In case it’s been a while since you’ve visited downtown, be prepared for lots of change when you do go. Most of the laundry list of construction projects planned prior to the pandemic are now underway, including the Convention Center Hotel, The Revival, Paperbox Lofts and many more.

While each one of these projects is sure to deepen downtown Salt Lake City’s unique vibrancy, one in particular—now under construction at 255 South State Street—promises a welcome trifecta: affordable housing, activated public spaces and preservation of one of downtown Salt Lake City’s only remaining single-family homes.

On a recent Wednesday in late March 2021, as I peered over the construction fencing surrounding the 255 South State site, I saw construction workers busily directing a fleet of backhoes moving earth and detritus around a lot-sized hole in the ground.  Illinois-based Brinshore Development is now well underway since initiating construction in January 2021.  While I might have expected more progress, Whitney Weller, Brinshore senior vice president, explained that before her company could hang one steel beam to begin raising their project, the site required some serious reclamation. 

In 2012, a previous developer had broken ground at 255 South State on a mixed-use development—an effort that was eventually abandoned in 2015. A subsequent building analysis revealed the structural system was unstable and would have to be demolished. And so when the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City purchased the property at auction and selected Brinshore, along with KTGY Architects + Planners, to take another stab at redeveloping it, erasing the past developer’s mistakes became part of the deal. “Though there were many challenges to overcome with the site, David Brint (Brinshore principal) has spent a good deal of time in Utah and loves it there,” Weller said, “and Salt Lake City has a lot going for it, with a great food scene and an abundance of local partners to work with, which were all draws for us.”

Brinshore’s plans for 255 South State call for a modern 190-unit mid-rise and high-rise community featuring affordable, workforce and market-rate housing.  The ground-level will feature a pedestrian walkway with live/work units for entrepreneurs, community gathering space and retail and food concepts designed by Plowshare Partners, a venture between local restaurateur Ryan Lowder of the Copper Kitchen, Copper Onion, Copper Common and The Daily Café, and James Beard Award-winning chef and restaurateur Zakary Pelaccio.  According to Keith McCloskey, LEED AP, associate principal at KTGY, these uses will be packaged within a contemporary aesthetic—utilizing galvanized steel awnings and detailing, aluminum paneling and brick facades—that will both set off and complement downtown’s rich architectural diversity. “255 South State will add a modern twist to the downtown business district’s skyline by combining the elegant look of contemporary glass and sleek metal with the industrial feel of an artist loft community,” McCloskey said.

But what is sure to be 255 South State’s most defining element is its open-to-the-public paseo—a wide, plaza-like walkway tucked between the project’s eight-story south tower and 12-story north tower. This space will not only create an inviting connection between State Street to the west and the edgy Edison Street commercial area, home to Campos Coffee and Diabolical Records, to the east, but will be a vibrant destination in of itself. An amphitheater, open-air dining and “Artisan Alley” are a few of the features along this walkway, which travels through the development on a visually pleasing diagonal. The focal point of the paseo’s eastern end is the charming Cramer House, an 1890-era brick building where Danish immigrant Christopher Cramer lived and sold the flowers he grew in gardens that once populated the block. Brinshore will restore the Cramer House, which has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1982, to use an event space or unique dining concept.

Finally, thanks to its almost dead-center locale in downtown Salt Lake City, future residents of this exciting new development will enjoy steps-away access from the Gallivan Plaza TRAX station, multiple downtown performance venues, museums, grocery stores restaurants and nightlife.  

Downtown Salt Lake City’s 255 South State development is scheduled for completion by early 2023. For progress updates, visit brinshore.com.

Each year, the Downtown Alliance recognizes extraordinary contributions to downtown’s vitality, safety and livability with the Downtown Achievement Awards at our annual State of Downtown event. Acknowledging the challenges that many faced in 2020, these award winners rose to the top in the Downtown Alliance’s nomination discussions.

Each of the 2020 Downtown Achievement Award recipients exemplifies what we can solve, accomplish and create when we work together,” said Dee Brewer, Executive Director of the Downtown Alliance. “Our downtown is better because of each of their contributions."

2020 Achievement Award Winners:

Fourth Street Clinic - Improving the Lives and Health of Homeless Utahns
For over 30 years, the Fourth Street Clinic has served homeless Utahns. Each year, the Clinic provides primary care, dental, behavioral health, specialty care and pharmacy services to over 5,000 homeless men, women and children. In 2019, the Clinic launched a state-of-the-art mobile healthcare unit that brings the clinic’s services to clients at eleven locations including Salt Lake's three homeless resource centers. In 2020, Fourth Street Clinic was on the frontline of COVID-19 screening and testing for individuals experiencing homelessness and completed over 8,000 tests. View Fourth Street Clinic's video profile below: 

Caputo’s Market & Deli - Exemplary Leadership and Innovation During the Pandemic
Downtown restaurants and retailers felt an outsized impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The healthy flow of typical customers--downtown workers, event patrons, and business travelers was reduced to a trickle. As businesses scrambled to adapt to safely serve guests, Caputo's Market was exemplary in their quick adaptation. They recognized the health imperative to do business differently. They reassigned employees and communicated their safety measures and service adaptations to customers. View Caputo's video profile below. 

