A new development proposal aims to bring additional housing to the Lower Avenues by adding five residential units behind a historic 1950’s fourplex, according to a rezoning request from local developer Will & Alex LLC. 

The property, located near the intersection of 3rd Ave. and N Street, houses a two-story brick fourplex along with six garages hidden from street view. 

According to the proposal, the developers intend to demolish existing detached garages behind the property and build new units above the rebuilt garages, while maintaining the fourplex. A freestanding carport would also be added, bringing the total number of parking spaces to seven.

Will & Alex says that its primary goal is to increase housing options in the neighborhood, which like many metropolitan areas, has been impacted by rising land costs and low housing supply. The new units will be out of direct view from the street in an effort to maintain the neighborhood’s aesthetic, according to the proposal. 

The rezoning bid, filed Thursday with the Salt Lake City Planning Division, comes during increasing calls for land-use reform in Salt Lake City. 

A recent Envision Utah survey indicated that 78% of Utahns are in favor of mixed housing types, a shift that Will & Alex says this project will support. The Lower Avenues already has several multi-family buildings within the same zone, and the new project seeks to blend with that existing density.

Immediately north of the property, developers are nearing completion on a set of townhomes fronting 3rd Ave. That project stalled for months due to apparent financing issues, but its developers say the for-sale townhomes should be completed soon and see high interest from potential buyers.

Those townhomes are being built in the R-MU-35 zone. The Will & Alex property is currently zoned SR-1A, a small-lot zoning type that’s common throughout the Avenues, which was largely developed before the city’s modern zoning. 

Will & Alex is asking the city to rezone its property to R-MU-35.

The developer also said that the project aligns with broader city initiatives such as “Growing SLC,” which emphasizes responsible density and alternative transportation options. With bus routes nearby on 3rd Avenue, South Temple, and Virginia Street, the development is intended to appeal to residents seeking an urban convenience while helping meet the housing demand, the proposal says. 

One of the five new units will be designated as affordable, in line with the city’s goal of addressing housing affordability, according to the proposal. The unit’s rent will be based on 80% of the area’s median income, as defined by the city’s Housing and Urban Development guidelines. 

The structure, which currently rents its two-bedroom units for $1,200 per month and its one-bedroom unit for $800 per month, will continue to house current tenants during and after the new construction. 

The developer has enlisted Kenton Peters of KP2 Architects to ensure that the design adheres to the guidelines of the Salt Lake City Planning Department and the Historic Landmark Commission.