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LDS Church Unveils Conceptual Plans for Massive Redevelopment Project
The wait is over.
Nearly three years to the date of their initial announcement,
officials from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
(LDS Church) unveiled the conceptual plan for a massive mixed-use
redevelopment project in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City
that promises to revitalize the area.
The potentially $1.5 billion project is located on 20 acres
spread across three blocks in Salt Lake City, part of which
is adjacent to the faith's historic Temple Square. The project
is slated to begin in November with the demolition of ZCMI
Center and Crossroads Plaza - two out-dated, archaic fortress-style
shopping malls, along with the Key Bank Tower.
In its place will be what LDS presiding bishop David Burton
called "City Creek Center," a state-of-the-art mixed-use
development of retail stores, office space and residential
units amid six acres of green space. Burton said the project
will be highlighted by fountains, man-made streams and other
water features that will flow through the center of the development
and represents the historic south fork of City Creek.
"It's fun to come with something to show instead of just
something to tell," Burton said to City Council members
and others in attendance. "We're grateful for your patience
- we hope the wait will be worthwhile. We're committed to
doing this project the right way."
Burton said contracts for the demolition of the two shopping
malls and Key Bank Tower were awarded to Salt Lake City-based
firms Big-D Construction and Okland Construction Company.
Contract amounts were not disclosed.
The Church is developing the property through its commercial
real estate arm, Property Reserve, Inc. (PRI). Other key companies
on board include Taubman Centers Inc. of Bloomfield Hills,
Mich., the developer overseeing a majority of the retail,
Harmon's Grocery of Salt Lake City, and Cowboy Partners of
Salt Lake City.
"We're excited that two AGC members were awarded the
initial demolition contracts," said Rich Thorn, president/CEO
of the Associated General Contractors of Utah. "This
project will have a huge impact on the construction industry
in a positive way. It will be a tremendous facelift for a
city that is going through constant change. It'll give citizens
across the state the chance to benefit from the investment.
It's really exciting for our community."
The retail portion of the project will house up to three national
department stores (likely Nordstrom's, Macy's and one other),
and an array of complimenting retail shops. In addition, there
will be nearly two million sq. ft. of new and refurbished
office space, and up to 766 residential units spread out between
three condominium units, and other units above retail space.
A new 56,000 sq. ft. Harmon's grocery store will be built
on the block east of the main development. Four levels of
underground parking - 5,600 stalls - will also be constructed.
"This is a very complex project, a little like a Swiss
watch in how all the pieces fit together," said William
Taubman, chief operating officer of Taubman Centers Inc. of
Bloomfield Hills, Michigan. "This will be the dominant
retail project in Salt Lake City. It will bring the best of
urban design into a retail shopping district that will function
as a first-class regional shopping center but also will reflect
the heritage of Salt Lake City."
Burton said architectural drawings will be completed in fall
of 2007, with infrastructure work beginning around that time.
The project is expected to be completed sometime around mid-2007.
"This will take a long time to develop - these are very
complicated projects," said Taubman. "We ask for
your patience as we work on it."
The public is being encourages by the LDS church and the developers
to offer their opinions of the project. Details of the conceptual
plan are available on the Internet at downtownrising.com.
Several open houses will be held at sites throughout Salt
Lake City in coming months.
New Stevens-Henager College Started in Boise
Ground was broken Sept. 26 on the new Stevens-Henager College
campus in Boise. Layton Construction Company of Sandy, Utah,
was selected to build the facility, the second such project
Layton has worked on for Stevens-Henager College. Layton previously
constructed a campus for the college in Murray, Utah.
Designed by MHTN Architects of Salt Lake City, the 83,000
sq. ft., five-story facility sits at Overland Road and I-84.
The exterior of the building will be EIFS (Exterior Insulation
and Finish System, more commonly recognized as a 'stucco'
finish) combined with ribbon windows and glass curtain walls,
which will be highlighted by exterior lighting.
The interior lobby will showcase granite flooring. Restrooms
are upgraded with finer finishes including porcelain tiling
throughout. Completion is anticipated for July 2007.
In addition to the new Stevens-Henager building, other current
Layton projects in Idaho include Boise State University's
Bronco Stadium Press Box and SkySuite Addition, in addition
to the Kings Corner Overpass project in Nampa.
ITD to Use $14.4 M on Four Highway Projects
The Idaho Transportation Board voted this fall to use $14.4
million in additional federal funding to finance four statewide
highway improvement projects.
The additional funds come from a redistribution of federal
highway monies not used by other states. Idaho is expected
to receive $14.4 million, a record amount. Since the inception
of the federal highway program in the 1950s, Idaho has invested
all of its annual federal funds.
Projects funded include the:
widening of Sunnyside Road in Idaho Falls, $5.5 million;
resurfacing of Interstate 15 from McCammon to the South
5th Interchange in Pocatello, $1.7 million;
resurfacing of Yale Road in Cassia County, $2.8 million;
and
installation statewide of durable pavement striping, $6.6
million.
