top of page

Tenth East Senior Center, SLC, National Register Nomination

237 S 1000 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84102, USA

History and Architecture 

Address: 237 South 1000 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84102

Year Built: 1963

Architects: Burtch W. Beall Jr. and Paul L. Lemoine; George S. Nicholatus, project manager (Burtch W. Beall Jr., Lemoine & Nicholatus)

Significance: First facility in Salt Lake County specifically designed and built for older adults; a landmark example of Utah mid-century modern institutional architecture.


For over a century, the Tenth East Senior Center has served as a central hub for community life in Salt Lake City, evolving to meet the needs of diverse populations over time.


The site's history began in 1912 with the establishment of the Salt Lake Tennis Club, which featured five clay courts and an invitation-only membership limited to 85 shares, primarily serving Utah's social elite. In 1927, Salt Lake City acquired the property from the Salisbury family and repurposed it as the Victory Recreation Center, making it accessible to the public. By the 1950s, the site had become a gathering place for seniors. The Silver Crest Club, a small group of older adults, began meeting in the aging building and undertook extensive renovations, including laying tile, installing cupboards, painting, and furnishing the space. By 1960, approximately 1,000 people per week were utilizing the facility.


As the community's needs surpassed the capacity of the self-renovated, condemned building, Salt Lake City and Salt Lake County collaborated to construct a new facility. The Tenth East Senior Center opened on July 11, 1963, becoming the first facility in Salt Lake County specifically designed and built for older adults. The city provided the land, while the county funded both the construction and a subsequent expansion in 1977.


The 1963 building was designed by Burtch W. Beall Jr. and Paul L. Lemoine, with George S. Nicholatus serving as project manager. Together, they formed the short-lived firm Burtch W. Beall Jr., Lemoine & Nicholatus. Beall, a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects and faculty member at the University of Utah, was a significant figure in Utah's mid-century modern architecture. Trained in the Beaux-Arts tradition and influenced by the spatial logic of the Prairie Style, he focused his career on institutional buildings, including the Chase Fine Arts Center at Utah State University, the Shaw Student Union at Westminster College, and the Trinity Presbyterian Church in Ogden. Lemoine's portfolio included the Irving Heights Apartments and the original Utah Auto Association building. Nicholatus later contributed to the construction of the original Salt Palace and Abravanel Hall.

What is Happening

  • Jurisdiction: Salt Lake City Historic Landmarks Commission / Utah State Historic Preservation Office / National Park Service

  • Decision Type: National Register of Historic Places nomination.


The Tenth East Senior Center has been nominated for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. As part of the Certified Local Government process, the Salt Lake City Historic Landmarks Commission will hold a public hearing and provide a recommendation before the nomination advances to the State Historic Preservation Board.


The center is currently closed for renovation, with a planned reopening in 2027. Last year, the Salt Lake County Council voted to permanently close the center as a cost-saving measure. Community members, particularly seniors, attended the meeting, provided testimony, and the decision was subsequently reversed. The National Register nomination follows this recent advocacy, and its timing is significant: listing formally documents the building's value and ensures a permanent record of its significance.(SHPO)

Why This Matters

Next year marks the centennial of Salt Lake City's acquisition of this site for public recreation, representing a century of continuous service to the community in various capacities.


It is important to understand that the National Register listing does not, by itself, protect a building from demolition. Rather, the designation ensures that the building's history is formally and permanently documented, providing decision-makers with the information needed to assess its significance as they consider its future.

Media Coverage / Resources
Key Dates & Deadlines

  • May 7, 2026, Required hearing before the Salt Lake City Historic Landmarks Commission, 5:30 p.m., Room 326, Salt Lake City and County Building, 451 South State Street. The nomination is the first item on the agenda.

How to Take Action

Although the deadline for inclusion in the commissioner's packet has passed, written comments submitted before May 7 will still be accepted into the public record. Attending the hearing in person to provide public comment remains the most direct way to communicate with the commission.


Submit a written comment: Email SLC planner Diana Martinez: Diana.Martinez@slc.gov.

Attend the hearing: Thursday, May 7, 2026, 5:30 p.m., Room 326, Salt Lake City and County Building, 451 South State Street, Salt Lake City.


Suggested talking points:

  • Describe the significance of the Tenth East Senior Center to you or your community, as personal connections are influential.

  • Note that this building represents a century of public investment in this site and the people who use it.

  • Express support for the nomination to ensure the building's significance is formally documented for future decision-makers.

Outcome

Will update after Historic Landmark Commission meeting.

What Comes Next

With a positive recommendation from the HLC, the nomination advances to the Utah State Historic Preservation Office, where SHPO staff present it to the State National Register Review Committee for review and recommendation. With the committee's recommendation and approval, the nomination is submitted to the National Park Service in Washington, D.C., where federal reviewers have 45 days to complete their review.

bottom of page