The Salt Lake City Historic Landmarks Commission unanimously approved the commission review for a proposed 113-unit residential building on property adjacent to the landmarked B'nai Israel (formerly a synagogue) site. The project (case PLNHLC2024-01033), marketed by the applicant as "The Frederick," proposes 113 units and 111 parking stalls, and the commission's purview was limited to the portion of the new building located inside the landmark boundary of the former temple site.

Staff told the commission the application included requests for several administrative adjustments (off-site parking, loading waiver and additional height reviewed administratively) and one formal modification before the historic-commission: a rear-yard reduction for a portion of the building. Because the landmark designation applies to the site, rather than only the temple building, the commission reviewed materials and design for the rear portion of the new structure and recommended conditions to reduce visual impacts on the landmarked parcel.

Conditions recommended by staff and adopted by the commission included perforated metal or similar screening for parking levels visible within the landmark site, a minor-alteration review of final hardscape/landscaping for the landmark portion of the site, and confirmation that window reveals on the landmarked portion meet the applicable standards.

During the hearing the applicant's representative said the project team had revised the design to avoid a car-oriented frontage and to emphasize a pedestrian experience on the 400 East frontage; the applicant also described parcel reconfiguration with the temple's new owner so that the temple would become a separate lot and the new building would occupy a separate parcel while portions of the project remain subject to landmark-site review. A public commenter praised the pedestrian-focused redesign and the applicant's steps to preserve the temple property.

The commission moved to approve the staff recommendation and the motion passed by unanimous vote. Staff will review required administrative items and coordinate conditions related to the landmarked parcel.