In Pictures: Central Ninth’s evolution continues (Part 2)

Mike Fife on October 3, 2017

*This is the second of a two-part series looking at developments in the Central Ninth Neighborhood.

For years, the area known as Central Ninth, though close to downtown, remained an affordable and sometimes dilapidated collection of single-family homes and small business. Deterrents to development included the lack of a food market, deteriorating and condemned houses and car-centric spaces like dealerships and the 900 South on/off ramp to I-15 that cuts neighborhood off from other residential areas in the city.

But with investment from the local agencies, the neighborhood is starting to flourish.  In 1989 the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City established a project area in the neighborhood, called West Temple Gateway, between Main Street and 300 West and 600 and 990 South.   In 2005 easy connectivity from the neighborhood to downtown was reestablished when an infill TRAX station was opened at 900 South and 200 West.   In 2013, much of the area was rezoned using a new form-based zoning code.  The new zoning relaxed parking requirements and encouraged missing middle and mid-density housing that engages at the street level.  The neighborhood is experiencing an unprecedented boom with numerous projects either under construction, in development, or recently completed.

Unlike the Sugar House Business District in which big-name developers acquired whole blocks and built large monolithic projects, development in Central Ninth is led by emerging developers building on smaller parcels.   The result is a wide variety of housing types and styles underway in the neighborhood that are not only a mix of single-family and missing middle but also for-sale and rental housing.

Unlike the Sugar House Business District in which big-name developers acquired whole blocks and built large monolithic projects, development in Central Ninth is led by emerging developers building on smaller parcels.   The result is a wide variety of housing types and styles underway in the neighborhood.

There are four multifamily rental projects under construction within a block of the 900 South TRAX station and an additional two projects under construction within a two block radius of the 900 South TRAX station, with several additional projects planned to start construction in 2018.

Greenprint Apartments:

This development is a first for Salt Lake, a micro-unit rental community.  The project contains 60 small studio-style units to the west of the 900 South TRAX station and is now leasing.  This transit-oriented development has no on-site parking for residents.  The project by Ruff Associates, replaces a single family home and a vacant lot and is targeted to people wanting a small living space as apartments will range from 250-350 square feet.

The Greenprint Apartments are on the 800 south block of 200 West. Photo by Mike Fife.
The Greenprint Apartments as seen from the Jefferson Walkway project. Photo by Mike Fife.
Looking south along 200 West from the Greenprint Apartments. Photo by Mike Fife.

As small developers create projects in the Central Ninth area, a mix of different sized buildings and architectural styles emerges.

The Holden Apartments directly south of the Greenprint Apartments. Perhaps all the new construction in the area will inspire the building owner to update the facade of their building.  Photo by Mike Fife.
Building to the north of the Greenprint Apartments. Photo by Mike Fife.

The 900 south block of Washington Street is experiencing an extreme makeover with two projects nearing completion and three projects in the planning stages.

Washington Street Townhomes:

Built by developer Daniel Jensen, these five rental townhouse units on the east side of the 900 south block of Washington Street are nearing completion.  Jensen is set to begin work shortly on the buildings to the north of this project.  He will expand and add a second floor to the existing buildings for a total of 5 additional units in phase two of this project.

The Washington Street Townhomes as seen from the 900 South block of Washington Street. Photo by Mike Fife.
The Washington Street Townhouses are under construction in the 900 south block of Washington St. Photo by Mike Fife.
Looking south on Washington Street towards the Washington Street Townhomes. The house with boarded-up windows is the site of a future TAG development and the property just north of the construction area is also slated for redevelopment.  Photo by Mike Fife.
Looking north along Washington Street from the Washington Street Townhouse. The concrete drive section is to be replaced with a park strip and street tree.  Photo by Mike Fife.

And Daniel Jensen’s new development:

The three-unit rental north of the Washington Street Townhouse will also be redeveloped by Daniel Jensen, a second story and additional square footage will be added to bring the unit count to five. To the north of this project will be TAG 945, a four-story apartment building.  Photo by Mike Fife.
The walkway between Daniel Jensen’s two projects. Photo by Mike Fife.

Central Ninth Place:

Central Ninth place, developed by Knowlton General, is also a townhouse development, on the west side of the 900 south block of Washington Street.  The first phase of six units is substantially complete and people were moving in on September 26 when some of the pictures were being taken.  Phase two consists of seven units and is currently under construction.

Central Ninth Place. Phase One is complete and phase two is under construction. Photo by Mike Fife.
Looking south on Washington Street, Central Ninth Place is next door to a much larger building that has been there for about 15 years with a distinctive color palette. The white fence is the parking area for Club Tryangles directly north.  Photo by Mike Fife.
Central Ninth Place looking northwest from Washington Street.  Several large street trees were taken out to make way for this project.  Photo by Mike Fife.

Some additional projects on the 900 south block of Washington Street are in the pipeline.

TAG 945 and TAG 950:

TAG SLC plans to build two four-story apartment buildings on both sides of the 900 south block of Washington Street.  TAG 945 is planned two lots north of the Washington Street Townhouse project and TAG 950 is planned three lots south of Central Ninth Place development.

This boarded-up house is the future site of TAG 945, a four-story apartment building.  Photo by Mike Fife.
This boarded-up house is the future site of TAG 950, a four-story apartment building. Photo by Mike Fife.

As the neighborhood grows in popularity, development is beginning to push further away from the 900 South TRAX station with several large projects underway just north and south of the highway ramps (900 and 1000 south blocks) on 200 West.

*Click the numbers below to continue reading.

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Posted by Mike Fife

Mike Fife grew up in Norman, Oklahoma but fell in love with Salt Lake City upon relocating here in 2001 just prior to the Winter Olympics. Mike's interest in planning and development was turbo charged during two terms on the Salt Lake City Planning Commission. With an Accounting degree from the University of Oklahoma and an MBA from the University of Richmond, Mike had a 30-year career in finance, accounting, and strategic planning with EDS/Hewlett-Packard/Hewlett Packard Enterprise.

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