County
Salt Lake
Year Built
1880–1960
Architect
Built by local contractors; notable architects active in the broader city include Taylor Woolley, Walter E. Ware, John S. Rowley, and Scott & Welch
National Register?
Partially. The Salt Lake City Northwest Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and covers the Fairpark neighborhood, which is roughly bounded by 600 North, North Temple, and 1100 West. The district includes 742 contributing single-family homes and two properties that were previously listed individually: the Nelson Wheeler Whipple House (564 West 400 North, listed 1979) and the Thomas and Mary Hepworth House (725 West 200 North). However, this district does not have a local historic district designation, so there are no demolition protections. Exterior changes and demolitions in the district do not require preservation review. No other West Side neighborhoods currently have National Register district designations, and none have local historic district designations.
Status
Still Endangered
Status Explanation
The West Side’s historic neighborhoods still lack formal historic protections. As of May 2026, none of these neighborhoods has a local historic district designation, and no comprehensive surveys have been done to document historic resources before redevelopment begins. The Northwest Community Plan update, which covers Rose Park, Fairpark, Jordan Meadows, Westpointe, and part of Poplar Grove, reached the Planning Commission in February 2026 and is moving toward adoption. This plan will shape zoning, land use, and development priorities for the next 15 years, offering a key chance to include preservation in West Side planning. At the same time, the Power District project started construction in October 2025, with Rocky Mountain Power’s new 10-story headquarters already underway. With so much development happening quickly, the lack of historic documentation and protections is becoming more urgent. There is still time for proactive preservation, but that window is closing.
About the Threat
Salt Lake City’s West Side neighborhoods are at risk because of growing development interest, a lack of formal historic documentation or protections, and fast-moving planning processes that will shape land use for years to come.
The Power District is the biggest project happening now. The Larry H. Miller Company began building a mixed-use development on about 100 acres along the Jordan River, next to the Utah State Fairpark. The first building is the Rocky Mountain Power headquarters. When finished, the plan includes about 4,700 housing units, 1.3 million square feet of office space, 320,000 square feet of retail, 300 hotel rooms, and possibly an MLB stadium. This major investment in what used to be underused industrial land next to established neighborhoods marks a big change for the West Side, raising land values and increasing redevelopment pressure nearby.
The Northwest Community Plan update, which reached the Salt Lake City Planning Commission in February 2026, will set the main policy for growth in Rose Park, Fairpark, Jordan Meadows, Westpointe, and part of Poplar Grove for the next 15 years. The plan highlights areas for possible mixed-use development and higher residential density, showing the city’s goal to increase housing. However, the plan does not yet include a clear way to identify, document, or protect historic resources in these neighborhoods. If this is not added before the plan is adopted, historic preservation may be overlooked instead of being a key part of the plan.
Citywide zoning changes made in 2025 add to the pressure. The new mixed-use zoning rules, the RMF-35/45 combination, and middle housing reforms all make it more profitable to redevelop older properties. Many West Side neighborhoods have buildings on large lots in zones that now allow higher-density development. Without protections or local historic district status, there is no preservation review before demolition permits are given.
The West-East Connections Study is a two-year transportation planning project funded by a federal grant. It is working with West Side residents to understand infrastructure needs. Major reconstruction is planned for 600/700 North in 2026. While these projects can improve neighborhood access, past road widening and corridor work have often harmed historic homes. It is important to watch for impacts on historic streetscapes.
There has been some good news: Preservation Utah’s Rose Park Homes Tour in October 2024 was its first event in a West Side neighborhood and showed strong community interest in preservation. The event drew hundreds, and a related lecture at the Day-Riverside library drew new audiences to the area's history. Preservation Utah expanded its historic homes tours to other West Side neighborhoods in 2025 and 2026, including Fairpark. The city’s Love Your Block program now offers grants of up to $3,000 per project in the West Side and Ballpark neighborhoods, up from $2,000, providing communities with a valuable resource for neighborhood improvement.
