Sugar House, Salt Lake City

Sugar house also refers to a small building in which maple syrup is processed. For discussion of this, see Sugar house.

Sugar House area

Sugar House (sometimes typeset as Sugarhouse) is one of Salt Lake City, Utah's oldest neighborhoods. The neighborhood's name is officially two words (Sugar House) although it is often written as one (Sugarhouse). Sugar House is also the site of Westminster College.

Location

Sugar House is located within the Salt Lake City grid system roughly from about 500 East at its western edge to 2100 East at the east and 1700 South to 2700 South north to south, and is mostly within the boundaries of Salt Lake City. Many local businesses as well as private residences, although not strictly located within the bounds of Sugar House, use the name because of the area's name recognition. The center of the neighborhood is located at 1100 East 2100 South.

History

Sugar House Park, the largest park in the neighborhood.

Sugar House was officially established in 1853, six years after Brigham Young led the Mormon settlers into the valley. Despite its name, no commercial sugar production has ever been established in the area. The name came as a suggestion from Margaret McMeans Smoot, the wife of the mayor of Salt Lake City, Abraham O. Smoot, and was inspired by the sugar mill being built in the area at the time. The mill never produced more than unrefined molasses, due to problems with materials never arriving from Arras, France, and the project was scrapped, leaving the area with its name.^[1].

Sugar House Prison, the first Utah state prison, was located in Sugar House during the 19th century and early 20th century. The prison was closed in 1951 and the Utah State Prison officially moved to Draper. All of the buildings were subsequently torn down and the land was converted to Sugar House Park and Highland High School. ^[1]. In 1928, at the dedication ceremony of the Sprague Library, Mayor John F. Bowman suggested Sugar House from then on be referred to as "South East Salt Lake City." This suggestion was thoroughly rejected.

During the early 20th century, the corner of 1100 East and 2100 South was known as "furniture row" because three furniture stores were located there. However, economic reasons and the influx of big box stores and furniture chains has led to the demise of two of them. Only one, Sterling Furniture, remains, after Rockwood Furniture closed its doors in 1999 and Granite Furniture in 2004, after more than 80 years of operation.

During the 1980s, Sugar House became run down and crime ridden. Sugar House Park was notorious for drugs, crime, and illicit rendezvous.^{[citation needed]} In 1990, the "Sugar House Center" shopping center was completed.^[2] This brought large national chains to the area for the first time.

In 1998 The Commons, a shopping center located just east of the town center ("Granite Block") and adjacent to the "Sugar House Center", was constructed in response to low patronage and has since been the target of both praise and criticism.^[3] Supporters of the project argue that The Commons was a boon to the area, citing increased economic growth soon after opening. Detractors argue that the cost of development coupled with competition from major retailers such as Barnes & Noble and Old Navy effectively closed-out many small businesses.

A private effort was started by Doug White to establish a vintage style Rail Trolley to connect the Sugar House Business District to the TRAX station on 2100 South in South Salt Lake. In December 2006 the Utah Transit Authority, Salt Lake City, and South Salt Lake jointly commissioned a Transportation Alternatives Study to examine various transit possibilities on the Sugar House Spur. The study determed that a trolley running along a pre-existing rail line is the preferred alternative. In May 2009, Mayor Ralph Becker stated that the project could be complete by 2012, will cost $40 million to $50 million, and that he hopes it is the beginning of a new streetcar system across the city.^[4]

In September 2007, the owner of the Granite Block development on the corner of 1100 East and 2100 South, the site of many independent shops, announced plans to redevelop the area. In early 2008 the buildings on the eastern half of Granite Block were demolished in preparation for construction; Craig Mecham claims that the buildings "[were] not safe" due to their age.^[5] As replacement, Mecham plans to construct two seven-story buildings, one with office space and one with condos, with ground-level retail. Residents and business owners in the area have shown disapproval of the plans and fear that redevelopment will prevent local businesses from thriving and that big business and chain stores will dominate on and off the court. ^[6][7] The fenced-off demolition site remains a scar-like crater and an ongoing source of controversy in the neighborhood. ^[8] The recession of 2008-09 has at least temporarily put a halt to the project.^[9]

Overview

Obelisk in the center of Sugar House

In the past, the Sugar House community council had mostly shunned big box stores, and a cluster of curbside businesses existed along the intersection of 2100 South and Highland Drive (1100 East), including independent clothing and shoe stores, music shops, artist studios, public art galleries, a coffee shop, and an adult interest store called Blue Boutique. However, the recent redevelopment of the Granite Block forced many of these stores to either relocate or close. Zoning changes have created worry that the new development will not be as friendly to local businesses.^[7]

"Sugarhood" as known by the local is currently home to two adjacent shopping centers that collectively feature a ShopKo, a Toys "Я" Us, bookseller Barnes & Noble, clothing retailer Old Navy, a Whole Foods Market, a Bed Bath & Beyond, a Petco, several fast food and family restaurants, and a 10-screen Cinemark discount cinema. A strip mall is also located on the corner of 2100 South and 700 East. The corner of 2100 South and 1300 East also features three low-rise office buildings.

Between the shopping center and 2100 South is a small park which is aptly named Hidden Hollow. Sugar House Park is a park located between I-80, 2100 South, 1300 East, and 1700 East. Each Independence Day, the park is host to one of Salt Lake City's biggest fireworks shows, as well as a street arts fair. Collectively they attract around 20,000 people. However, economic problems appear to have put an end to the fireworks show, as city leaders announced that unless they are able to obtain funding, the 2009 show would be their last. The eclectic area is also the birthplace of Michael Jessie Corleon.

Revolving Granite Furniture sign, Sugar House

References

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External links

• Sugar House Community Council - Web site of the Sugar House Community Council.
• Sugar House Merchants Association
• Sugar House Park - Sugar House Park web site.
• Utah Stories - continuing coverage of the Sugar House redevelopment including plan photos and interview with developer Craig Mecham.

Coordinates: 40°43′31″N 111°51′35″W / 40.725384°N 111.859618°W / 40.725384; -111.859618