See what’s finally coming to South Salt Lake: the first building downtown

One Burton will feature 180 apartments and 7,000 square feet of retail space as the city’s longstanding vision begins to unfold.

Southern Salt Lake • The excitement surrounding South Salt Lake’s revitalization took a tangible step forward Tuesday with a celebratory shovel spin on Main Street and Burton Avenue.

Construction of One Burton, a new mixed-use development near 2400 South, is now underway and, along with other developments, also has the prospect of creating a downtown area in this city of 27,000.

The eight-storey complex will have 180 apartments – 50 two-bedroom, 103 one-bedroom and 27 studios. Planned amenities include a gallery, spa and fitness facilities, and rooftop courtyards. The project, which is expected to open in 2024, will also include 7,000 square meters of retail space for restaurants or neighborhood shops.

Downtown South Salt Lake has been a work in progress since 2016. The intention is to add more housing, commercial and nightlife, said Mayor Cherie Wood. After years of planning, pandemic-related disruption and infrastructure problems, city officials, architects and developers held Tuesday’s ceremony on an open lot formerly occupied by a church, apartment building and warehouse.

“This is our first groundbreaking after all, and we’re thrilled,” said Wood, noting how much she liked the design, which wraps around a billboard overlooking Interstate 80. “This is one of many coming to us downtown.”

Despite the excitement surrounding One Burton, the building will not contain the affordable units Utah so desperately needs to ease a housing crisis.

City officials had been working with these developers before the housing crisis worsened, Wood said, so they didn’t address the affordability element for this building. However, the mayor expects affordable units in the future.

How it will look

“One Burton” will feature mid-century modern architecture that fits the neighborhood, said Doug Thimm, architect at Architectural Nexus, the Salt Lake City office that designed the building. “The idea was to bring in something that could be a piece of architecture that becomes part of the bigger picture.”

Thimm is confident that this development will help realize the city’s vision for its downtown area. The building, including its commercial space, is expected to draw people from across Salt Lake County.

“I’ve been talking to the city again and again for over 20 years,” said Thimm, “and to see that something is finally happening here is very exciting for us.”

For this project, Architectural Nexus is working with Abstract Development Group, a subsidiary of a New York-based real estate company, and Jacobsen Construction Co.

More changes in South Salt Lake

Developers plan another 12 projects in the area in the near future.

“You’re going to see changes like you’re already seeing in South Salt Lake,” said Gary Ellis, President and CEO of Jacobsen. “…This is a real indication that we are providing an area where people can come and live in South Salt Lake and really revitalize the area.”

Downtown South Salt Lake is designed to provide grocery stores, public spaces, and access to public transportation.

“We’ve always struggled with people not knowing we’re a city. If we were to build a downtown area, such developments would take over 50 years,” Wood said, “and that would really be something for us to hang our hats on as a community.”