Belvedere Apartments (Salt Lake City)

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Belvedere Apartments
Belvedere Apts.JPG
As seen from across State Street in 2014
USA Utah location map.svg
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Location29 S. State Street
Salt Lake City, Utah
Coordinates 40°46′07″N111°53′17″W / 40.768525°N 111.887951°W / 40.768525; -111.887951
Built1918–1919
Architect Miller, Woolley and Evans
MPS Salt Lake City MPS
NRHP reference No. 12000271 [1]
Added to NRHPMay 8, 2012

The Belvedere Apartments (currently The Belvedere or simply the Belle [2] ) is a historic residential building in downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. Opened as an "apartment hotel" in 1919, the structure was constructed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) and leased to James T. Keith to operate. In 1951, the church traded the building in exchange for multiple properties to the north of Temple Square. The apartments were again sold in 1978 and developed into condominiums.

Contents

Design

Typical floor plan at the time of the building's opening in 1919 Salt Lake City Apartment House, typical floorplan - The Hotel Monthly - July 1919.jpg
Typical floor plan at the time of the building's opening in 1919

The building is nine stories high, consisting of a north and south wing with a cross bar connecting the two (forming an H-shaped floorplan). The ground level contains commercial space for offices and, historically, stores. The exterior is brick with ornamental terracotta detailing at the foundation, second level balconies and the ninth level balconies. Designed by Miller, Woolley and Evans, the stylistic details and features do not fit any recognized architectural style. [3]

The structure is the tallest example of historic urban apartments in Salt Lake City. [3]

History

In March 1917, the LDS Church announced it would construct an elaborate apartment house near Social Hall Alley, on property recently acquired from Dr. James T. Keith, a local dentist and real estate developer. [4] [3] A few weeks later, the church also announced that Social Hall Alley would be expanded to a full-sized street and new buildings would be constructed for automobile dealers, garages and repair shops. The historic Social Hall would also be demolished as part of the redevelopment of the area. This transformation of the alley into 'Auto Row' was the idea of Dr. Keith. [5] [6] [7] As initial plans were further developed, changes were made, such as saving the Social Hall [8] and the exact location of the apartment house.[ citation needed ]

At its opening in fall 1919, the apartment hotel was leased to Dr. Keith's investment company. [9] It included upscale amenities such as doormen, elevator and switchboard operators, and room service. Although advertised as an "apartment hotel" the 144 units functioned almost exclusively as apartments. [3]

In December 1951, the church announced it was trading the apartment hotel with the Joseph William Taylor Company, in exchange for several properties just north of Temple Square. These properties included the Grand Central Market, New Ute Hotel and the Joseph William Taylor Memorial Mortuary. [10] In April 1978, Thompson Michie Associates, Inc. purchased the Belvedere from the Taylor Company, with the intent to convert the apartment hotel into condominiums. [11] The grand opening for the newly converted condominiums was held September 10–15, 1979. [12]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "National Register Information System – Belvedere Apartments (#12000271)". National Register of Historic Places . National Park Service.
  2. ↑ Rice, Robert (October 6, 1989). "Belvedere Remains the 'Belle' of Urban Living Environments". Deseret News . Salt Lake City. p. B1. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 4 MJSA Architects (February 16, 2012). National Register of Historic Places Inventor Registration Form: Belvedere Apartments (#12000271) (Report). National Park Service.
  4. ↑ "New Apartment House Second East Street". Salt Lake Herald-Republican . Salt Lake City. March 10, 1917. p. 4. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Auto Row to be Erected on Site of Old Land Marks". Deseret Evening News . Salt Lake City. March 31, 1917. Section 3, p. 7. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Modern Motor Row Will Rise On State Street". Salt Lake Herald-Republican . Salt Lake City. April 1, 1917. Motoring Section, pp. 1–2. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  7. ↑ "Landmarks Give Way To The March Of Progress". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. April 1, 1917. p. 24. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Old Land Mark Will Be Preserved and History of Building Recorded on Tablet". Deseret Evening News . Salt Lake City. April 21, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  9. ↑ "Belvedere Apartments to Offer Ideal Place to Live: Home Privacy and Hotel Conveniences to Be Combined". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. September 14, 1919. Society Section, p. 9. Retrieved February 9, 2025.
  10. ↑ "LDS Trades Apartment For Mortuary Property". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. December 23, 1951. p. B1. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  11. ↑ "Buyers of Hotel Note Condominium Intent". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. April 21, 1978. p. E13. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
  12. ↑ "The Belvedere Condominium". The Salt Lake Tribune . Salt Lake City. September 12, 1979. p. B3. Retrieved February 15, 2025.
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