Salt Lake City Looks West for Downtown Revitalization

The Salt Lake Tribune looked at the development plans made possible by the West Side Master Plan for Salt Lake City.

1 minute read

January 3, 2015, 5:00 AM PST

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Tony Semerad reports on the impending development of the western portion of Salt Lake City's downtown, an "often overlooked" neighborhood populated mostly by Latinos that continues to struggle with chronic homelessness.

Christopher Smart covered the adoption of the West Side Master Plan in September 2014, describing some of the planning mechanisms meant to drive the neighborhood's revitalization as well as the larger vision of the plan.

Semerad, however, delves into the development potential found in the neighborhood: Private developers, governments, arts and civic groups and a host of other powerful interests have multiple projects in the works around Rio Grande Depot, pushing downtown decidedly westward with millions of dollars in public and private investment. Some development deals have been a decade or more in the making; more are expected to follow."

In fact, writes Semerad, "[the] pending building boom has given a variety of key players — from some of Utah’s biggest developers to City Hall and the Utah Transit Authority — major financial interests in the area’s success."

Wednesday, December 31, 2014 in Salt Lake City Tribune

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Cover CM Credits, Earn Certificates, Push Your Career Forward

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

5 hours ago - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of town of Wailuku in Maui, Hawaii with mountains in background against cloudy sunset sky.

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly

Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

July 1, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Person wearing mask walking through temporary outdoor dining setup lined with bistro lights at dusk in New York City.

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?

Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

June 19, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Aerial view of new neifhborhood under construction with enpty lots in foreground.

In California Battle of Housing vs. Environment, Housing Just Won

A new state law significantly limits the power of CEQA, an environmental review law that served as a powerful tool for blocking new development.

6 hours ago - CALmatters

Low-rise Pearl Sreet mall in Boulfer, Colorado.

Boulder Eliminates Parking Minimums Citywide

Officials estimate the cost of building a single underground parking space at up to $100,000.

7 hours ago - Boulder Reporting Lab

Two-story buildings with porches in walkable Florida neighborhood.

Orange County, Florida Adopts Largest US “Sprawl Repair” Code

The ‘Orange Code’ seeks to rectify decades of sprawl-inducing, car-oriented development.

July 2 - CNU Public Square