What's New To Utah? (Hurricane: real estate market, house, neighborhoods)

[illinoisboy]

Ok, I am still very interested in what may be going on out there, but dogmom, I have another question for you. Being from Southern Utah and all, which National Park do you think is the best? We were reading the travel section in our local paper, and this weekend their main article was about Zion National Park. Thay had said that they thought that was the most beautiful park out there. What do you think? Can you suggest anything else we absolutely need to do while we're out there?

Thanks alot!!!

Oh, and for everybody else, if I find anything else worth sharing, I'll make sure to do so.

[Aerorick]

Nobody mentioned the other things new in Utah. Such as automobiles , internet (sometimes), running water, jobs paying above $5/hr and a democrat or two.

[illinoisboy]

Alright, so I was looking up hiking around the SLC valley, cuz i'm gonna be vacationing there this summer (cant wait!) and I somehow happened to stumble upon some huge project being proposed in Ogden

It sounds like they are pretty much sold on the whole idea of adding a whole new ski resort up there east of the city. The project would include adding a gondola in the city center leading up to the pedestrian only resort village up in the mountains. Yeah, they said that they plan on not building any roads in the entire project. To me, it sounds like another Park City Resort.

They also say they will be redeveloping and adding onto the Mt Ogden Golf Course, with new, big homes and a whole new part of the golf course.

Here are some Q&A excerpts from Ogden's website;

1. What will happen to our trails and access?

Trails will remain open to the public. In fact, the resort will create more trails and access for the community than exists today. Some foothill trails would be relocated on a dedicated trail through the redesigned golf course.

2. Will roads be constructed up the mountain or in Malan’s Basin?

Chris Peterson, owner of Malan’s Basin, and Ogden City are working on making this a roadless project, even for construction. The use of a construction tram may make this concept feasible.

4. Will the parks be preserved, hurt or improved?

The parks will be preserved and improved. There have been many improvements needed at Mt. Ogden Park and Marquardt Park that can now be completed as part of this project. There is some City-owned land east of the golf course that will be included in the golf course sale.

5. What are the benefits for the average person in Ogden?

More trails and improvements to existing trails—1,200 new jobs--$5 million in new annual property tax revenue—more shopping downtown—transit between commuter rail and WSU (less cars on Harrison)—greatly improved Mt. Ogden Golf Course with a locals’ discount to keep green fees in the same area they are today—eliminate losses to golf course ($320,000/year) and greatly reduce, if not eliminate, Conference Center losses (almost $1 million/year)—new recreational opportunities with discounts for Ogden residents.

10. What are the advantages and disadvantages for Weber State University?

Advantages: This will make Weber the only university in the world that is connected to a ski resort. Students and faculty could literally ski between classes. They will receive international exposure as a result. This could easily bring 1,000 new students from out of state, which would bring more than $9 million per year of new revenue from tuition.

It also provides additional money that can be used to complete the university’s master plan. The old McKay-Dee property could be purchased with this money and parking garages could be constructed on campus to provide more parking and allow for some existing parking to be used for new buildings.

Disadvantages: Weber will receive international exposure and that could change the “commuter college” reputation. Students and faculty could ski between classes (worse grades perhaps!).

13. Are there other business people considering further investment if the project moves forward?

The city is receiving visits weekly from people who are going to invest in Ogden if this project moves forward. They will bring jobs, retail shopping and recreation to our community.

15. What effect is the “ski hub” concept having on economic development in our community?

Already six ski companies have announced their move to Ogden. A seventh will announce in April. Investors are coming from all over the country to look at downtown for potential properties.

16. Who benefits from these investments?

Everyone will benefit. Even if you don’t ride the gondola, ski, hike, mountain bike, rock climb or anything else that will be offered, you will benefit from the tax money that will come in (most of which will go to our schools). Everyone will also benefit from the additional retail shopping that will come to downtown. The 1,200 new jobs that will come will be of benefit to those of low income as well as college graduates, looking to stay in Ogden. The economic prosperity of our community is the proverbial rising tide that will lift all boats.

24. Are there any environmental benefits to the proposed plan?

There are many environmental benefits to the plan including less carbon monoxide in the air as a result of the downtown gondola. It provides the ability for Snowbasin patrons to use the gondola and not drive to the resort. If this happens with just 10 percent of their customers, it will reduce acres of parking, as well as eliminating approximately 15,000 pounds of emissions in the air per year.


It all sounds pretty exciting! I hope the plan falls through!

Plans can be seen here or here

[dogmom]

Originally Posted by illinoisboy

Ok, I am still very interested in what may be going on out there, but dogmom, I have another question for you. Being from Southern Utah and all, which National Park do you think is the best? We were reading the travel section in our local paper, and this weekend their main article was about Zion National Park. Thay had said that they thought that was the most beautiful park out there. What do you think? Can you suggest anything else we absolutely need to do while we're out there?

Thanks alot!!!

