatre Saturday in Logan. (Braden Wolfe/Herald Journal)


Photo Credits (c) Tony Anderson

Posted: Sunday, April 11, 2010 12:15 am | Updated: 9:49 am, Sun Apr 11, 2010.

By Devin Felix | 1 comment

The three brothers — with the help of many others — have spent the past couple months renovating the building that formerly housed the Logan Art Cinema. They hope to transform it from an old, run-down, little-known movie theater into a vibrant, lively, art-filled gathering place. They’ve had a stage built and are in the process of upgrading the bathrooms and lobby. When they open — they’re shooting for sometime in May — they plan to feature a variety of types live performances and independent films inside the 225-seat theater and display art in the lobby.

The Riberas have set few limits on the types of events they plan to host at the venue. In addition to concerts, independent films and other shows, they’re open to parties, meetings, tournaments and just about anything else. On Halloween, they plan to have a zombie parade — involving a professional makeup artist — that concludes at the theater, where classic zombie movies will be shown.

They also have plans for guys’ night movies, girls’ night movies and showings of kids’ movies in the middle of the day for parents of young children. They hope to draw everyone — families, singles, the young, the old, LDS, non-LDS and everyone else.

Jonathan Ribera said he’s confident the new Logan Arthouse and Cinema will fare better because it will be locally owned and run, and it will have the benefit of passionate owners. He plans to advertise events and films thoroughly and keep the public involved in what goes on at the theater.

When it opens, it’ll be “the best place in Logan for music, for comedy, an art gallery,” Jonathan Ribera said. It’ll be “a place for the creative to hang out.”

http://news.hjnews.com/news/local_ne...6.html?success

[TonyAnderson]

Q1 update:

USU


The funky looking Education Research building:








Utah State University converting Barn into museum
Published: Sunday, March 28, 2010 11:13 p.m. MDT

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah State University is converting one of its historic buildings into a new museum.

The aging, roughly 90-year-old "Art Barn" will be transformed into the USU Museum of Anthropology as early as December 2012.

The remodeling will need a $4 million fundraising drive, said Museum of Anthropology Director Bonnie Pitblado.

But even in a sagging economy, Pitblado is confident donors will pitch in. The project is a top priority for the university's College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences, she said.

The museum will move from a 2,000-square-foot space that is "so crowded that we're spilling out into the hall," Pitblado said.

Originally built as a stable in 1919, the Barn structure was first intended as an addition to a larger animal complex.

But in the 1950s the school's art department took control and began holding classes there.

Over the next half-century the building fell into disrepair and failed to keep up with building regulations like the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The new plan calls for a silo-shaped addition on the Barn's east side and a restyled facade to restore its vintage feel.

Included in the 11,500-square-foot structure will be a welcome area, artifact prep room and permanent exhibits on display.

Pitblado envisions the space as being more than just a museum. The refurbished Barn will be a welcoming place that will draw families and school groups, Pitblado said.

"People will be able to hang out there," she explained. "I'd like to have an Aggie Ice Cream cart out front and maybe another serving coffee and hot chocolate.

Groundbreaking is planned for March 2012.


Artist rendering

[TonyAnderson]

Q1 update:

Logan Metro:

USTAR building at Innovation Campus is getting close to wrapping up.






That's all for now. For an always-updated and comprehensive list, check out the Logan Metro Urban forum.

[Future Mayor]

I really like the use of the barn as a museum. So appropriate!

[Orlando]

What happened to the rendering of the new Education Research Center building? It looks like someone took it off.

[TonyAnderson]

You're right, I must have uploaded over it. I'll get another.

[TonyAnderson]

Transportation update:


Logan City opens its first bike lanes
Officials hope ongoing project will encourage drivers to share roads


By Alan Murray A bicyclist rides up 500 North in a new bike lane in Logan on Friday.

Posted: Monday, April 26, 2010 1:00 am | Updated: 8:34 pm, Sun Apr 25, 2010.

By Jay Patrick | 11 comments

Logan - There were no close calls as two young men - one wearing red-and-white stripped furry headphones - flew down 500 North on Saturday afternoon. The cars stayed in their lanes, the young men in theirs. No confusion.

Those bike lanes are Logan's first.

The seemingly worry-free smooth stretch is an anomaly in the city, which some say is bike-unfriendly.

In all, Logan plans to make seven miles of roadway more bike-friendly. Those roads will either have lanes or sharrows someday. Sharrows are markings on streets meant to remind drivers that bikes are around and to show a general part of the street where they would cruise. Sharrows are used on streets not wide enough for lanes.