Plan-B Theatre - 30 Years of Amplifying Diverse Utah Voices   
Since 1991, Plan-B Theatre has produced unique and socially conscious theatre created by Utah playwrights. Plan-B nourishes our local community of playwrights. It develops relationships with playwrights rather than just developing plays. Plan-B represents the many faces of Salt Lake City. View Plan-B's video profile below.

Domain Companies & GIV Development - Progressive Mixed-Use Development at Avia and Mya
Avia and Mya are two distinct buildings in one impressive new Transit Oriented Development that is successfully balancing attention to design, carbon neutrality and affordability.  The mixed-income environment leverages diversity as a key amenity at this downtown mixed-use, mid-rise development. 

GIV has developed successfully in the Salt Lake market over the last decade. Domain Companies is bringing new energy and capital to Salt Lake. This is Domain’s first project in the West. View Avia and Mya's video profile below.

Bill Knowles - Downtown Construction Ombudsman 
At the Downtown Achievement Awards, the Vasilios Priskos Honors were presented to Bill Knowles, Downtown Ombudsman. Bill Knowles has been an ombudsman for construction mitigation on key downtown developments over the last 25 years. These include the Eccles Theater and 111 Main office tower, the original TRAX construction and currently, 95 State tower. View Bill Knowles' video profile below.

Temperatures are not the only thing rising in downtown this summer. With a slew of new projects on the horizon, downtown Salt Lake’s skyline continues to rise with these high profile buildings.

Convention Center Hotel

One of downtown’s most highly anticipated projects, the Convention Center Hotel (200 S. West Temple), is slated to break ground later this year and will add to the city skyline when it opens in 2022. “The 27-story hotel will feature over 700 rooms, approximately 62,000 square feet of meeting space, a restaurant, lobby bar and lounge, fitness and pool deck with event terrace,” according to Salt Lake County Deputy Mayor Erin Litvack. A hotel operator will be announced later this year.

With a direct connection from the hotel lobby to the Salt Palace Convention Center pre-function and exhibit hall spaces, the combination of the hotel and the Salt Palace public spaces will create an opportunity for synergistic relationships. This new activated shared space at the ground level is intended to be an extension of the urban environment and a place to meet and interact. “A hotel at the convention center has been something the area has needed for a long time,” said Litvack. “We believe and know from our convention and meeting planners that we’ve been marketing to for years that this has been one of the missing pieces of the puzzle for them to choose our destination for their convention.”

The hotel will be a boon to local businesses, bars, restaurants and contribute to the overall vibrancy of our city. With the addition of this hotel and other planned full-service hotels in the vicinity, downtown is poised to attract more high-spend meetings and convention visitors. “This project strengthens the Salt Lake product offering for meetings, conventions and tourism,” says Downtown Alliance Executive Director Dee Brewer. “The hotel investment will continue to ripple through the city encouraging additional investment in hospitality and other businesses that are an amenity to all and that will enhance the local property and sales tax base.”

Salt Lake County officials are working with Atlanta based Portman Holdings (portmanholdings.com) to design and develop the hotel in partnership with St. George based development firm DDRM (ddrmcompanies.com). The proposed site is located at the southeast plaza corner of the Salt Palace Convention Center.

95 State at City Creek

Downtown’s next office tower, 95 State at City Creek (95 S State St) is gearing up to be the third-tallest building in Utah. Towering at 393 feet, 95 State will occupy the northeast corner of the intersection of 100 S. and State Street, directly west of Harmons grocery store.

City Creek Reserve Inc., the downtown Salt Lake City real estate arm of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is responsible for several of Salt Lake’s largest real estate projects, including this new 25-story, high-rise tower. 95 State has been part of the plans for the three city blocks that make up the City Creek redevelopment project since it was still in the design phase. “It has been anticipated since day one of the master plan,” says Matt Baldwin, Director of Real Estate Development for City Creek Reserve, Inc. “It was just about finding the right building at the right time.”

The sweeping, curved and glassy design for 95 State has its roots in another City Creek Reserve building: 111 Main, which was designed by the same architectural firm, Skidmore Owings & Merrill (www.som.com). “Looking to differentiate from the mostly rectangular downtown skyline, 95 State has an organic shape, with rounded corners and slightly curved curtain walls,” adds Baldwin. “We are able to do this without compromising the efficiency of space for tenants.”

The project will use existing parking built previously in anticipation of the tower but will add an additional two levels of subgrade parking under the building. An airy, open lobby at ground level will greet guests with a 92-foot-long media wall, displaying Utah scenery and artwork. The fifth level houses an outdoor deck on the north side of the building where building occupants can eat lunch, hold meetings and enjoy some downtime. Large conference rooms supported by a catering kitchen and audio and video technology will provide tenants with a convenient space to meet when their own conference rooms are not large enough to handle meetings. A full fitness center rounds out the level-five floorplan.

