Groundbreaking on Harvest at Marmalade to complete city redevelopment project
ClearWater Homes and Salt Lake City’s Redevelopment Agency threw a party this week to announce the final piece in developing a challenging site in the Marmalade. This unique neighborhood west of Capitol Hill has been transitioning for decades, and many see this project as ensuring the neighborhood’s rebirth.
Located on the east side of 300 West between 500 and 600 North, the site has been parcelled together by the RDA since in the 1990s. It currently hosts the Marmalade Branch City Library and The Grove townhomes along Arctic Court (250 West).
A contract for the site was previously awarded to Howa Development, an agreement terminated by the city in 2010 after the housing crash. The RDA turned away from seeking a master developer and instead created five parcels on the site to be developed separately.
The last two parcels were awarded to ClearWater in 2014, and its building permit was secured in February 2019. Ground was broken on June 5.
Project details
At the groundbreaking announcement, ClearWater President Micah Peters extolled the high-quality design features created by the architects involved, Blalock and Loci. Calling out residential developments that have “miles of dark hallways with no natural light,” Peters pointed to the large “light boxes” that illuminate hallways and extend through the entire width of the building.
On the second floor will be a 30,000 square foot plaza in the middle of the building, featuring a pool, BYOB bar areas, and 60-80% softscape including a “deciduous forest.”
The $60 million project will consist of 252 market-rate rentals including 12 two-bedroom live-work units. 50% of the units will be one-bedroom, 25% two-bedroom, and 25% studios.
The residential units will be spread over three buildings. The first stage to be built will be the 65-foot southernmost building, four stories on top of two levels of parking containing 341 stalls. The two northern buildings will reach 75 feet, and will include the live-work units at ground level fronting 300 West.
4,400 square feet of retail space will also front 300 West, with a small grocery on the northwest corner and a restaurant on the southwest corner of the project.
The “Marmalade Block” will be completed when the RDA constructs a park to connect with the existing library plaza. It will be public property and turned over to the Parks and Public Lands department for maintenance.
The project’s construction timeline is 24 months. The parking garage and southern building with restaurant retail space will be completed in the first 12 months.
