Chateau Normandie Apartments (a.k.a. Moyle Apartments)
73 South 400 East, Salt Lake City, 84111
Salt Lake
1937
Details
National Register?
No
Architect
Unknown
Year Built
1937
Accessible?
Two separate fires have left the building unsafe. As a result, it is no longer accessible to the public without proper protection and expertise.
Current Threats
The Chateau Normandie Apartments face significant threats, primarily due to extensive fire damage sustained in October 2024. Currently for sale, the building continues to deteriorate as it sits vacant, with the risk of further damage or potential demolition looming. The structure, almost 100 years old, is at risk of being lost entirely if preservation efforts are not prioritized. Without immediate action, the Chateau Normandie could be another piece of Salt Lake City's history erased from the urban landscape.
History
The Chateau Normandie is one of Salt Lake City’s earliest apartment buildings, designed to house working-class individuals and single women near the heart of downtown. In a time when city living was reserved mainly for the wealthy and well-connected, this building marked a shift toward inclusivity. Spurred by the Progressive Era, the 1920s, and the Great Depression, Utahns began embracing a broader community and social responsibility vision. The Chateau Normandie was part of that change: offering affordable rents, dignified amenities, and a central location for people often excluded from quality housing.
Built in the Neo-Tudor style common in the 1920s and '30s, the brick structure features bay windows, steeply pitched rooflines, and modest Tudor embellishments. Inside, art deco design elements provided residents with a modern, stylish environment. The building brought new life and visual interest to a city reeling from economic hardship. It increased foot traffic, met critical housing needs after the 1929 stock market crash, and introduced architectural charm long before Salt Lake’s contemporary skyline took shape.
Originally sold as part of a parcel including the locally protected Dinwoody Mansion, the Chateau Normandie Apartments were not protected. Just two days after the property changed hands in October 2024, the building caught fire—twice.
What can be done?
Community members can play a critical role in the future of the Chateau Normandie Apartments by advocating for preservation, responsible redevelopment, and policies prioritizing historic and affordable housing. Individuals can contact city leaders to urge stronger protections for unlisted historic buildings and explore incentives that encourage preservation and adaptive reuse, especially in cases where the property has sat vacant and vulnerable.
Supporters can also help by raising awareness about the building’s significance and sharing its story within their networks. The more public attention the Chateau Normandie receives, the greater the pressure on developers and decision-makers to consider preservation-based solutions.
Ultimately, restoring the building will require substantial investment. Those with the financial means—or connections to investors or preservation-minded developers—can help ensure the property is purchased by someone committed to rehabilitating it and offering affordable housing. Whether through advocacy, outreach, or strategic philanthropy, the community has a decisive role in saving this landmark and ensuring its legacy continues.