Salt Lake City has initiated a new chapter for the Fleet Block with a call for development proposals on two parcels of city-owned land, according to a recent announcement on the city's blog. Covering approximately four acres out of an 8.75-acre property, this project aims to bring new life to the Granary District, a region known for its walking-friendly atmosphere and convenient access to the TRAX light rail lines, the city is also planning to implement upgrades for pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure with new bikeways, midblock streets, and expanded public open spaces.
City officials describe this step, the official Request for Qualifications (RFQ), as an opportunity to foster affordable and sustainable growth that caters to all residents, aiming to foster a community where "the City [becomes] more affordable, sustainable, and livable for families and residents of all backgrounds and income levels," said Tammy Hunsaker, the Department of Community and Neighborhoods director, as obtained by Salt Lake City. Applicants will be vetted by a selection committee, inclusive of community members, nonprofit leaders, and city representatives, who will prioritize developers' qualifications and the prosperity they envision for the city, and developers chosen for the project will later present their plans to local community councils.
The selected development of public open spaces alongside the Fleet Block will focus on inclusivity and the representation of social justice through public art, as a specialist consultant team is set to lead an approach rooted in equity and trauma awareness. This engagement phase, launching this spring, invites public input, which will ultimately drive the guiding principles and design concepts for the space.
Meanwhile, the sale of a 1-acre plot within the Fleet Block to Sentry Financial is in the works, and the income generated from this sale will be invested back into the community in the form of new infrastructure including midblock streets owned and maintained by the City, while Sentry Financial has committed to erect a multifamily building that provides family-sized units, affordable housing, and space for local businesses, all a prerequisite of the land deal, as detailed by Salt Lake City. Over a decade of planning, from rezoning to environmental cleanup, has gone into preparing the Fleet Block for redevelopment, signifying a commitment to transforming what has been a vacant lot since 2009 into a contemporary, multi-use urban space.
