A long-quiet corner of Central 9th is finally on deck for a major makeover. Cole West is moving ahead with a 144-unit affordable apartment project at 900 South and 200 West, branded the Amelia, with ground-floor retail steps from the 9-Line Trail and a nearby TRAX station. The developer says it has secured tax-exempt bond capacity to help subsidize construction and is aiming to break ground toward the end of this year.
Project details
As reported by Building Salt Lake, Cole West was awarded $14.5 million in Private Activity Bond volume cap this month to help finance theAMELIA. The current plan calls for 144 units, split into 99 one-bedrooms and 45 two-bedrooms, plus about 2,374 square feet of ground-floor commercial space divided into two tenant spaces. Building Salt Lake also notes that the developer intends the building to be 100% income restricted for households at or below 60% AMI and is targeting a construction start in the fourth quarter of this year.
Developer and design
Cole West’s project page lists the site as 900 South at 200 West and includes renderings along with credits for the design team. The listing describes theAMELIA as a 0.85-acre multifamily project with a mixed-use ground floor and identifies Cole West Design as the architect, along with several engineering consultants. The project page essentially confirms the location and basic development program for the block.
Zoning and height incentives
Salt Lake City’s MU-6 zoning typically allows buildings up to about 65 feet, according to Salt Lake City Planning. Those planning documents lay out MU-6 standards and design expectations for projects in the zone. Building Salt Lake reports that the city has given pre-approval for theAmelia to reach roughly 77 feet by using a height incentive that applies because the entire building would be income restricted.
Site, transit and neighborhood
The Amelia would occupy a key corner along the 9-Line Trail in a stretch of Central 9th that has drawn new restaurants and small businesses in recent years. The site sits just steps from the 900 South TRAX station, which is served by UTA’s Blue, Red, and Green lines, according to the station listing. That level of transit access is central to the developer’s transit-oriented approach and factors into the city’s willingness to allow the extra floor for income-restricted housing.
If financing and approvals stay on track, Cole West hopes to break ground toward the end of the year and finally move the long-vacant corner into active use for residents and ground-floor businesses. City permits, final design signoffs and any needed remediation work will ultimately dictate the exact construction timetable.
