Builders buy more land, plan for a bigger new housing development in the Granary District
After picking up another piece of property to build on, a developer has resubmitted plans for a new apartment building in the Granary District that would now include more studio units.
The SoHi Apartments would include 153 units — up from 104 when it was originally submitted in October 2020 and approved this spring. All of the new units are studio apartments.
It would continue the quick buildout of multi-family housing in an area that is primed for redevelopment that includes Central 9th and Granary, both of which are in the city’s Ballpark neighborhood.
At 903 S. 400 W., SoHi wouldn’t be far from the action in Central 9th, a neighborhood whose western boundary ends in the middle of 300 West.
The apartment, if approved and built, would benefit from significant improvements the city is making to 300 West and 900 South, including a multi-use path on the latter and a two-way cycle track on the former.
If the city and Utah Transit Agency ever resume talks of expanding light-rail through town, the abandoned rail line that runs along 400 West is on the short list of candidates for an extended TRAX line.
“SOHI Apartments aims to be a modern compliment to the artspace apartments across the street to the north and aims to revitalize and set a high standard for further development of the neighborhood,” the developers wrote in their design review application filed this month.
The building would be a five-over-two, with a two-story concrete parking podium under five stories of wood-framed apartments. The garage would include 170 parking stalls for 153 housing units.
Project details
Studio: 113 units
One-bedroom: 20 units
Two-bedroom: 20 units
Total units: 153 units
In its previous rendition, SoHi would have included 104 parking stalls for 104 units on three levels of parking, showing the developer has been committed to a 1:1 ratio of off-street parking.
Renderings show the building activated toward 400 West at ground level, with three sides of largely blank walls.
When built, it appears the ground floor would include private amenities, like a lounge, gym and other amenities. The renderings show office spaces, leasing, gym and garage entry on the west side of the building.
While the development would be within the Granary District redevelopment area, it is just across the border of what would have been a double-whammy of financial incentives.
Salt Lake city’s cluster of opportunity zones — a tax benefit created by the 2017 federal tax law — ends on the north side of 900 South. SoHi is on the southern end.
Developers have gobbled up land north of 900 South and south of Downtown to capitalize on the easy financing scenarios created by the tax law.
Still, the application is moving through the city’s process. Because it was already approved in a largely similar form, it is likely to be approved again. Construction would likely begin next year.
Construction details
Owner: TLG Company
Architect: Beecher Walker Architecture/Interior
Engineering: PEPG Consulting
Landscape Architect: Beecher Walker Architecture/Interiors