“More and more office buildings, domestic and international, are being built with amenities similar to luxury multi-family housing,” says Baldwin. “The market is demanding that we take it to the next level at 95 State.”

In addition to the tower construction, a 39,000-square-foot meeting house will be built on the north side of the building and will be independently operated and accessed. A new pavilion will replace the current Social Hall Avenue entry to the existing east-west tunnel under State St that connects to City Creek. The tunnel will be redone as well, with an innovative design that will include a restaurant along with specialty retail stores. “3,500 people will be utilizing the tower, so we need resources to support them,” Baldwin explains. With businesses anticipating the new building, we have commitments to deliver the project by the fall of 2021.”

Liberty Sky

Liberty Sky (151 S. State St) a high-rise luxury rental lifestyle, is making its debut in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. Located steps from shopping at City Creek Center and an easy walk to Harmons grocery store, the Eccles Theater and all of the best of downtown, Liberty Sky provides the views and the lifestyle of an amenity-rich high-rise with the convenience and flexibility of a luxury rental.

“This is an irreplaceable location to build Salt Lake’s first high-rise rental product,” said Dan Lofgren, president and CEO of Cowboy Partners (cowboyproperties.com) which has partnered with The Boyer Company (boyercompany.com) to develop this first-in-class community. With its soaring roof-line and bold and modern glass-and-concrete architecture, Liberty Sky will be 21 stories with 272 residential units, ranging from studios to large and open two-bedroom apartments. Each apartment offers a full menu of smart home features, open floor plans, modern kitchens, luxury baths and breathtaking 10-foot-tall floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Amenities offered at Liberty Sky are as expansive as the views. The ground floor will include an impressive lobby, conference room, Wi-Fi café and guest hosting areas. Roof-top amenities include a swimming pool, hot tub, high-end fitness center, barbecue stations, viewing decks, entertainment room and E-gaming studio. Pet-friendly and bicycle-friendly amenities are part of the offerings, as well as on-site dry cleaning drop off and pick up and controlled building access. In every sense, Liberty Sky is establishing a whole new level of living in downtown Salt Lake City.

Upward Momentum:

Check out these developments that are on track to join downtown Salt Lake City’s skyline.


Union Station Hotel
400 W. South Temple
4-star Lifestyle Boutique Hotel
8 stories
Developer: The Athens Group (athensdevco.com)

Block 67
100 S. 300 West
Mixed-Use Residential/Hotel
Two 11-story buildings
Developer: The Ritchie Group (theritchiegroup.com)

255 S. State
Address: 255 S. State Street
Mixed-Use Residential
14 stories
Developer: Brinshore Development (brinshore.com)

Salt Lake City’s recent boom in downtown apartment living echoes a similar heyday that took place 100 years ago. Between 1910 and 1940 the city’s population increased from 92,000 to 140,000 and investments in amenities like streetcars and paved sidewalks fueled a bustling business district. Construction of the city’s first apartment buildings soon following and were completed in two general phases: the first from 1904 through the start of World War I, and then another flurry from the early 1920s until World War II.

These new urban dwellings boasted luxuries that many rural Utahns had never before experienced: innovative frills such as “disappearing” Murphy beds, Frigidaire refrigerators, electric ranges and on-site laundry machines. The interiors were upscale for the time, with glass interior doors, hardwood floors, casement windows, chandeliers and tiled bathrooms. “There’s always somebody home in an apartment,” advertised the Apartment House Association of Utah. “It’s nice to return at night to well-lighted corridors and know that help if needed can be quietly summoned.”

The early apartment buildings were designed as either walk-ups with one or two entrances on each landing or as a double-loaded corridor plan with multiple entrances along a central hall. Architects took advantage of Salt Lake’s deep blocks, fitting the long, narrow apartment buildings on lots where a home and a garden or corral where located previously. After growing up on farms or pioneer homes, downtown apartment living represented an exciting new approach to residential life that everyone from young married couples to recent immigrants were interested in. Fortunately, many of these beautiful vintage apartment buildings still line our streets, reminding of us of the elegance of a bygone era. 

The Pauline apartment building at 278 E. 100 South was one of the first to be built in 1904, closely followed by the La France at 246 W. 300 South and the twin buildings of the Altadena and Sampson, at the corner of 300 South and 300 East.

Walk down 300 East today and you will see other lovely historic apartment buildings, with their leaded glass windows, Colonial Revival balconies and ornate entrances. Keep strolling over to 235 S. 200 East and you’ll happen upon the Woodruff apartments, a luxury for the time it was built in 1908. “The building will be steam-heated, you will have hot water ready at all times of day or night, as well as free janitor and night watchman service, telephone and gas range … you will save on coal bills, water, telephone, streetcar fares and other incidentals, will reduce your costs of living, and you will have all the comforts besides,” read a 1908 newspaper ad for the Woodruff. It advertised specifically to “young men looking for desirable apartments close to their work.” Abe Gross and his young wife, Vera, lived in Unit 60 at the Woodruff in 1930 when they first moved to Salt Lake from Chicago. They spoke Polish and English; Abe worked as a truck driver and cattle buyer. Sadly, Abe was killed in a truck accident in 1935 shortly after their son was born, after which Vera moved back to Chicago.