Streets slated for lanes or sharrows include 700 East, 700 North, 1200 East, 1000 North, 200 East, 100 West, 100 North and the Boulevard. Work on those streets won't happen this year because city crews are already booked for other jobs, Nielsen said.

http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_...ml?mode=image#


UDOT to extend 200 East
Road project part of larger effort to get cars off Main

Posted: Wednesday, April 28, 2010 12:15 am | Updated: 11:31 am, Wed Apr 28, 2010.

By Jay Patrick | 6 comments

Logan - A road project that's part of a larger effort to get cars off Main Street is moving again after stalling in 2009.

Lack of money to continue analysis and a lack of consensus among officials about what form a revamped road should take put the kibosh last year on progress to extend 200 East across farmland from 2200 North to 3700 North, which is Center Street in Hyde Park.

Meanwhile, the county is continuing work extending 200 East from 1800 North to 2200 North.

The envisioned new stretch on the north end goes along with studies Logan is now doing on proposed improvements to 200 East between 1400 North and 300 South. The project's first phase runs from Center Street to 300 South and could include a roundabout and pedestrian underpass at Center Street. Studies should be done by fall with a public hearing to follow. Construction is set to start in spring 2011.

A new-and-improved 200 East running the length of the central valley would be but one step in unclogging Main Street.

The project to widen 1000 West is another element, as is possible construction of a highway farther west.

http://news.hjnews.com/news/local_ne...cc4c03286.html

[TonyAnderson]

I'd love to see more cities in the area get on board with this:


Nibley takes action on Envision Cache Valley open-space plan

Posted: Monday, May 10, 2010 12:30 am | Updated: 9:00 pm, Sun May 9, 2010.
Matt Jensen | 0 comments

Cache County, Utah - Nibley Mayor Gerald Knight expressed his support of the Envision Cache Valley 2010 report last week and encouraged cities throughout the county to back the initiative.

Envision Cache Valley is an ongoing effort to focus growth in existing municipalities and maintain natural and agricultural spaces, according to its website. It encourages inward growth and compact development as well as walkable communities and mixed-use neighborhoods.

City Manager Larry Anhder says Nibley is ahead of the game and is leading Cache Valley in the envisioning process to preserve open land for future generations.

"We already have an ordinance that went into effect last year that encourages that kind of development," said Anhder. "Instead of developers making cookie-cutter subdivisions, we offer a bonus if they preserve open space."

In April the Nibley City Council approved a resolution to support the Envision master plan and is now reevaluating its own designs to ensure the two plans are compatible.

"We will review our general plan to see if it is consistent with the Envision Cache Valley plan," said Anhder. "We'll look at the places where it's different and consider very strongly changing it to what the Cache Valley plan says."

Knight said the move is a "great step forward in the planning for Cache Valley," and that Nibley has already started many of the strategies called for in the report. The city is already discussing changes in its population density model and investigating how those changes could relate to the conservation of open space.

"We are a community that does not have a lot of high density," he added. "The Envision plan calls for higher density so that's something we're going to have to examine very closely."

http://news.hjnews.com/news/local_ne...cc4c03286.html

[TonyAnderson]

James Neeley is one of my favorite Utah photographers. Here's a few he's done of Logan and Cache Valley:



Old Courthouse



Logan LDS Temple on a winter day



Thrift store in downtown Logan



Looking west over 'the island' neighborhood


Utah State University and the Wellsville Mountains


James Neeley's flickr photostream

[delts145]

You and me both Tony. I love Neeley's work.

[shakman]

The first two photos show off some marvelous architecture; especially in the second photo.

[TonyAnderson]

And they were actually both designed by the same architect, Truman O. Angell Jr.

[TonyAnderson]

There's been a few recent development proposals spring up recently. Logan has some good momentum right now.


Chuck-a-rama plans downtown Logan restaurant

Posted: Saturday, May 15, 2010 1:00 am | Updated: 7:13 pm, Fri May 14, 2010.
By Jay Patrick | 14 comments | Herald Journal

Logan city has announced that the Salt Lake City-based buffet chain plans to set up in Logan at 150 S. Main St., next to Jo-Ann Fabrics. Buildings now on the site will be demolished.

Logan Economic Development Director Kirk Jensen said Chuck-A-Rama could boost downtown, which various analysts have concluded lacks the sort of "restaurant cluster" required to economically lift the district as a whole.

