Trolley Square, hoping to develop housing, applies to ‘deconstruct’ and ‘rebuild’ house in historic district

by Luke Garrott | Jun 2, 2025

In an effort to open up its frontage on 700 East on the block south of the mall, the owner of Trolley Square is asking the Historic Landmarks Commission (HLC) for permission to deconstruct a house and rebuild it on the same block.

Both Trolley Square and the block to the south reside in the Central City Local Historic District, where new construction, demolitions, and relocations need approval from the HLC.

Since 2016, the owner of Trolley Square Ventures, Khosrow Semnani, has been working on clearing single family homes on the south block from the frontages of both 600 South and 700 East. A residential development on the south block surface parking lot has been teased for years – the latest conceptual plan includes 350 units on 3.75 acres.

Apparently without a viable pathway to demolish the circa 1915 Arts and Crafts style home at 632 S 700 E, the developer has opted to relocate it.

The proposal

The commission will hear the ask this week at its monthly meeting. Trolley Square Ventures is proposing to deconstruct the single-family home at 632 S 700 E and reconstruct it as a two-family structure around the corner on the same block, at 635 E 700 S.

Red square is current location, yellow is future. Trolley Square mall is to the north. Image courtesy SLC Planning.

That address, the destination of the relocated house, does not exist currently in the records of the county recorder. Although the application lists it as a vacant lot, seemingly a property subdivision will need to be executed to create the official address.

Both properties are zoned RMF-30, one of the city’s recently-revised infill zones.

The applicant is petitioning not only for the relocation, but also for a reduction in the required side yard setback. 10 feet is required, yet the site plan calls for a reduction to 5 feet 6 inches.

Staff recommends approval. The report states, “Approving the proposed modification enables the reconstructed building to match its historic setbacks (existing and proposed lots are both 33’ wide) and more appropriately fit within the context of the block and the neighborhood.”

A “contributing structure” to the Central City Local Historic District, 632 S 700 E will not be “demolished.” It will be “deconstructed” and “rebuilt” in another location. Photo courtesy SLC Planning.

How the house will be “deconstructed” and “relocated” will likely be an issue at the HLC. The staff report indicates that the structure is not being proposed to be lifted from its foundation and moved in one piece to another location, but rather “deconstructed” and “rebuilt.”

“The proposal includes a new foundation, walls, and roof while retaining the existing character-defining features,” Planning staff writes.

Since the petition has been classified as a “relocation” instead of “new construction,” what design standards will the commission apply?

The holdouts

While Trolley Square Ventures has acquired nearly all the properties that will give the conceptual development new frontage on 600 South and 700 East, there are two properties that have exceeded its grasp.

The corner property, at 680 E 600 S, is an historic two-story home currently housing a hemp products company and zoned for retail. It is owned by Wendy Mendenhall, who is also listed as the owner of the location of the house to be relocated at 635 E 700 S.

The corner property at 600 S and 700 E. Image courtesy Google Earth

Just south of the corner building, at 630 S 700 E, is another single-family home that is a contributing structure to the historic district. The owners, José and Maria Hernández. so far have also held on to their property.