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Historic Landmark Commission approves demolition requests at Trolley Square properties
Summary
The commission approved demolition of three contributing buildings near Trolley Square after staff said the structures no longer met applicable demolition standards; commissioners split on preservation concerns and requested documentation in public comment.
Salt Lake City’s Historic Landmark Commission approved three separate demolition applications for contributing buildings near Trolley Square after staff determined each application satisfied the applicable demolition criteria used in the local historic district review.
The three properties under consideration are 652 East 600 South (PLNHLC 202401448), 664 East 600 South (PLNHLC 202401445) and 665 East Ely Place (PLNHLC 202401447). Planning staff told the commission the properties are contributing resources under an earlier 2013 reconnaissance survey but that each property met only three of five demolition standards in Salt Lake City code (staff cited Section 21-8-34-20 for the demolition-review standards).
Staff analyst Lex Straubber summarized the review: the properties retain elements of their historic form but no longer met standards related to historic integrity and the possibility of adaptive reuse given current base zoning, staff said. Straubber noted one parcel had been approved for demolition previously in 2017 but that the work had not occurred; another structure in the group was already slated for demolition after being declared a public-safety hazard by the building official following a fire, and a demolition permit for that building had already been issued.
Applicant representatives said the properties have deteriorated substantially since earlier reviews. Architect Jerry Walker described roof failure, water damage and vandalism, and said salvage opportunities would be pursued where practical: “Whatever could be used somewhere else, we’re more than happy to help with that,” Walker said.
Public comment: long-time local preservation advocate Cindy Cromer urged the commission to reconsider demolition and asked that the commission require archival documentation for the most intact building (665 East Ely Place). Cromer provided written comments, listed a history of previous demolitions in the district and asked the commission to deposit documentation at the state archives if the building were demolished.
Commission discussion reflected competing priorities. Several commissioners stressed their role in safeguarding historic resources and said the Central City local historic district has lost many contributory buildings over time. Other commissioners noted severe structural deterioration and the difficulty of economical rehabilitation when roofs and foundations have failed. Commissioners also discussed the development context: the three houses sit amid a largely parking-lot landscape around the Trolley Square mall and applicants said owner Cosgrove’s team intends to develop the site themselves rather than sell it to a third-party developer.
Actions and votes (recorded at the meeting): - 664 East 600 South (PLNHLC202401445): Motion to approve demolition as recommended by staff; recorded vote: Babs DeLay — aye; Adrian White — aye; Emily Kearns — aye; Allen Barnett — no; Chair — aye. Tally recorded in transcript: 4 in favor, 1 opposed (motion approved). - 665 East Ely Place (PLNHLC202401447): Motion to approve demolition as recommended by staff; recorded vote: unanimous in favor on the record (commissioners present recorded as voting aye). - 652 East 600 South (PLNHLC202401448): Motion to approve demolition as recommended by staff; recorded vote: 4 in favor, 1 opposed (Allen Barnett recorded as no), motion approved.
Conditions and follow-up: staff reminded the commission that, by code, demolition may not proceed until new-construction plans receive the necessary approvals; applicants acknowledged they had not submitted final new-construction plans and said they would not submit designs until the demolition status was resolved. Staff noted that the building in the middle of the group that had been fire-damaged already has an issued demolition permit and will be removed regardless of these votes.
Ending: Commissioners asked staff and applicants to preserve documentation and salvageable elements where feasible. Several commissioners asked staff to ensure that any future new-construction proposals address the remaining corner house and the block’s context with sensitivity to the local historic district.
