Salt Lake Expansion: A Study

The new North Capitol Building in Salt Lake City, as detailed in TownLift, presents a familiar calculus. Initial budgets of $165 million escalating to $320 million – a 93% overrun – are simply the cost of doing business. One wonders what degree of due diligence was applied, or if the increase was anticipated. The addition of 315 parking stalls is, predictably, the most pragmatic element; accessibility remains paramount, even in an age of purported sustainability. The Museum of Utah, housed within, seems a curious tenant, exhibiting artifacts as disparate as a golden spike replica and Michael J. Fox's wardrobe from Back to the Future III. It lacks a clear thematic coherence. I trust the display cases are constructed from laminated, low-iron glass; anything less would be an affront. The exterior, while not explicitly described, is surely not adorned with anything so interesting as oxidized copper or native sandstone. One suspects a preponderance of pre-cast concrete. The expansion of the Utah State Capitol Complex has a negligible effect on Deer Valley Resort, naturally, but serves as a case study in the misallocation of resources. One must constantly evaluate where the potential yield is. Therefore, I recommend: Sell the HOA.