If you have ever considered expanding or relocating your business to Salt Lake City, now is the time to do it. You may be surprised at the amount of local and national support available to support your project as well as the progress that is being made in these neighborhoods! This week’s highlight is Salt Lake City’s 9 Line Neighborhood (“The 9 Line”). Its vision? To connect people to places via multiple modes along 900 South, one of our City’s most loved corridors.

The 9 Line is located less than two miles from Downtown Salt Lake City and spans the communities of Poplar Grove to the north and Glendale to the south.

The general plan for the 9 Line presents a vision for the future, with long-range goals and objectives for all activities that affect Salt Lake City government. Planning staff in all departments work together with advisory committees, stakeholders, and the general public to ensure that our final, City Council adopted plans are in line with the community’s vision.

The concept of the 9 Line dates back almost 25 years with a number of planning efforts and studies that play an an important role with now current Salt Lake City 9 Line Trail study. In the fall of 2018, after the Redevelopment Agency of Salt Lake City (RDA) conducted stakeholder outreach and public comment periods, the RDA Board of Directors and the Salt Lake City Council adopted a plan for the “9 Line Project Area., 945 acres of land that will utilize tax increment to leverage the 9 Line neighborhood’s existing assets while undergoing community revitalization through economic development, commercial, housing, and public improvement projects.

The 9 Line CRA Plan outlines the following boundary:

Existing neighborhood assets include unparalleled natural areas, parks, trails, and green space. The area is characterized by single-family neighborhoods within close proximity to Downtown and employment centers. Commercial and light industrial centers, while currently underutilized, have the potential to act as economic drivers if they are better leveraged to ensure local impact.

Perhaps the greatest asset of the neighborhood is the diverse, youthful, and engaged population, which will be essential in furthering neighborhood revitalization activities.

In a growing community like Salt Lake City, youth and diversity matters. A recent study by Citylab identifies, the Millennial generation as the most racially and ethnically diverse in American history, and for some theorists, that fact alone explains young adults’ preference for urban living. Niche’s 2019 Most Diverse Places to Live in Utah analyzed Salt Lake City communities for the most diverse places on ethnic and economic diversity and place 9 Line’s Poplar Grove at #1 and Glendale as #4 in the entire state of Utah.

Alternate Means to Public Transportation and Recreation

The 9 Line Trail, constructed in 2011, runs from Redwood Road to 700 West along the old 900 South railroad corridor owned by Salt Lake City. It intersects with the Jordan River Trail near 1000 West. Bicyclists continuing east of the trail can use bike lanes on 900 South to connect to bike lanes and TRAX light rail at 200 West. The City’s goal is to extend the 9 Line to the Bonneville Shoreline Trail and Emigration Canyon.

New increased intensity, mixed-use projects are anticipated to be developed at targeted nodes.

Commercial and mixed-use development will add density where appropriate while preserving the character of single-family neighborhoods. As per the Westside Master Plan, the following nodes have been identified for growth and development:

• 900 West at 400 South
• 900 West at 700 South
• 900 West at 800 South
• 900 West at California Avenue
• 900 West at 900 South
• 900 South at the Jordan River
• Indiana Avenue at Navajo Street/Pueblo Street
• Redwood Road at Indiana Avenue
• Redwood Road at 900 South

Overlap with Opportunity Zones

The RDA’s 9 Line Project Area boundary overlaps with a Salt Lake City opportunity zone (a temporary tax deferral for capital gains reinvested) in two key areas. What does that mean for you? By taking on a project in the 9 Line Area you have the opportunity to apply for the (local) RDA’s loan and tax reimbursement programs as well as the (national) opportunity zone incentive. It’s what you might call a “double dip” but time is running out on these programs and we encourage you to act soon.

These two areas, circled in yellow, are west of Redwood Road (near 2 planned nodes) and just west of I-15 approximately 300 S to 900 S (near 5 planned nodes):

The idea is that these programs financially support the improvement of existing facilities in order to retain jobs, or add facilities to create more jobs for our economy. Our team is here to help you navigate all of these programs and answer any questions.

Despite having tremendous strengths, the area has experienced some important disparities from the city as a whole. Vacant, underutilized, and neglected properties have impacted the surrounding neighborhood’s potential for revitalization.

However, because of the City’s concerted effort and vision, the 9 Line is fast becoming an area of focus both locally and nationally.

Recent Wins

The first 9 Line Project Area RDA loan was granted in October to West End, LLC. This adaptive reuse project consists of two warehouses at warehouses at 740 West 900 South. The project is approximately 12,500 square feet of commercial space, multi-family housing, as well as pedestrian and road improvements to an existing alley.

This project is located across the street from the 9 Line Bike Park and recently completed public art.

Within the 9 Line CRA boundary is the newly completed Three Creeks Confluence Park which showcases Red Butte, Emigration and Parleys waterways near the Jordan River Parkway Trail. This major creek daylighting project is not only creating greenway corridors for the movement of wildlife, but also corridors for biking, walking, and exploring the beauty of Salt Lake City.  New public art celebrates the revitalization and the people who live there.

Now in its 12^th year, the 9^th West Farmers Market at Jordan Park (also known as The People’s Market), has grown each year to provide neighbors with fresh, local produce and the opportunity to market local handmade crafts. Live local entertainers provide the ambiance to mingle pleasurably with neighbors and enjoy ethnic food from our food vendors.

And speaking of entertainment, (pre-COVID) our own Living Traditions Festival has extended its lineup of entertainers to the Fall Garden Party at Jordan Park/International Peace Garden.  It’s part of providing cultural performances and connections to all communities, all year long.

Other great community celebrations include Riverfest, Groove in the Grove, SLC Fest, Sorenson Unity Center’s Community Festival, and the recent Glendale Sandlot (Movie) Festival.

At Salt Lake City’s Department of Economic Development we are excited at the coming growth and revitalization of the 9Line. Want more information about establishing or moving your business to this growing area? We’re here to help. Phone: (801) 535-7200 or Email: ed@slcgov.com.