Oh, and for everybody else, if I find anything else worth sharing, I'll make sure to do so.

Well, definitely have to spend some time at Zion, but it's gonna be blistering hot so prepare accordingly!...and of course another must see is Bryce Canyon, will be hot there but cooler than Zion... I would love to get over to the east side of the state, to Grand Staircase and Moab, maybe one of these days...

anyone else have some ideas??

[lolagranola]

New in Utah...

Well, we are anxiously waiting for the train to run in Davis!! What, another week?? This should cut out maybe $100 of gas a week!

[Heatherr]

Personally out of Zion and Bryce - my fav is Bryce. I am right by Lake Powell so our entire economy here runs around the Lake. Best news in several years is coming out - Lake Powell expected to increase by 50 feet of water. That would bring it to 60 feet low instead of the current 110. Lake elevations should actually start going up this week!

I've written quiet a bit about the lake, and the experimental floods that occurred this spring as well as some photos on my blog which is in my profile.
mod edit

I worked at the dam for many years and at the main marina, Wahweap, so water is sort of my thing.

Another place to hit is the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The roads don't officially open till May 15th but that is just around the corner.

Also while in the Lake Powell area, there are boat trips to Rainbow Bridge - sort of pricey but well worth it. Also you can catch a float trip down the last part of Glen Canyon below the dam on the Colorado River to Lee's Ferry. No whitewater but a very enjoyable ride and there are ruins there as well the tour stops at.

Speaking of Lee's a driving tour down to Lee's (about 40 minutes outside of Page, AZ) is always a great way to spend an afternoon. The historic crossing of the Colorado River by the pioneers - there are still homes and a graveyard with a heck of a story.

At the Visitors Center at Glen Canyon Dam you can do a free tour of the dam and also pick up a very inexpensive book about the Walking Tour of Lee's Ferry.

Also right out of Page are the world famous Slot Canyons. You can catch a tour into Upper Antelope canyon and spend a few hours in one of the most unique places on earth. Overland Canyon is my favorite co. in Page to do that tour with.

My son's website has a ton of photos from Antelope on it
Rankin Studio | David Rankin, Dinosaur Discoveries, Flash Flood Footage, Paleo Artist, Photography, and More! © 2007 David Rankin as well as some cool footage of local flash floods.

In Big Water, Utah the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument has some wonderful dinosaur bones and fossilized skin on display as well as some awesome art work. The building itself is a piece of art being shaped like an ancient ammonite.

Hope this gives you some more ideas!

[illinoisboy]

Thanks everybody for all your ideas! I'll be sure to check them out! Yeah, that guy I was talking to said that the Grand Staircase was something not to miss, and he, too did the north rim of the Grand Canyon, away from all the tourists. He said he took a helicopter ride down to the bottom and hiked to a cool waterfall. He told us to be careful though, cuz if you're not there in time for the helicopter to pick you up, they'll charge 1000+ dollars to come get you!

He said that his wife had stepped on a rattlesnake sunbathing itself on the rocks. The snake didn't do anything besides slither away really fast. He told us you have to reallly be careful about the pea rocks when you're hiking because you could easily slip and fall down a 3000 foot cliff - and die.

Besides that, it all sounds really exciting!

Besides all this, does anyone have anything to say about that Malan's Basin project? I noticed that everything I had read was from 2006, but there was nothing on them cancelling it, or moving forward with the project. I am confused.

[bob rulz]

Pretty much all of southern Utah is an absolutely spectacular place to visit.

[SouthernBelleInUtah]

Originally Posted by illinoisboy

OOOOOOK.............

I guess this is a dumb thread since no one has said anything but I just want to throw some things in:

DOWNTOWN RISING
In my opinion, this is probably one of the biggest projects going on in the country. Their website is saying that they basically want to transform the entire downtown area of SLC. Their talking about bigger, taller buildings, more artsy buildings, increased landscaping, improving roads, adding more mass transit, everything!

The one thing that sticks out to me the most is the whole City Creek Center development. They say its gonna cost 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS! (YES, WITH A B!!!) That is almost as much as it cost them to build the Bellagio in Vegas, and thats pretty nice! I think the whole thing sounds pretty cool, but how come they have to take away all these other malls in the process? Why can't they build this thing on the outskirts of downtown, and mabe as a result, in the long run they will increase the size of downtown? I don't know, thats just my opinion

ST GEORGE
OK so everyone is moving here for the lifestyle, but where are all the jobs? If they are gonna have a population of over 600,000 like they say, than shouldn't they be doing something like SLC is with it's downtown?

I'm sorry, I just have all these ideas in my head right now...

Ummm, it has to be downtown 'cause that's where the Temple is and the church wants to protect the area around it. And the church is the one doing the developing.

[illinoisboy]

What I am saying is that instead of completley getting rid of two malls downtown, why don't they instead build CC in an area outside of the "main downtown area" in an effort to make the whole downtown bigger?

Anyways, whatever, it dosen't matter.