Relocations, Redevelopments, Revitalizations, OH MY! (Part 2 of 2)

I recently shared part one of a two-part narrative highlighting corporate relocations to, and redevelopment of?The Granary District, one of downtown Salt Lake City’s fastest growth areas. The redevelopment of this long-anticipated, industrial “ish” area is changing the face of Salt Lake City one block at a time.?

One area within The Granary lines the primary access into Salt Lake City off I-15 (600 South) a major link to the core of downtown. For far too long, this area has been a less than impressive entry into Utah’s state capital. That is now changing in real-time with the 13-acre redevelopment of?The Post District?and is very exciting for Salt Lakers, and individuals and businesses looking at relocating into Utah.?

Like in other major cities across the country, the activation of former industrial-centric neighborhoods fosters the “cool” innovative, and fun parts of downtowns. Over the years I’ve visited places like the Highline District in NYC, Lodo in Denver, and more recently the North Loop in Minneapolis. These formerly blighted or rough parts of town have turned into forward-thinking mixed-use developments driving new business, housing, and interesting architecture.?

The Post District and Granary at large are experiencing the same. The redevelopment of this area is expanding the city’s core to the southwest, cementing Salt Lake City as a true destination for activation, lifestyle, and workforce, and not just a fly-over-city. One can only imagine building a new neighborhood is nothing short of complex, and certainly requires pioneering guts, so I found myself asking, “from where did this vision and confidence stem?”

I had the opportunity to sit down with Brandon Blaser, one of the key developers and driving forces behind The Post, to understand his draw to the area and overall vision for the site. Blaser, a Utah native, spent two decades out of state working on projects across the country. He returned to Salt Lake City a few years ago, motivated to make a positive impact in his hometown by undergoing thoughtful development to differentiate the city. In the short time back, he has begun some of the largest redevelopments the city has seen; the largest of which is the redevelopment of The Post.?

Why this area?

The Granary has long displayed vacant lots and abandoned buildings. Recently, developers have begun to look at the area with the utmost potential for creative solutions for Salt Lake City. Blaser was drawn to The Post to transform the site with thoughtful, responsible, and sustainable opportunities. With that in mind, Blaser shifted all his energy towards The Post to ensure its revitalization is successful and a draw for people now and for years to come.?

“Whatever is created needs to be done in lockstep with the existing community, city, and state. We’re not just building a project; we’re building a neighborhood. This is a unique opportunity, and we have the chance to do it right and set an example for responsible development,” said Blaser.

What’s the vision??

The vision of The Post is to “amplify the neighborhood experience by providing accessible greenspace, elevating the living space, and providing purposeful workspaces. Along with that, the vision is to provide one-of-a-kind food and drink options in a dynamic and interactive community.” “We are fusing adaptive reuse buildings with new build construction, molding the old with the new, and creating a new neighborhood hub for Salt Lake City,” Blaser added.?

A grand vision, which begged the question…

How will you see that through?

“We have the opportunity with the redevelopment of The Post to be forward-thinking on growth and affordability to create a sustainable community and economy. The Granary, as a whole, has that same opportunity, which requires the merging of public and private partnerships,” said Blaser.??

One of the most important public and private partnerships is affordable housing. “We lose part of our community if we only build for the upper income. The Post has dedicated product at ‘attainable’ rents, but follow-on phases in the area will have a truly affordable and attainable product mix. My firm’s goal is to reach 1,000 affordable and attainable housing units within the next 3 years in Salt Lake City, and always be 20-25 percent of our overall portfolio,” Blaser noted.?

Blaser referenced as an example, “The Pearl District in Portland had similar redevelopment dynamics 10 years ago just as The Post and The Granary. Though The Pearl (and similar areas) have been tremendously successful, where they may have missed the mark has been with preserving mixed-income attainability. We’re being proactive to ensure that what is redeveloped in the overall area will have all constituents in mind.”??

The Granary, which encompasses The Post, is in an opportunity zone, attracting investors that understand the need for affordability. “You want to partner with people with the same ethos, not just for the return,” said Blaser. “Investors don’t need to be ‘sold’ on this area. They are coming to us, which allows us to be selective of like-minded individuals.”?

Are tech, and life science companies target tenants?

“Innovative companies looking to be part of the urban fabric are our target tenants. What The Post District ( I (and The Granary at large) offers with regards to space, necessary zoning, and urban amenities is very appealing to those sectors,” said Blaser. “This old industrial area is uniquely positioned to appeal to new industrial tenants of tech, biotech, and life science. I would say that we are actively looking for those tenants and partners that see the uniqueness and potential of The Granary.”??

A sector near and dear to my heart, many local private and public entities have developed and fostered thoughtful initiatives to promote the growth of tech and life science industries. These initiatives have proven successful, as Utah and Salt Lake City have become an immense draw for companies across these industries. It’s exciting to see new developments and redevelopments such as The Post embrace and support these initiatives to progress Utah’s economy.??

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