With the recent arrival downtown of Iron Gate Grill and Chuck-A-Rama on the way, Jensen said, "we're seeing that (cluster) emerge."

There are currently 10 Chuck-A-Rama restaurants - eight in Utah and two in Idaho.

Jensen said Chuck-A-Rama has modified their customary building designs to better blend in with downtown's historic look.

http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_...0.html?success

Downtown senior housing project

Posted: Tuesday, April 27, 2010 12:15 am | Updated: 5:59 pm, Mon Apr 26, 2010.

By Charles Geraci | 1 comment

Logan, Utah - A proposal to construct a new senior center on Cache County property has been scrapped.

Instead, the architect says the developer plans to build a new facility that would house seniors on the same block, this time without utilizing any county property.

Architect Tom Jensen told The Herald Journal that the project will be private and have "no relationship with the county at all. It would be condo and other type of housing. It would be for seniors, but it's not a senior center."

Jensen said the concept now is to build a smaller facility - to be located at roughly 150 E. 200 North in Logan - that would be about two-thirds the size of that originally proposed. He likened the height of the new project to the design of a wedding cake. From the street view, the building would be four stories high, while another story would be added deeper into the facility.

http://news.hjnews.com/news/article_...cc4c002e0.html

214-unit apartment complex coming to Riverwoods

By Jennie Christensen

Story Created: May 20, 2010 at 10:12 AM MDT



A new multi-story, $18.8 million, 214-unit apartment community may soon be coming to Logan.

Jensen said the apartments would have one, two and three bedrooms and rent would be toward the high end of the market due to the included amenities, such as walking trails, water features, trailside benches, adult and children's swimming pools, hot tub, children's play area, outdoor picnic areas, outdoor gazebo, indoor fitness facility and an indoor business facility.

http://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news.../94476229.html

For specifics or more information on Logan developments, check out its dedicated thread on UUF:

[delts145]

Cache Valley Sunrise - By James Neeley



Morning light is seen over the Cutler Marsh in Cache Valley, Utah. By James Neeley


.

[TonyAnderson]

Utah Festival Opera ready, more than ever, for curtain call

By Roxana Orellana

The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated Jul 2, 2010 02:53PM


Utah Festival Opera production of "The Barber of Seville."

Logan, UT - The Utah Festival Opera Company won’t have to give curtain speeches this year asking for money. That’s because the Logan organization, which opens its 18th summer season this week, is in better financial shape.

“It’s a whole different world than it was last year,” said Michael Ballam, founder and general director. “Individual contributions made up the difference between the corporate and foundation shortfalls.”

Those donations helped UFO finish its 18th season with a balanced budget and a future. Already ticket sales are about 10 percent above the festival’s best year.

In addition to the four main shows, the five-week festival includes more than 130 events: orchestral and vocal concerts, pre-performance discussions, backstage tours and continuing education courses. This season also marks 150 years of opera in Logan, the Loesser centennial and a new association with the American Festival Chorus led by Craig Jessop, former conductor of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir.

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/enterta...allam.html.csp

[TonyAnderson]

Cache County among top in nation for job growth
By Cache Valley Daily

Story Created: Jul 13, 2010 at 10:48 AM MDT

Cache County is one of three in Utah that were ranked on a list of the top 25 job generating locales in the most recent issue of Money Magazine.

Money Magazine produced the feature that looked at job growth nationwide from 2000 to 2009. Cache County was No. 10 on the national list, showing 42 percent job growth. Two other counties in the state, Utah and Davis, came in No. 11 and No. 18 respectively.

The feature cited Utah State University and BYU for generating jobs in health care, and also recognized institutions such as Hill Air Force Base and transportation infrastructure such as FrontRunner for aiding Utah's job growth success.

http://www.cachevalleydaily.com/news...-98331509.html

[SLCdave]

Originally Posted by TonyAnderson

There's been a few recent development proposals spring up recently. Logan has some good momentum right now.


Chuck-a-rama plans downtown Logan restaurant




Downtown senior housing project




214-unit apartment complex coming to Riverwoods




For specifics or more information on Logan developments, check out its dedicated thread on UUF:

They are supposed to start moving dirt Aug 1st. Vertical Construction was scheduled for Sept. 10th on The Falls @ Riverwoods. I will be involved with this Project once it gets started I'll keep you posted.

[TonyAnderson]

That soon? That's great. Thanks.