Salt Lake City: Official Development News Thread - Part 5

[Blah_Amazing]

Originally Posted by rockies

Sure. The Wells Development is across 1300 S from Liberty Park and it seems like it has been under construction for a while (can't remember last time I drove by). Here is a BSL article for both.

500 Park View


Wells Mixed-Use

I actually went by the Wells Mixed-Use project back on May 20, 2021 and took a photo:



Looks to me like there has been very slow progress on a project that has been "under construction" for some time now.

[delts145]

Thanks Blah_Amazing for posting the photo of the Well Mixed-Use Project. Did you notice if the neighboring 500 Parkview Project was also under construction?

[Atlas]

delts, the 500 Parkview project only got PC approval two weeks ago.

Has the SLC SSP group ever done a forum meetup? I'll be in SLC next week and I was thinking it might be fun to meet some of you in person.

Also, I found a blog that covers obscure SLC history (definitely worth checking out) and there is a recent post that shows progress on Pickle Alley. Looks like they were only demolishing that small addition between the two buildings after all!

[Reeder113]

A good angle of the Liberty Sky roof looking from the southeast. Sorry about the huge pic. You might need to scroll to the right to see it.

https://twitter.com/fox13/status/1420358419295346690/photo/2

[taboubak]

I think we have seen updates from pretty much every planned/prospective tower proposal except for the Regent St site. Anyone have any updates on what Dakota Pacific's time frame is or if they are getting close to finalizing a design?

[Schmoe]

Originally Posted by taboubak

I think we have seen updates from pretty much every planned/prospective tower proposal except for the Regent St site. Anyone have any updates on what Dakota Pacific's time frame is or if they are getting close to finalizing a design?

This is on hold pending rebound of hospitality industry. Most likely this is due to financing issues.

[Gastroc]

I just moved to Oklahoma City two months ago and I have come to the conclusion that SLC desperately needs a tall signature tower similar to that of the Devon Tower here in OKC. When looking at pictures on the internet it almost seems too tall and out of place but seeing it in person is spectacular from all angles.

What I love about it:
- Point of reference when driving around
- Instantly makes the city look like a big city
- The surrounding towers complement it well
- Will only spur future towers around it

Here are some pictures I've taken while driving around the city:

[wrendog]

Nah. Devon tower is too much. Give me a couple 600 footers and we can work up to that

[Comrade]

Many cities tend to grow into their tallest tower. It's like someone lifts the seal off the top of the skyline and you start seeing ramped up, taller towers (almost as if it's okay now that one made the plunge).

I am convinced this is why Salt Lake continues to have so many proposals around the same height as their tallest - because it's been that way pretty much since the 1970s.

So, I say absolutely go big. Our skyline sucks. It sucks with the current towers being built. It'll continue to suck until someone actually pushes the height limit beyond just 500 or even 600 feet.

I think a 700 footer would look great in the skyline and have a sizable impact in making Salt Lake look like an actual city and not some flyover town with a skyline more in line with Boise than the other major cities in the region.

[Boz]

Originally Posted by wrendog

Nah. Devon tower is too much. Give me a couple 600 footers and we can work up to that

A behemoth amongst a small host of men.

[EPdesign]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Many cities tend to grow into their tallest tower. It's like someone lifts the seal off the top of the skyline and you start seeing ramped up, taller towers (almost as if it's okay now that one made the plunge).

I am convinced this is why Salt Lake continues to have so many proposals around the same height as their tallest - because it's been that way pretty much since the 1970s.

So, I say absolutely go big. Our skyline sucks. It sucks with the current towers being built. It'll continue to suck until someone actually pushes the height limit beyond just 500 or even 600 feet.

I think a 700 footer would look great in the skyline and have a sizable impact in making Salt Lake look like an actual city and not some flyover town with a skyline more in line with Boise than the other major cities in the region.

I second this!

[i2theSKY]

Originally Posted by Comrade

Many cities tend to grow into their tallest tower. It's like someone lifts the seal off the top of the skyline and you start seeing ramped up, taller towers (almost as if it's okay now that one made the plunge).

I am convinced this is why Salt Lake continues to have so many proposals around the same height as their tallest - because it's been that way pretty much since the 1970s.

So, I say absolutely go big. Our skyline sucks. It sucks with the current towers being built. It'll continue to suck until someone actually pushes the height limit beyond just 500 or even 600 feet.

I think a 700 footer would look great in the skyline and have a sizable impact in making Salt Lake look like an actual city and not some flyover town with a skyline more in line with Boise than the other major cities in the region.

I agree with growing into your tallest vs inching upward. It's exciting to have a new proposed tallest in Astra but it's only 26' taller than Wells Fargo and will likely appear shorter than the COB when viewed from a distance. If I recall the rooftop of Wells Fargo is actually 400' and the little (nearly invisible) glass covered cylinder on top makes it 422'. That would make Astra appear 48' taller but still not enough to be a real standout. I don't agree that Salt Lakes skyline sucks but it's definitely getting a little table topped. If centrally located Salt Lake could easily pull off a 700' tower. I'm looking at you Zions haha. (Edit) looks like I posted at the same time as EPdesign so I guess you could say I third this!

