Another market-rate project continues the residential explosion in the west Gateway area
The Depot District north of 200 South continues its residential explosion with The Huxley, a 258-unit market-rate project to be built at the NW corner of 100 South and 600 West.
In an area known for its warehouses, railyards, nightlife, and transient population, ae urbia architects have designed an eight-story, six-over-two-podium building. It will provide 210 stalls of structured parking on two levels, an .8 to 1 ratio in the most transit-rich neighborhood in the state.
The developers, locals Beehive Spuds Partners, are planning their 258 units to be distributed among studios, one- and two-bedrooms, nearly all of which “will have either an exterior balcony or a juliette-style balcony off of the main living space,” according to their planned development application.
Introducing their project, the developers explain, “The exterior design of The Huxley is an homage to the Art Deco style, which was so popular during the time when many of the downtown historic buildings were built. The building design is architecturally pleasing and will greatly enhance the visual character of downtown.”
The locale
Located in one of Downtown’s organic nightlife clusters, the building will sit across the street from the Sun Trapp dance club, Metro Music Hall, and the Utah Arts Alliance. A half block away on 100 South sits The Complex, a multiple-stage venue familiar to many concert-goers, whose future is in doubt after its owners were indicted by the FBI for laundering marijuana cash in 2018.
The Huxley will demolish four structures on 600 West – among them two duplexes and a single-family home. The only property that the developer doesn’t own on the 600 West block face sits in the hands of the city’s Redevelopment Agency, which owns most of the rest of the block.
The developers wrote in their application that the RDA plans “to demolish this house and rebuild South Temple. This means that eventually, our building will extend the length of the block facing East along 600 West between South Temple and 100 South.”
The zoning and the planned development proposal
The area’s G-MU Gateway Mixed-Use zoning allows buildings up to 75 ft, 90 ft if the developer includes 20% affordable units in the project.
Beehive Spuds is asking for 85 ft – essentially an extra story for their building.
Their application emphasizes that the building “will have storefront windows along the street face to enhance the street level and engage pedestrians.” They probably mean “storefront-like windows,” given that the project plans no active ground-floor use beyond the entryway at the corner of 100 South and 600 West.
G-MU zoning does not require active ground-floor uses or retail. At ground-level the building must have 40% glass coverage.
There is no limit to building- or facade length in the G-MU zone. The facade length of The Huxley seems to be under 300 ft.
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