The transportation board committed to Idaho Falls Mayor Jared
Fuhriman that the Sunnyside project would be a top priority
if additional funding became available. The city was scheduled
to receive federal urban funding in 2010 to widen approximately
two miles of Sunnyside Road from Holmes Avenue to South Yellowstone
from two lanes to five.
This section of road will be the last of Sunnyside Road between
Ammon Avenue and Interstate 15 to be widened to five lanes.
ITD will open the Sunnyside Interchange from I-15 to the Yellowstone
Highway this fall.
Transportation engineers were concerned about the impact of
narrowing the highway from five lanes to two would have on
traffic safety and congestion.
The project will begin in the spring and should be completed
by fall 2007. Idaho Falls will pay for construction costs
above the $5.5 million allocated by the transportation board.
Canopy V Project Breaks Ground
Canopy Properties of Lindon, Utah broke ground in September
on Canopy V, a $10 Million, 95,000 square-foot high-tech
office building in Lindon. Utah Governor Jon Huntsman, Jr.,
presented a keynote address recognizing the contributions
of Canopy and its founder, Ray Noorda, to Utah's successful
high-tech economy.
"There are many different ways of giving back to our
community," said Governor Huntsman. "When Ray
Noorda founded Canopy in 1995 to encourage the development
and growth of small high-tech companies, he began a major
contribution to the long-term economic health and vibrancy
of our state. Many Utah families benefit from the jobs created
by Canopy's investments."
Canopy V is a new three-story building will meet the needs
of high-tech businesses by providing world-class security
features coupled with a robust and speedy communications
infrastructure. The company currently operates four other
office buildings as part of its Lindon campus.
"Canopy Properties and Canopy Ventures work together
to support growing companies," said Ron Heinz, managing
director of Canopy Ventures. "Canopy Ventures provides
these companies with much-needed venture funding while Canopy
Properties provides them with top-quality office space with
room to grow as they expand."
The building is scheduled for occupancy in December, 2007.
The development is located just east of I-15 in Lindon.
Canopy Properties owns approximately 20 additional acres
upon which it may expand in the future.
The project was designed by MHTN Architects of Salt Lake
City, and is being constructed by Okland Construction of
Salt Lake City.
Jordan Valley Water Conservancy Prepares for Upgrade
Eaton Architecture Inc. of Salt Lake City was recently
awarded the design of the new office and storage facility
for the Jordan Valley Water Conservancy District. This 30,000
sq. ft. building is expected to provide significant additional
office space to meet present and anticipated need of the
Water Supply Department.
The building will be located near Camp Williams in Utah.
Eaton Architecture will provide programming and full design
services. The site of the building will be important to
the function and character of the final design configuration.
The facility is scheduled to be constructed during spring
of 2007 with occupancy in the late fall of 2007.
Ground Broken on Elementary School in Plain City
Ground was broken recently on a new elementary school in
Plain City, Utah, for Weber County School District.
Designed by VCBO Architecture of Salt Lake City, the $11.9
million, 83,000 sq. ft. school is designed as a small learning
community, divided into six different communities. There
are several spaces that provide quick resource access. The
gymnasium and the dinning room are uniquely designed in
an 'L' shape allowing for one or both sides to be opened.
The school also features outdoor learning courtyards.
The project is expected to be completed by August 2007 and
is being constructed by Comtrol, Inc., Salt Lake City.
The Pointe Development Announced
A new office park development in Salt Lake County was announced
at a groundbreaking by Sorenson Associates of Salt Lake
City in late September, and promises to add to the flurry
of high-end office space being constructed across the Salt
Lake Valley.
The Pointe is being planned as a $150 million office park
built on 43 acres adjacent to I-15 at 65 E. Highland Drive
in Draper, Utah, and will be constructed over the course
of the next 10 years, according to developer James Lee Sorenson.
The project is expected to provide approximately 600,000
sq. ft. of high end, or Class A, office space. In addition
to office space, The Pointe will include 24,000 square feet
of retail space and roughly 2,700 parking stalls and will
stand as Draper's largest commercial office development
R&O Building new Wal-Mart, Scuba Shop
Construction has begun on a new Wal-Mart Supercenter in
Centerville, Utah by R&O Construction. The center will
be located at 400 West Parrish Lane on 22.46 acres. The
store itself will be 204,270 square ft. Wal-Mart Supercenters
combine groceries and general merchandise under one roof.
Construction on the project will take 11 months, which means
building through the winter. The completion date is mid-June,
2007.
R&O also recently started construction on Adventure
West Scuba, a new dive shop in South Ogden, Utah. The project
will include 10,000 sq. ft. of retail, plus the scuba diving
center with a pool. Adventure West is owned by Doug and
Lynette Gilbert.
James Chamberlain of Ogden is the architect on the project.
The center should open the end of February 2007.
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