This morning on Radio West, the fate of Abravanel Hall in Salt Lake City, Utah was discussed. Doug Fabrizio interviewed four of the key players. It is definitely worth a listen. Notably, Mike Maughn of Smith Entertainment Group refused over and over to state SEG’s preferences, leaving it all in the hands of Salt Lake…
But the fight is not over yet. Last night, the Salt Lake City Landmarks Commission unanimously approved a recommendation to nominate Abravanel Hall for the National Register of Historic Places. Many people testified to the merits and emotional connection they had to the building, including several of the Utah Symphony musicians. That’s all very, very…
The Salt Lake City Convention Center used to occupy the corner, as it looks in this photo. Now a new Hyatt Regency commands the corner, taking some of the space of the CC but providing the “convention center hotel” that boosters have been wanting for many years. Since the pandemic, conventions have changed, with most…
Here is the text of the #SEG zoning amendment testimony to @SLCCouncil Tuesday night (8/12): The Salt Lake Tribune also commented on this here. The Planning Commission turned this proposal down in a dramatic Unanimous vote and There is one simple reason why – we believe that the public deserves to see the plan for how their…
Abravanel Hall and Salt Lake County Master Plan Back before all the kerfuffle with Abravanel Hall started, Salt Lake County commissioned a master plan for the renovation and expansion of the building from local architects Sparano and Mooney (just a note, I am friends with the principals and think they are great designers). The process…
One of the primary goals of Salt Lake County, Salt Lake City and the SEG (Smith Entertainment. Group) is to create a better pedestrian connection from West Temple to the Delta Center. Right now there is an overbuilt convention center in the way. The SEG plan calls for building a new street that plows a…
Salt Lake City should provide contingent funding to Salt Lake County if they decide to preserve Abravanel Hall.
Can we keep Abravanel Hall and Make the Whole Thing Lots Better in the Process? This ALTERNATIVE plan builds an east-west connection from the Delta Center to the NEW ALLEY LOBBY of Abravanel Hall, which is separate from the existing lobby. The ALLEY LOBBY will have new elevators and restrooms, improved wheelchair access to all…
We have no real plan from any of the parties involved, so let’s just speculate. The image above (my speculation) is that SEG wants to create a new “street” or plaza in the middle of the blocks that contain the convention center, UMOCA, and Abravanel Hall. This street, if it goes straight through, would plow…
Following the announcement that Abravanel Hall might be demolished, I wrote this which was published in the Salt Lake Tribune: Abravanel Hall and the Hockey-Monster The new NHL franchise in Salt Lake City could be a great boost to downtown. Unfortunately, the plans are a big secret instead of the timely public airing it should…