The decorative elements of the turn-of-the-century apartments are striking. Most have the original light posts and fixtures, doors and tiled entries. Note the French door balconies, intricate brick patterns and neon sign at the Embassy Arms, 120 S. 300 East. Venture over to the Piccardy at 115 S. 300 East and you will find a Jacobethan Revival style with twisting columns and large finials, arched windows and an imposing sign over the door. Often the buildings were given creative names to convey sophisticated style, such as the Belvedere (29 S. State), the Hollywood (204 East 100 South) and the Silverado (243 South 300 East).

The Los Gables, built in 1929, occupies nearly half a block at 135 S. 300 East, making it one of the largest early complexes. Note the Moorish arched entrances, stonework and unusual timbering detail around some of the upper windows. Newly married couple Larry and Rosalee Hunt lived in Unit 605 during 1959 when they came from St. George so Larry could serve in the Army at Fort Douglas. The rooms were advertised as “an address to be proud of” with “reasonable monthly rents” of $40.

The investors who started Salt Lake’s first apartment boom included local families such as the Coveys, Downings and Sampsons, along with out-of-state financers from California. Several prominent builders constructed most of Salt Lake City’s original apartment buildings, such as W.C.A. (Andy) Vissing, who came to Salt Lake City from Denmark as a 14-year-old, formed his own contracting company and made his fortune by building more than 20 apartment buildings over the course of his career.

The Covey family, led by entrepreneur brothers A.A. Covey, S.M. Covey and H.T. Covey, built apartments to last. All of their early-twentieth-century buildings are still standing and used today—the La France, Hillcrest, New Hillcrest, Kensington, Buckingham and Covey. The Covey Apartments on South Temple were considered the most elegant of the group, even featuring a passenger elevator to serve the seven floors. As you walk by the Covey entrance at 239 East S. Temple, relish the brickwork, gargoyles and wrought-iron balconies. Imagine the first tenants moving into the nearby Hillcrest apartments on First Avenue with its windowed sleeping porches, beautifully-landscaped interior courtyard and private garages out back. The Coveys expected their on-site managers to do everything from mopping hallway floors to delivering ice to residents’ kitchen iceboxes.





With the advent of The Depression, funding for new construction evaporated. And then, after World War II residents wanted cozy bungalows in the suburbs, which were suddenly more affordable with federal loans. Downtown apartment construction declined further and the occupancy patterns changed dramatically. 

By the turn of the twenty-first century, some of these grand old buildings became stylish condominiums, while others serve as low-income or affordable housing. Owners are taking care to maintain the unique architectural features and advertise the historic beauty of the structures. At least 73 of the downtown apartment buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In 2014, the city adopted design guidelines for the buildings to emphasize their “distinctive urban scale and presence.” The more than 100 historic apartment buildings still in use today are a vivid reminder of the boldness and style with which Salt Lake City entered the twentieth century.

In his 16 years downtown, Matt Manes, a graphic designer has experienced several iterations of downtown Salt Lake.

When Manes first moved downtown, the Gateway Shopping Center had just opened.  The shopping center, on the western edge of downtown, was the first large mixed-use project to be built downtown in decades and brought hundreds of residents to the area.  Over the next several years, the Gateway would also be attributed to the decline of activity on Main Street.

In 2012, a decade after the Gateway opened the energy has moved back to Main Street.  It was that year that the City Creek Center opened brining hundreds of new residents and dozens of new retailers back heart of downtown.  Four years later the Eccles Theater, a large state of the art broadway style theater, opened a block to the south of City Creek. “The amount of foot traffic on Main Street is four times what it used to be,” said Manes. Downtown Salt Lake is growing at an unprecedented rate. According to U.S. Census data, in 2010 downtown had a population just over 5,000 people.  Since 2010, several hundred of residential units were added with many more in development.

After decades of decline, residential development began to return to downtown Salt Lake City in the 1990s.  Between 1990 and 2010 the urban core grew by 59 percent between.  But a hot economy and younger work force, demand for living downtown is bringing exponential growth to Salt Lake.  According to a 2016 downtown housing report by the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, between 2010 and 2020 downtown will have added more residential units, than what was built in the past 100 years combined.  Just under half of the city’s 4,800 residential units under construction are in downtown with over 2,200 residential units under construction in the central business district with nearly 800 units expected should start construction in the next year. City officials expect the downtown population to double by 2020 and quadruple in size by 2040.

New commercial office buildings like 111 Main, the 24-story tower just south of City Creek, are bringing hundreds of new workers downtown and according to David Lang, the head of the Goldman Sachs Salt Lake Office, many of those workers want to live downtown. Goldman Sachs, is the anchor tenant of 111 Main and, another 20-story building a block to the south, 222 Main.  Salt Lake is Goldman’s second largest office in the Americas, after New York City, and fourth largest in the World.  In both buildings, Goldman has close to 2,300 employees working downtown.

