Spark opens on North Temple: 200 affordable apartments with on‑site preschool

Salt Lake City on Thursday celebrated the grand opening of Spark, a 200‑unit affordable housing development on the North Temple Corridor that city leaders and private partners say will house roughly 700–800 people and include an on‑site Neighborhood House preschool prioritized for residents.

Developer David Brent of Brinshore Development opened the ceremony, calling Spark a “significant contribution to the needs of the area,” and noting its transit access. “There’s 200 units here. We’ll probably have 7 or 800 people living here,” Brent said, highlighting the project’s size and its proximity to rapid transit.

The project was financed through a layered package. Mayor Mendenhall and city officials credited $14.5 million from the redevelopment-to‑Community Reinvestment Agency transition (RDA/CRA) and an additional $1 million from the city’s community and neighborhoods team. A Utah Housing Corporation representative said the state finance agency issued about $50 million in tax‑exempt private activity bonds and allocated 4% low‑income housing tax credits to support the deal; Jen Schuman, representing Utah’s private activity bond program, described how tax‑exempt bonds paired with tax credits lower developers’ financing costs.

Private partners also played a major role. Scott Maxwell of Goldman Sachs called the project an example of public‑private cooperation and said the firm has deployed nearly $2 billion across Utah over the past 15 years in similar investments. A Citicorp representative and other lenders praised the design and the financing team; Brinshore said the transaction relied on multiple funding sources and partners.

Neighborhood House, the nonprofit that will operate the on‑site preschool, said Spark’s preschool expansion was made possible because the development covered capital costs, allowing the nonprofit to focus on operations. “Here we are in front of this beautiful new facility, Spark, a place where families can access not only affordable housing, but also care, education, and opportunity,” Jennifer, executive director at Neighborhood House, said. She noted statewide childcare gaps and said the site will offer sliding‑scale fees and resident preference for childcare slots.

City and CRA officials recounted the site’s earlier condition as the Overnighter Motel, which the CRA acquired and managed through remediation, resident relocation and demolition. A CRA director described environmental remediation, two on‑site fires during the process and the agency’s effort to relocate the motel’s 12–14 long‑term residents, offering financial assistance to those who accepted help.

Brinshore and city leaders emphasized that Spark is intended as a model for future development along North Temple. The developer thanked design and construction partners and urged attendees to tour the preschool and amenities now open to residents.

The ceremony concluded with partner acknowledgments and onsite tours; Brinshore and Neighborhood House said preschool tours and move‑in coordination will continue in the coming days.