West side housing project looks to add more low-income apartments to Salt Lake City

SALT LAKE CITY — Housing developers are planning to add more than 1,000 low-income apartments to Salt Lake’s west side. The project includes seven new buildings along a one-mile stretch between 900 West and 1800 West near North Temple, pending funding from federal, city, and state sources.

Low-income housing relies on two key factors: available land and keeping rent between 30 to 50% of residents’ income. So, Utah Housing Coalition Executive Director Tara Rollins says that developers see Salt Lake’s west side as their best opportunity to meet both criteria.

Rollins also pointed out that the area has “underutilized land or buildings that were dilapidated that were easily purchased or taken down to build multi-family [units].”

Rollins noted developers like to find areas that will help them score funding to build. And the west side, with its existing transportation infrastructure, does exactly that.

Rollins believes the plan is a good thing, but notes it doesn’t erase past missteps, such as developers converting farmland into residential subdivisions.

“They could have kept a portion of the farm,” Rollins said. “And built housing around the farm to create a better community.”

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