Affordable units under construction in the city’s west side
Construction is actively underway on a large mixed-income development near the city’s North Temple Corridor. The project, the Cornell Street Apartments, is built up to the podium level and will add 146 units, 131 of which will be income restricted, at the 200 North block of Cornell Street (around 1500 West).
Cornell Street Apartments will consist of two, five-story buildings on 1.64 acres or previously vacant land. Both buildings will have 73 units with a ground floor parking podium below four levels of residential space. The units will be a mix of studio, one and two bedroom apartments.
Because the project is a block from the Power Station TRAX stop, the project will have 0.72 parking stalls per residential unit. The development will have 105 stalls with 66 stalls in the parking structure and 39 surface stalls to the west of the buildings.
Amenities will include an exercise room, balconies overlooking Cornell Street, a garden area and two outdoor plazas. The income-restricted units will be reserved for residents earning up to 60 percent Area Median Income (AMI).
The project is in the TSA (Transit Station Area) zone, requiring a Development Score Review. The development received 118 points, the bulk of which were earned for its low parking ratio, density and affordable housing component. Currently, developments must earn at least 125 points to bypass a review by the Planning Commission. The Cornell Street Apartments were reviewed before the TSA ordinance was revised so they need to earn just 100 points to bypass a commission review.
The Cornell Street Apartments will be a block north from the proposed mixed-use, mixed-income redevelopment of the Overnighter Motel at the 1400 West block of North Temple. The Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City selected Chicago-area developer Brinshore to redevelop the motel property. The project, currently referred to as SPARK!, will consist of 200 housing units, 89 of which will be income restricted in a five-story mixed-use building. The project will also include a 10,000 square foot daycare center that will be run by Neighborhood House and 4,000 square feet of ground-floor retail.
The Cornell project is one of two large income-restricted developments actively under construction in the city. Construction is also well underway on the Garden Lofts Apartments, a 272 unit affordable housing development at the 100 West block of 600 South. Like the Cornell Street Apartments, the Garden Lofts will be five stories and like the SPARK!, the Garden Lofts replace a former motel, the Royal Garden Inn. All of the Garden Loft’s units will be reserved for residents earning 60 percent AMI.
