All the buildings on the site–including the ones with murals–were demolished due to long-standing environmental hazards, including soil and groundwater contamination, and building deterioration that threatened community safety. Demolition was essential to ensure a safer future for the area.

Additionally, the Fleet Block has long been slated for redevelopment, many years before the murals went up. The deteriorating buildings had sat empty since 2010, and following an analysis of the existing structure, it was determined that the murals could not be saved. The Granary District is one of Salt Lake City’s fastest growing neighborhoods. The vacant buildings posed a serious barrier to neighborhood connectivity. Removing the buildings means the City can now create new, safer midblock streets and provide needed open space, housing for families, and opportunities for local businesses.

Three acres on the southeast quarter of the block will be public open space. While the murals will not be re-created, $300,000 has been set aside to create new artwork that will be integrated into the public space. In the spirit of what the site has represented in the past, the City will commission a public artwork that reflects themes of social justice–signifying a welcoming, inclusive, and just city. Community members are invited to give input on the open space and artwork as design options are developed.

The call for social justice also inspired the City to include a community benefit agreement as part of the mixed-use development for the two northern parcels on the block.

The City will not be recreating them. A virtual 360-degree tour of these temporary murals, and individual photos of the murals, were documented and remain accessible to the public online.

The murals appeared on vacant City buildings, painted by a collective of anonymous artists outside City processes with the knowledge they’d be temporary. Now, the broader community has an opportunity to be a part of shaping new public art and the public open space together. The murals served as a catalyst for collective healing and social change. Moving forward, the City is honoring that message by asking all residents to share what that means to them in order to co-create a vision for a new public art piece in an open space that incorporates calls for social justice and inspires future generations to call for change.

While the City will not be creating a memorial, the images were captured and are publicly available online at slc.gov/fleetblock/project-history/. Going forward, the Salt Lake City Arts Council will commission public artwork inspired by our collective, continuous pursuit of social justice to be incorporated into the new open space. Family members of those depicted have been invited to participate by giving input to guide the vision for the design of this public space, in addition to input from the broader public in Salt Lake City. To learn more about the open space and participate in feedback opportunities, visit slc.gov/fleetblock/open-space/.

In 2020, in response to the murder of George Floyd, the City set up the Racial Equity in Policing Commission (REPC). The Commission is a permanent, ordinance-bound body appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the City Council. REPC evaluates Salt Lake City Police Department (SLCPD) through public and SLCPD direct engagement, as well as national research, to suggest improvements to the department’s policy, budget, and culture. The individuals appointed to REPC have lived experience in the City as people of color and/or knowledge of police interactions. The Commission has already forwarded many requests to the Mayor and Council, and all have been adopted thus far. These initiatives are in various stages of implementation. The City is consistently working to improve policing and its cultural responsiveness to the community and invite the public to engage with the CREP.

No. Salt Lake City continues to stand firm in its support for and pursuit of diversity, equity, and inclusion, despite national political pressures to move in a different direction. The establishment of the Racial Equity in Policing Commission took place during the community’s calls for change in 2020 and remains active today, with no plans to alter or dissolve it.

Significant changes have taken place in the City to elevate the role of social workers, support alternative response models in policing, and expand efforts to create a more inclusive and responsive government. We remain open to new ideas and approaches that make Salt Lake City a safe and welcoming place for everyone.

The City promised neighboring residents and businesses for years that it would turn this vacant property into a true asset for the community. In the place of hazardous, single-story warehouses, the City intends to fulfill that promise by providing open space and new development that reflects the neighborhood’s changing character.

Utah and Salt Lake City are experiencing rapid growth, resulting in a housing shortage and rising housing costs. The City has made unprecedented investments in affordable housing and open space to keep up with the growing demand and increased needs of the community. Redeveloping this vacant site is part of our commitment to ensuring Salt Lake City meets the needs of both current and future generations.

Developing the Fleet Block is also in line with a strategy outlined in Thriving in Place: “utilizing publicly owned property in support of long-term affordability and equitable development.” Learn more about Thriving in Place on our website.

Salt Lake City envisions Fleet Block as a vibrant, safe, and restorative community space that reflects our welcoming, inclusive, and just city.

Rooted in principles of industry, fortitude, and social justice, the redeveloped block will connect natural, inspirational, recreational, residential, and commercial spaces – both literally and figuratively. This diverse intersection of opportunities represents an increasingly equitable and hopeful future for Salt Lake City’s residents, businesses, community advocates, and visitors.

 Salt Lake City will achieve this vision by listening to and balancing the surrounding community needs to create a space reflective of Salt Lake City and its values.

Residents of the Granary District, and surrounding neighborhoods, will benefit directly from the new development. The City aims to create a vibrant, walkable community with mixed-income housing, retail, service-oriented businesses, engaging public spaces, and multi-modal travel options. The three-acre parcel to be developed into a public open space will provide natural and recreational respite to the residents and the broader city community. It will also create a new midblock crossing, improving connectivity in the neighborhood for people walking, biking, and driving.

The City will invest with development partners for the mixed-use developments on the north side of the block to create public benefits, which include: public open space, new midblock roads, curbs, sidewalks, and public art. When the development is complete, the City will receive taxes from the development, which will go into the general fund. The general fund pays for other community benefits and services the City provides.