[Marvland]

SLC has a very unique skyline framing that includes one of the most prominent mountain escarpments in the world with over 7000 feet of vertical close-in. I think 700 feet would suck. Get me a few 550-600 footers and I'm good. One very low hanging fruit that I've babbled about in the past would be some sort of observation tower like the space needle and the Calgary tower. I know it's very passé and 1970's but it's basically a freebie and would be a huge draw with our surroundings. Sync it up with the 2030 Olympics ("Olympic Tower"), and put it on a free SLC/RDA/County parcel in CBD or periphery. Do it cool, glassed in with the deck being some sort of torch. Living vertical garden on the south aspect, pollution scrubber etc. Would be rad.

[ThePriceWentUp]

Originally Posted by Marvland

. One very low hanging fruit that I've babbled about in the past would be some sort of observation tower like the space needle and the Calgary tower. I know it's very passé and 1970's but it's basically a freebie and would be a huge draw with our surroundings. Sync it up with the 2030 Olympics ("Olympic Tower"), and put it on a free SLC/RDA/County parcel in CBD or periphery. Do it cool, glassed in with the deck being some sort of torch. Living vertical garden on the south aspect, pollution scrubber etc. Would be rad.

From what I’ve heard, the Governor’s office wants a Space Needle-esque landmark at the Point of the Mountain site. It’s going to be pretty disappointing to see the state’s iconic landmark in Drapee as opposed to SLC

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Has the SLC SSP group ever done a forum meetup? I'll be in SLC next week and I was thinking it might be fun to meet some of you in person.

Any interest in this?

-----

I'm not sold on the idea of an observation tower but I think it could work if it was the right design and location. More Space Needle and less Calgary Tower, and if we are concerned about the skyline view southeast toward the Wasatch and transit access, a location south of downtown (but still close to downtown) would be ideal. Perhaps the Fleet Block or even Block 40? I wouldn't be surprised if one of the burbs snatched the idea of an observation tower from SLC like they did with Rio Tinto Stadium.

Observation tower aside, I like the way our skyline is trending. More density of the 300-400 ft towers is going to set the scene for some eventual 500-600 ft towers really nicely.

[Utah_Dave]

Speaking of the skyline. Since we don’t have the height yet I was really pleased with the density we are getting with 95 state and the CCH. Once we add in Worthington and the Astra tower it will fill in nicely and the skyline will be more spread out from west to east. One thing I noticed as the CCH is going up is we now have more depth from west to east visually so when you drive around town you get the 3D effect of foreground and background buildings which gives the skyline a bigger city feel as opposed to all the buildings lined up on Main and State. Sure, there isn’t an impressive tower yet but it will feel much more urban.

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by ThePriceWentUp

From what I’ve heard, the Governor’s office wants a Space Needle-esque landmark at the Point of the Mountain site. It’s going to be pretty disappointing to see the state’s iconic landmark in Drapee as opposed to SLC

Well that would suck. It would be completely out of place The view would be great from above but would mostly be of a gravel pit! Leave it to our state leaders to squander an opportunity. I'll watch for more details but really, this is where SLC needs to be much more aggressive in interacting with Goved and the legislature. No way should they allow that to happen. They seem to operate as though they are the big player in the room when they simply aren't taken seriously. They did hire a lobbyist so we will see. DTA, RDA, Economic Development need to engage. Especially on liquor laws but that's a whole other ball of earwax.

[Marvland]

Originally Posted by Atlas

I'm not sold on the idea of an observation tower but I think it could work if it was the right design and location. More Space Needle and less Calgary Tower, and if we are concerned about the skyline view southeast toward the Wasatch and transit access, a location south of downtown (but still close to downtown) would be ideal. Perhaps the Fleet Block or even Block 40? I wouldn't be surprised if one of the burbs snatched the idea of an observation tower from SLC like they did with Rio Tinto Stadium.

Exactly. I'm skeptical too based upon the era that these were all built. I think with modern design aesthetics we could do something amazing for relatively cheap. I think the city owns, what 130 acres in CBD and periphery that is just sitting there? Get a corporate sponsor if you need. Glass, rad, twisting design.

[Atlas]

Originally Posted by Marvland

Well that would suck. It would be completely out of place The view would be great from above but would mostly be of a gravel pit! Leave it to our state leaders to squander an opportunity. I'll watch for more details but really, this is where SLC needs to be much more aggressive in interacting with Goved and the legislature. No way should they allow that to happen. They seem to operate as though they are the big player in the room when they simply aren't taken seriously. They did hire a lobbyist so we will see. DTA, RDA, Economic Development need to engage. Especially on liquor laws but that's a whole other ball of earwax.

I'm not sure a Space Needle-esque monument is on the table for the prison site anymore. That was an idea floated by the governor and it didn't seem popular. Now they have SOM master-planning the site and it looks like they want to make it into a downtown-type area with a significant amount of green space.

I also heard through the grapevine recently that some historic preservationists successfully lobbied to preserve some of the prison buildings for adaptive reuse. Seems like that might throw a wrench into some of the state's more grandiose plans for the site.

[SLC PopPunk]

Originally Posted by Atlas

Any interest in this?

I would be down for a forum meet up.