“Being in the heart of downtown is a huge draw for us,” said Lang, at the ribbon cutting ceremony for the 111 Main building in 2016.  In that ceremony, Lang told the crowd that his company’s younger workforce “wants to live, work and eat downtown” and is driving the company’s commitment to downtown Salt Lake.  According to Lang, Salt Lake is one of Goldman Sachs’ most requested transfer locations. To Manes and his partner, Mark Morris a landscape architect and urban planner, it is downtown’s walkability, amenities and young and diverse community that makes it their preferred residence. The couple has lived together downtown for the past five years.  In 2012, the couple sold their home in the Sugar House neighborhood and bought a two-bedroom condo in the Regent building in the City Creek Center.  

“Living downtown we can walk to almost everything we need,” said Mark Morris. In a block radius of the couple’s condo is a shopping center, dozen of restaurants, the Eccles Theater, a TRAX light rail station and a large grocery store, Harmons Grocery on 100 South near State Street.  Both Manes and Morris work downtown and either walk or bike to work.  The couple shares a car that they use to visit family or explore Utah’s outdoors.

While Morris and Manes enjoy living near Main Street, the couple would like to see the street’s vibrancy expand to other parts of downtown. “The best part is to be able to walk out your front door, get on a train and be at the airport in 15 minutes,” said Manes.  “I wouldn’t live anywhere else in Salt Lake.”

For Blake McClary and his wife, Amy McDonald, downtown is the only place they want to be.  The couple has been married for two years and are raising their ten month-year old daughter in the City Creek Apartments. McClary is a reverse commuter. While he lives downtown, he commutes to Cottonwood Heights were is a project manager for a technology company.  “I do miss the five-minute bike ride, but nowadays people aren’t work at companies very long so why would I want to move to the suburbs if I don’t know if I’m going to be there in the next three years,” said McClary.  “This is where we want to be, the place we’d love, I’d rather live here and commute where ever else I need to be.”

The couple would eventually live in a neighborhood close to downtown like the Marmalade, a neighborhood directly north of downtown.  For the couple, the Marmalade neighborhood is ideal with because of the area’s diversity and amenities like the Marmalade Library and Washington elementary school. “We’d eventually want to have a house with a yard,” said McClary. But for now the couple is very happy with where they live.  Both attribute the walkability, dining scene, arts and entertainment and diversity as reasons that keep them downtown.  “Where you live isn’t just about where you work.  There is so much more to our lives than where we work,” said McDonald. As downtown continues to evolve, the couple would like to see an elementary school downtown, more playgrounds and green space and better east to west transit connections.  

Both couples cited the access to nature via Memory Grove Park and City Creek Canyon as a key amenity to downtown living.  The park and canyon are within walking distance from downtown allowing residents to go from downtown to the mountains in minutes. With citywide vacancies rates hovering around 3 percent, city officials and local developers expect the downtown housing market to continue its upward climb for the next few years.

“We are very pleased with how rents have grown for us.  We expect rents upward pressure on rents for the next year or two,” said Thomas Vegh of Salt Development.  “We see continued rental growth with a continued influx of more workers with Millennials and Boomers that want to live downtown.  I think this is going to be a very exciting time to live downtown.”

Salt Development is building a large mixed used development a block to the north of the Gateway.  The project called Hardware Village will add over 900 residential units in three residential buildings.

There are many ways to think about building a city. 
One involves brick and mortar buildings. With the success of Downtown Rising, Salt Lake City has reinvented itself in a dramatic transformation over the past decade. Construction cranes crowd the sky as office buildings, retail spaces, condo complexes and cultural amenities rise up to meet increased demand. These new public and private investments have reinvigorated the economy, reinforcing Salt Lake City’s entrepreneurial spirit and infusing downtown with new capital, optimism and sense of possibility.

A more profound approach is to look towards the people and businesses who make up the fabric of a city.
The soul of any city is made up of the people who love it and are committed to their city’s future. To that end, the commercial real estate industry has played a significant role in bringing dynamic business into the urban center and fostering a downtown that we are proud of today.

The commercial real estate business in Salt Lake City is a competitive, traditionally male dominated industry. However, six of downtown's top commercial real estate professionals, representing significant space in downtown are female. Each of them are quick to point out that gender has little to do with their success. “I do not see myself as a female in a male dominated workforce,” says Dana Baird, Executive Director of Cushman & Wakefield | Commerce. “I see myself as a person who has different traits and I think it’s important to set gender aside from business.”

These women, while competitors, also share common goals in impacting downtown’s rapidly transforming economy. Terese Walton with Gaddis Investments says “there’s two common goals among the six of us- making money and having a lasting positive impact on downtown.” This competition also breeds creativity, according to Lindsay Vieta of InterNet Properties. “Although we are competitors, we all are improving our city. When one of us succeeds it creates new opportunities for the others,” she says.

