Reader comments
Newhouse Hotel — a landmark to explosive end

Isn't it Ironic | 8:38 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

The irony here is that the hotels final owner, Earl Holding, has accomplished what the original owners of the Newhouse dreamed in the Grand America Hotel, just one block away. The Grand America now sits empty with low occupancy due to extrvagant room rates as a monument to Greed. One day we will witness the implosion of the Grand America too.

Poor gallery | 9:12 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

Too few pictures of this 'grandeur'. Nice story, though, Marc.

We have better pictures | 10:24 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

We rented a room on one of the top floors of the Hilton, and took pictures of the Newhouse implosion. We ended up with a series of five sequential, full-color images.

The sad part is the empty lot remains 26 years later, while Holding built that monstrosity a block away (which looks like it was decorated by a mortician or RV decorator).

Comments continue below

Anonymous | 10:25 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

its sad that its just a boring old parking lot now

observer | 10:36 a.m. Nov. 9, 2009

And the decades-old parking lot where the Newhouse once proudly stood is a monument to bad government and timid or purchased politicians who gave Holding the power of eminent domain to build the Grand America but wouldn't use it to take - at fair market value - the Newhouse land to build the new federal courthouse.

Scott | 1:14 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

The empty parking lot is now a symbol of Earl Holdings' power. When the federal government wanted to use the land to build the federal courthouse expansion, a common procedure is to test the soil first for contaminents before the land could be use for public use through the power of eminent domain.

It has been said that Earl Holding called U.S. Senator Orrin Hatch office for help. A phone call from the Senator to the Justice Department prevented the filing of the paperwork to access the proptery to test the soil. Without the soil test, the property was off limits for expansion of the new courthouse.

It now sits empty while the Odd Fellows Hall along with other business had to move for the expansion of the new courthouse.

Re:Scott | 3:42 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

You blame Holding for the economy.......when the real problem with Downtown is the line up of Democratic mayoral rule for the last 30 years......Aside from the Church investments there has been NO investment Downtown.........Kudoss to Earl for investing in SLC...because if I had to deal with Rocky, Dede, Becker I would invest else where.......SLC is the Detroit of the WEST, BECAUSE OF THE VOTERS OF SLC......PUT THE BLAME OF THE ECONOMY WHERE IT BELONGS----------------->OBUMMER

Huh? | 4:48 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

No one's blaming Holding for the economy. We're blaming him for destroying a beautiful building, so he could create a big blank hole in the middle of downtown.

By the way, what does "kudoss" mean? I can see that it rhyms with "loss".

Please DO NOT invest in SLC, "Re: Scott", because we don't need to go back 100 years. Unless, that is, you can buy back Main Street from the LDS.

just me | 4:49 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

it is tragic that the prime commericial space adjacent to the Wells Fargo Building and Galliger Plaza won't support a business. And the space directly East of the Wells Fargo Building..prime commerical space..is vacant.
My suggestion would be to have many more activities in the downtown area..farmers markets...perhaps use some streets for additional markets...like they have in london...you've got to get people to go downtown. Especially on the weekend.

Jordan T. | 5:55 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

Why didn't anyone think of building a new office tower or a condominium highrise on the site of the former Hotel Newhouse?

Oh, that's right... Nobody cares about downtown Salt Lake, as it falls victim to businesses choosing to locate for cheaper in Sandy instead.

RE RE Scott | 6:10 p.m. Nov. 9, 2009

You haven't a clue. It is funny how clueless you are.

Tracy | 2:43 p.m. Nov. 14, 2009

I would love to see more pictures of this wonderful old hotel in its prime. Especially of the interior rooms. Any one know where to look?

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