Reader comments
Sugar House crater must be filled

I love how Developers always blame a city's Planning Commission when they don't get things handed to them on a plate. Well guess what, it's the PC's job to ensure the good of the community.

It's the Developers poor judgment and timing that's at fault. Besides, who needs another empty building, let along a fig freaking hole?

Wait a minute folks! I can remember back over the years that Salt Lake City, and downtown interests delayed and put Sugar House on the back burner time and time again as we made efforts to move this vital business district forward. the city would come out and "landscape" the area and say, "look, see how nice it all looks now", and then retreat.

Now, when times are really tough, and there is this big downturn in our economy is no time to turn the heat up on a developer who has Sugar House's long term interests at hand. Cool your heels downtown, give Sugar House the breathing room it needs. Just because there seems to be unlimited money in downtown coffers is no reason to once again, beat down the efforts of the Sugar House people to make a major, needed improvement that is caught in this financial downturn. Be patient with your little brothers, the smaller but still important suburban business centers around the city. Those that have survived the moves to the county should be nurtured and helped, not threatened in this time of crisis.

The problem is safety, If the money to build the site isn't there, they need to fill in the giant hole. In all honesty, You shouldn't begin a project until money is in hand and the project can be completed.

I fault the developer, he was too quick to start running with the project, before he had the money. Now the core center of Sugarhouse is an empty lot/hole. No desire to come to downtown Sugarhouse anymore! That hurts all the stores and shops in that area.

I fault the City for letting the developer carry out his plan knowing the financial backing was not present.

As for safety, Yes fill in the hole, or should we wait until the developer files for bankruptcy and then we are stuck with a gaping eye sore on our hands?

The Planning Commission should never have allowed the demolition permit until the building permit and the financing were in hand.

And I don't for a minute believe the Developer's story that the $80,000 cost to landscape the site will make or break the development.

For this type of project the return on investment will likely be in the millions and $80,000 is insignificant compared to what he will make if all of the condo units sell and the office space fills up. And $80,000 is also insignificant to the amount of financing needed for construction; what's $80,000 when it will cost $40-60 Million to build the project.

I bet the real story is that he is getting cold feet about the project because the housing and office markets are not looking good and don't show any signs of turning around in the next 3 years. He doesn't want to build a building that will sit empty. He probably plans to leave the site vacant for 5 years or so until the market recovers.

That will be nice for those of us who drive or walk by that corner every day.

Your comments are spot on, Sugar House Resident. Mecham is just going to leave this hole there for years to come.

Most here *knew* this would be the outcome, once the developer was allowed to demolish part of the vital Sugar House community.

To Maynard Sorensen: What? Didn't you notice how Sugar House developed into a vitality not seen elsewhere, WITHOUT much help from the city? It was only when the planning commission interceded on the behalf of a get-rich-quick developer, that the Sugar House business area turned ugly.

Maynard, I think you were being ironic. Right?

"Forward" doesn't mean giant buildings that sit empty and are outdated in five years, like just up the block.

The reason there is a big hole in the ground instead of a building is the same reason for the current meltdown of the financial world...government meddling. If you want the project finished get the Planning Commission's big nose out of the project! Look at what government planning has done to Holladay.

PS. Listen to Mr. Sorensen. If he is the same Maynard Sorensen I know, his family owned Southeast Furniture in Sugarhouse for decades.