Another shared commonality between competing commercial real estate companies is the ability to leverage downtown’s assets when making deals. The proximity of natural beauty and recreation, complemented by vibrant work and social environments and robust transportation infrastructure, makes downtown Salt Lake City the ideal place to bring prospective tenants. According to Nadia Letey of CBRE,“mass transit options and connectivity are huge” for clients and their employees. These new downtown tenants, who have relocated either regionally or from out of state, recognize the importance of affordable, convenient transportation in attracting a strong workforce.

Cultural amenities are also an important part of the equation. “There is just so much going on downtown. Whether it’s events and festivals or new developments like the Eccles Theater, we have a great story to tell to prospective tenants,” says Jami Marsh, Vice President of JLL.

As we look towards the coming decades in a dynamic urban landscape, change has already begun. Whether it is relocating international firms to Salt Lake to continually filling new office space with a young and educated workforce, downtown’s family continues to grow. The physical and cultural changes have resulted from the vision and leadership these six professionals have spearheaded. When I think of what, or who is the face of building our city, these six are the answer.

Jami Marsh
JLL
Vice President

Jami Marsh provides tenant representation, landlord agency, investment analysis, cost reduction expertise and strategic planning services in the office sector for JLL. Jami is currently hailed as an emerging leader in the Salt Lake market and is focused on cultivating the business relationships she's developed over the past decade.

Heather Bogden
Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors
Retail Specialist- Bowler Retail Team

Heather is a commercial real estate agent and retail specialist at Coldwell Banker Commercial- a full service asset and brokerage company. Heather utilizes her skills and focuses specifically on retail tenant representation and leasing.

Dana Baird
Cushman & Wakefield | Commerce
Executive Director - Office Division

Dana brings a truly unique set of institutional commercial real estate brokerage experience and accreditations to her responsibility as Executive Director of the Cushman & Wakefield | Commerce office division. She has been active in the commercial real estate community for the past 19 years and is consistently recognized by her peers as a top producer, averaging more than $50 million and 750,000 SF of annual transaction volume.

Terese Walton
Gaddis Investments
Managing Director, Principal Broker

Terese Walton is the Managing Director and Principal Broker of Gaddis Investments- a company specializing in commercial real estate development, investment sales and leasing. Whether negotiating with tenant and property owners, communicating with governing entities affecting new development or assessing properties for investors looking for sustainable investments, Terese brings a superior level of confidence to her clients.

Nadia Letey
CBRE
Senior Associate- Office Division

Nadia Letey is a Senior Associate with the office services division of CBRE. Nadia seeks to understand the needs of her prospective tenants and then presents them with the right opportunities. Her sales and marketing background helps her not only understand what clients want, but provide input on how to improve the marketability of their properties.

Lindsay Vieta
InterNet Properties
Agent- Commercial

Lindsay is a Commercial Agent with Internet Properties, a full-service real estate firm offering retail, office, industrial and development services. Lindsay brings a relentless attention to detail, background in architecture and design and commitment to providing each client with personal service and care that is above and beyond the ordinary.

Successful cities can always be sliced into micro-neighborhoods. Downtown Salt Lake is really a collection of these hot spots that together combine to create a dynamic and diverse experience for local and visitors alike.

Temple Square:
Whether it is flowers in the spring time or the holiday light installations, Temple Square is the literal and figurative center of Salt Lake. The iconic Salt Lake Temple, is not only a religious symbol, it has been the iconic image in downtown skylines since it was constructed. Surrounding Temple Square are a host of Temple Square themed restaurants including the Nauvoo Cafe (15 S. Temple) and Lion House Pantry (63 S. Temple) along with attractions like the Beehive House (67 S. Temple), Family History Library (35 W. Temple), Joseph Smith Memorial Building (15 S. Temple) and the Church Office Building’s observation deck (50 N. Temple).

Pioneer Park:
The western environs of downtown is home to a burgeoning community, anchored by a 10-acre urban park and featuring some of Salt Lake’s hippest dining options. Cutting edge restaurants Tin Angel (400 S. 365 W.) and Pallet (237 S. 400 W.) sit on the south and north borders of the park, respectively, and neighborhood stalwarts Cucina Toscana (282 S. 300 W.), Caputo’s (300 S. 314 W.) and Carlucci’s (300 S. 314 W.) are a continuation of the Italian influence found between 200 and 300 W (see below). Up and coming eateries, Bruges (300 S. 336 W.) and Ekamai (300 S. 336 W.) are joined by Rose Establishment (235 S. 400 W.), Aquarius Fish Market (300 S. 314 W.) and Bingham Cyclery (300 S. 336 W.) providing a variety of options for a surge in housing options. The residents at the successful Broadway Park lofts (300 S. 360 W.) will be joined by several hundred new downtown denizens next summer when Garbett Homes completes the 360 Apartments project on 400 W, continuing a steady rising interest in the Pioneer Park neighborhood.