Access
All West Side neighborhoods are active and home to many residents. They are open to the public and welcome visitors. The Jordan River Parkway Trail passes through the area and links several neighborhoods. Rose Park, Fairpark, Glendale, Poplar Grove, and nearby areas all have active community councils and hold regular events.
History
All West Side neighborhoods are active and home to many residents. They are open to the public and welcome visitors. The Jordan River Parkway Trail passes through the area and links several neighborhoods. Rose Park, Fairpark, Glendale, Poplar Grove, and nearby areas all have active community councils and hold regular events.
What can be done? What was learned?
The adoption of the Northwest Community Plan is the most important opportunity right now. People in Rose Park, Fairpark, Jordan Meadows, Westpointe, and Poplar Grove should review the draft plan, attend Planning Commission and City Council meetings, and speak up for language that supports historic resource surveys in West Side neighborhoods and for considering local historic district status where it makes sense.
Historic resource surveys are detailed studies that document which buildings and sites exist, explain why they matter, and identify which might need protection. These surveys are needed before any local historic designation can happen. Preservation Utah can help communities get started on this work. Surveys are also a chance to collect oral histories and document the cultural and social importance of West Side neighborhoods, which goes beyond just looking at buildings.
It’s important to get involved with community councils. The councils in Fairpark, Rose Park, Glendale, and Poplar Grove get early updates on planning proposals and offer organized ways for neighbors to respond together. Joining or supporting these councils is one of the best ways to stay informed and involved as development increases.
The Love Your Block program, offered by Salt Lake City’s Mayor’s Office, is available to West Side neighborhoods and now offers grants up to $3,000. This program supports community-led projects to improve neighborhoods and helps build local organizations and a sense of identity around historic character.
What is the timeline?
The Northwest Community Plan is currently under review by the planning commission and is expected to go to the City Council for adoption in 2026. This plan is the key preservation opportunity in the near future, as it will set long-term policies for the neighborhoods involved. The Power District project will be built in phases over several years. The West-East Connections Study will return to the community in August 2026 with proposed solutions for community feedback before funding priorities are set.
What has been the public discussion?
Preservation Utah’s first organized preservation event on the West Side was the Rose Park Homes Tour in October 2024. It drew a strong response, with feedback very positive and showing that West Side residents care deeply about their neighborhoods’ history and preservation. In 2025 and 2026, Preservation Utah added more tours and lectures in Fairpark. The Northwest Community Plan process has also spurred significant community involvement, with residents discussing issues such as density, displacement, and neighborhood character. The West-East Connections Study reached 1,051 community members in May and June 2025, mostly from Rose Park, Poplar Grove, and Glendale. The Power District groundbreaking received widespread press, with coverage describing it as a much-needed investment in a part of the city that has often been overlooked.
Links to more information and articles.
Northwest Community Plan update — Planning Commission staff report, February 2026: https://www.utah.gov/pmn/files/1377761.pdf
Building Salt Lake, February 2026 — Northwest Community Plan Planning Commission coverage: https://buildingsaltlake.com/new-master-plan-draft-calls-for-more-mixed-use-corridors-on-slcs-northwest-side/
Salt Lake City Northwest Community Plan project page: https://shape.slc.gov/projects/northwestplanupdate
Salt Lake City West-East Connections Study: https://www.slc.gov/transportation/plans-studies/west-east-connections/
Salt Lake City Love Your Block 2026 — West Side grants: https://www.slc.gov/mayor/2026/05/01/salt-lake-city-deepens-investments-in-west-side-ballpark-neighborhoods-with-love-your-block-grants-in-2026/
Power District groundbreaking, October 27, 2025: https://www.techbuzznews.com/the-power-district-goes-vertical-salt-lakes-west-side-rewrites-its-future/
Larry H. Miller Power District groundbreaking — KUTV: https://kutv.com/news/local/larry-h-miller-company-starts-work-to-redevelop-salt-lakes-power-district
Jordan River restoration — KUTV: https://kutv.com/news/local/larry-h-miller-company-announces-project-to-restore-jordan-river-on-salt-lakes-west-side