Big box retail is getting new neighbors in Ballpark neighborhood
The Ballpark neighborhood is dominated by suburban-style development: big box retailers, surface parking lots, car dealerships and fast-food restaurants. The area is ripe for more urban development thanks to its proximity to the freeway, the Ballpark TRAX station at 200 West and 1300 South and Smith’s Ballpark.
Promises of development emerged after the Smith’s Ballpark opened in 1994 and again after the TRAX station opened in 1999. Large residential projects have been slow to develop in the 20 years since the ballpark opened, but momentum is building for residential development in the neighborhood.
Construction is underway on a four building, 251 residential unit apartment complex at 1400 South just off 300 West. The site is directly south of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store at the intersection of 1300 South and 300 West.
The project will have entrances from 300 West, High Avenue and 1400 South. High Avenue and 1400 South are currently dead end streets and will have their terminus at the development.
Variances from the planning commission were needed to accommodate the project. Developments are currently required to have all buildings front a public street. Thanks to the commission’s variance approval, one of the buildings will not front a public street.
The property is sandwiched between the TRAX rail line and business along 300 West, which made meeting the public street requirement difficult.
According to Wasatch Advantage Group, the developer on the project, the variance was necessary to maximize density on the 8.19 acre site.
The project will have three building types and enhanced side elevations to make the area feel more urban. The buildings will be built right up to the street to better engage the street level. Trees will also be planted along the street scape, to enhance the community feel of the development.
Two of the project’s four buildings will be four-stories tall while the remaining two will be three-stories. Most of the units will be two-bedroom units, but three and one-bedroom units will also be available.
Amenities will include a clubhouse, pool, spa and small playground.
The development is in partnership with the Utah Housing Corporation. The project will be 100 percent income restricted. Prospective tenants must earn less than 60 percent of the area median income ($28,860 for an individual $41,220 for a family of four).
The housing development will replace what has been a vacant, debris filled blighted lot. A building on the site was demolished in 2008.