Little Italy (300 S, between 200 and 300 W):
There is nothing little about the brick oven Settebello Pizza (260 S. 200 W.) brought to Salt Lake. Climbing hundreds of degrees higher than a typical home (or restaurant) oven, the thin-crust pies are an authentic slice (pun intended) of Italy. If you want to eat like you would if you were “in the boot,” opt for your pizza to be served uncut into slices and eat like you would as if in Rome: tearing the pliable dough into bite size pieces yourself. If you’re craving more than pizza, Valter’s Osteria’s (300 S. 173 W.) menu allows a diner’s eyes to order larger than most stomach’s can handle. House made pastas, salads and entrees finished table side, grilled meats and hand-made desserts are a show in of themselves. But, the real show is the eponymous Valter. A Brooklyn transplant, the tireless impressario dances his way through to restaurant to ensure everyone’s plate is full long after their appetite has been satisfied. Zest, a gluten-free and vegetarian provide seasonal options, many of which are familiar: pizza, manicotti, baked pomodoro. Trust us, you won’t miss the gluten! Those in the mood for more casual fare will find pizza by the slice at Sicilia Pizza (300 S. 35 W.) and family-style meals at Buca di Beppo (300 S. 202 W.). Wash it all down with a nightcap at Squatters (300 S. 147 W.), who offer a range of European influenced brews.

200 S Nightlife Hub:
Who says you can’t bar-hop in Utah? Clearly, they have not been to 200 S lately. Start off by grabbing a bite to eat at Este Pizza (200 S. 156 E.) or Cedars at Lebanon (200 S. 152 E.), both offering great food, with adult beverages. If tacos are more your speed, Todd Gardiner’s Taqueria 27 (200 S. 149 E.) opened up shop across the street, with one of the lengthiest tequila lists in the state. The adjacent three doors open into mixologists plying their craft at Bar X, Beer Bar’s (200 S. 155 E.) lengthy selection of taps or bottles imports and the casual Johnny’s on Second (200 S. 165 E.). So, whether the night calls for classic cocktails, craft beers or a few pitchers and billiards, 200 S is the place to maximize options and minimize steps.

Main Street:
Neighborhoods are typically built around a center point, but can also be linear, and Main Street anchored on the north by Temple Square and City Creek, is a prime example. While just off Main Street, Martine (100 S. 22 E.) is adjacent to the forthcoming Eccles Theatre (131 S. Main St.) and Regent St. In addition to being a standout lunch spot, the tapas and wine options are a classic date-night go to choice. Recently renovated, Martine will be a standout hotspot with theatre-goers. Moving south, office buildings effortlessly mix with street-level retail, bars and restaurants.

Best experienced by foot, a stroll on Main Street turns up new discoveries along the way. The next block south is home to Eva’s Bakery (155 S. Main St.), who serve meals to order, as well as pastries to go. Thirst can be quenched at Beerhive (128 S. Main St.), where a portion of the bar-top is made of frozen ice to keep brews cold. Michelangelo’s (132 S. Main St.), located next door, serves Italian fare and is also available at Beerhive.

If you’re in the mood for sushi, Yellowtail (321 S. Main St.) has you covered, while Bistro 222 (222 S. Main St.) covers those craving creative new-American fare. Bambara (202 S. Main St.) is consistently rated a top downtown restaurant - don’t miss the bleu cheese chips - and around the corner on 200 S the Red Door (200 S. 57 E.) creates Salt Lake’s most interesting martinis. Keys on Main (242 S. Main St.), is a staple of the downtown scene, featuring talented performers on dueling pianos and an always enthusiastic crowd.

Whiskey Street (323 S. Main St.) is popular with bourbon and rye aficionados, and offer a lunch and dinner menu that is more gourmet restaurant than bar fare, while Cheers to You (315 S. Main St.) is a popular neighborhood bar. Maxwell’s (357 S. Main St.) is a go-to for a slice of pizza with live sports on dozens of TV’s.

100 South (Salt Palace Convention Center):
The block west of Main is a “trip” for your palate. Caffe Molisse (100 S. 55 W.) transports taste buds to Italy, with an approachable menu including (you guessed it) pastas and grilled meats. The rest of Europe, and the world, really, is covered at neighboring BTG (100 S. 63 W.). An abbreviation for “By The Glass,” BTG brought a revolutionary wine-tapping system to Salt Lake, allowing them to offer high-end wines by the glass, whereas bottle selections are typically the only options for rare vintages. Flights by region or grape are available, and the educated staff is happy to help navigate the plethora of selections. The Far East’s signature dish, sushi, is more than food at Naked Fish (100 S. 67 W.): it’s an experience. Expert chefs slice and filet fresh fish to create imaginative dishes with seafood from around the world. Familiar rolls, salads and appetizers are available, but Naked Fish truly shines when opting for the “omakase”. Literally translating to “I trust you,” the chef creates a custom menu spanning several courses for diners seeking an unforgettable trip through flavors and textures.

