City launches design competition for Marmalade lot
After years of planning and surviving the Great Recession, urban renewal is happening in Marmalade. The Marmalade branch of the Salt Lake Public Library is all but finished and construction is set to begin on the Marmalade Townhomes, a 12-unit project planned for the area directly east of the library. Both projects are part of the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake’s Marmalade Block development for the city block between 500 and 600 North on the east side of 300 West.
Capitalizing on the momentum in and around the Marmalade Block, the RDA and the Utah Heritage Foundation have launched a design competition for an RDA owned vacant lot at 524 Arctic Court, just east of the future site of the Marmalade Townhomes.
The Salt Lake City Council acting as the RDA Board of Directors approved the contest in its December meeting. The RDA will lead the construction of the infill project after final designs are approved. In the same meeting, council members stipulated that the final project will have an affordable housing component, around 80 percent of the Area Median Income (AMI) and be energy efficient.
Utah Heritage foundation came up with the idea of the design challenge. The RDA and UHF will also collaborate to restore the 528 home through the Preservation at Work project. The first Preservation at Work home was a 1,500-square-foot home at 571 N. Pugsley St, half a block west of the Marmalade Block.
The RDA purchased the 524 lot and an adjacent historic bungalow at 528 Arctic Court, in 2015 with plans to renovate both lots and incorporate them into the Marmalade Block development. The RDA and UHF will also collaborate to restore the 528 home.
Participants will need to follow the national historic design guidelines. The site is 0.11 acres and the design must include off street parking for at least two cars.
Participants may submit their designs to UHF offices at Memorial House in Memory Grove Park (375 N. Canyon Road) up until the February 29th deadline. Judges will select a jury winner and the public will select a people’s choice winner, both winning entries will receive a $2500 cash prize. The RDA may also select an entry team to work as design consultants on the final project. Entries will be featured at the Marmalade library.
The winners will be announced during the Heritage Awards at the end of March. The competition is open to any interested individuals regardless of experience.
Follow the link to learn more.
*This article has been corrected
