About the site
The Other Side Village is a tiny home community for people experiencing homelessness. It sits on a portion of Salt Lake City-owned land at 1850 W. Indiana Ave. The 70-acre parcel was a municipal landfill from 1923 to 1962, so every phase of the project goes through an environmental cleanup review before anyone can live there.
Phase 1 was approved and is under development. The next phase, Phase 2A, is proposed north of Phase 1.
What is proposed for Phase 2A
The Other Side Academy (TOSA) proposes to expand the village onto about 4.3 acres directly north of the current homes. TOSA and the City entered this area into DEQ’s Voluntary Cleanup Program in spring 2025. Under this program, DEQ oversees the investigation and cleanup of the property to make the area safe for residential use.
What testing found
Phase 2A is in the old City landfill property, but outside the landfill boundary. No landfill debris was found during the investigation. Environmental consultants tested the soil, groundwater and soil vapor on Phase 2A in 2025 and 2026. They did not find contamination in the soil or soil vapor. Some contaminants were found in groundwater and surface water above federal screening levels.
What the cleanup plan proposes
The cleanup actions in the Remedial Action Plan will allow for unrestricted development of the site. The main components of the cleanup are:
- Remove fill material from the site. The fill material will be excavated, stockpiled, and tested. If any contaminated fill material is found, it will be disposed at a permitted facility. Fill material not impacted will be disposed on the northern portion of the City-controlled parcel, outside of Phase 2A.
- Build vapor protection into new buildings as an added safeguard, even though no soil vapor problems were found.
Background: Phase 1
TOSA is building the first phase of the village on an 8-acre area at the southeastern corner of the site. The village provides housing and supportive services for people experiencing homelessness who are also struggling with substance use, mental illness or physical disability. The first residents moved in in December 2024. Phase 1 will include 60 homes when complete.
Before construction, the City entered the Phase 1 area into DEQ’s Voluntary Cleanup Program. TOSA dug up contaminated soil and disposed of it at a permitted facility, and built vapor protection into the homes using thicker concrete slabs, elevated buildings and passive vapor mitigation systems. The site was cleaned to residential standards under DEQ oversight. To make sure it stays safe, TOSA must continue to monitor groundwater and inspect the vapor mitigation systems.
Comment on the Phase 2A cleanup plan
The Utah Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is taking comments on the draft plan to clean up the next section of the village, called Phase 2A, through 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 20. This covers only the cleanup plan. Building on Phase 2A also requires City Council approval, a separate process with no comment period open right now.