State Street:
In the mood for an indie flick? The Broadway Center Cinemas (300 S. 111 E.), runs sundance films, documentaries and a wide-range of independent work on their six screens. Neighboring Copper Onion (300 S. 111 E.) is consistently ranked as one of downtown’s top restaurants, perfect for a dinner and movie date. Ryan Lowder, the mastermind behind Copper Onion, created Copper Common (300 S. 111 E.) just a few doors down and always abuzz with activity. Inventive cocktails and gourmet takes on comfort and pub fare is a sure bet. From Scratch (62 W. Gallivan Ave.), creates handcrafted pizzas, starting, literally from scratch with an in-house flour mill. They’ve also won awards for the best burger in the state. Alamexo (268 S. State St.) blends traditional Mexican options with a modern cuisine approach and boasts a wide selection of tequilas and margaritas to pair with a meal.

Amid all the business types bustling around Salt Lake’s urban center, a growing population of students are choosing to live in the heart of the city. When they are not studying hard they are playing hard downtown and bringing a young, ambitious vibe to Utah’s urban center.

Florence Hernandez, 19,
Neumont Univerisity
Major: Computer Science.

Florence Hernandez moved to Salt Lake City sight unseen from Forth Worth, TX to pursue her computer science degree at Neumont University’s Main Street Campus. And although, she most likely has no idea who Mary Tyler Moore is, the vivacious 19-year-old certainly had her “Mary Tyler Moment” twirling in the streets of her new city streets last fall. “It was so clean and it was colder than where I’m from,” she says. “It felt so invigorating, like a breath of fresh air. Everything was so bright and roomy, I loved the energy. I really felt like I was starting my life.” Hernandez, who was a standout student back home, always knew she was going to leave Texas and says she chose Neumont because of its tech emphasis and accelerated three-year program. And she loves her school and quickly got involved, becoming Neumont’s first ever female student body president and quickly making friends. “In my first week I just knew everyone was like me, they didn’t know anybody either and I was just so excited and happy I think my enthusiasm helped me make a lot of friends,” she says. “Back home I was an outcasts my interests were so different but here there are lots of people who like the same things I do.” Hernandez lives near 300 South and 600 East and loves walking downtown to school every day explaining that she “grew up in this suburban area where it took a 30-minute drive to get anywhere, I love using my legs.” When she’s not hard hitting the books she’s exploring her new city. “There is always something to do, always a new place to discover, some little crevasse that becomes our new hangout spot,” she says. “It continues to blow my mind.”

Kris Boardman, 36,
University of Utah
Major: Business Communications

Kris Boardman took the long way towards finishing her degree. After high school in Ogden she started at then Weber State but realized she just wasn’t ready or focused enough to pursue school seriously. And that’s how Kris Boardman approaches everything: seriously. So she got a job working for international hotel company Wyndam and saw the world, traveling constantly for work. After spending her 20s in a corporate life on the road, she hung it up and took a year off to play. “I decided I wanted to travel for myself, and try new things,” she says. “I needed that break.” Then she got serious and headed back school with a decade of practical work experience under her belt. “The University of Utah is really good for non-traditional students,” she says. “They don’t expect me to join sorority or do a bunch of activities.” During her previous life she had lived near Trolley Square but traveled so much that she never really got to know the city. So when she opted to resume her studies she deliberately chose to locate herself in the artsy Pierpont Area of downtown. “I am such a city girl,” she says. “I love walkable neighborhoods and I love the buzz. I walk to the farmer’s market, to restaurants and like the sense of community here. I like knowing the restaurant owners and people at the businesses I frequent.” Boardman loves school and says she is glad she took the time to work and gain experience before resuming her studies. When she’s not hard at work on campus she’s on a trail run in Millcreek, getting her namaste on at Centered City Yoga and exploring her city. “Most of my friends live between downtown and Sugar House,” she says. “Everybody bikes to everything and I just love that there is this awareness towards greener healthier lifestyles. I like that that’s the norm here.”

James Goodman, 25
Utah Valley University
Major: Management

James Goodman loves Utah Valley University but he says he wanted to live in downtown Salt Lake. “I grew up in Orem but moved downtown five years ago,” he says. “I just love it and it’s worth it to me to drive or take the train so I can live here.” Goodman lives near the library and says it’s the perfect neighborhood for he and his husband Jeffrey Gomez. “We just love walking over the Les Madelines or stopping into Bar X, we can go to all the festivals and the farmer’s market, and the Gallery Strolls are always nearby,” he says. “ Christmas in SLC, is an especially special time for James and Jeffrey, who celebrate their wedding anniversary walking amid downtown’s Christmas lights. “It’s funny but when we bought our condo we thought we didn’t want to live in Utah forever. But I feel completely differently now. I could spend years here.” Salt Lake’s open vibe suits Jeffrey and James just fine and like many “new urbanists” he says they chose to live an “experienced-based” life. “We’re not paying for a big yard,” he says. “We’re paying for being able to walk around the corner to our favorite store. I don’t want to spend my time mowing a lawn or cleaning a big house. We want experiences.”