Rose Park Homes Tour

Rose Park Homes Tour

Saturday, October 19, 2024

10 am to 2 pm

Rose Park Neighborhood

Purchase Tickets for the Homes Tour

 

On the day of the tour, 5-6 private residences will be open to tour.

Tickets

Discounts

 

Rose Park History Lecture

Saturday, October 12th

2 pm to 4 pm

Day-Riverside Library, 1575 W 1000 N, Salt Lake City

Preservation Utah is excited to kick off the Rose Park Homes Tour with a special lecture on the history of the Rose Park neighborhood.

 RSVP for the lecture

 

A Historical Overview

The Rose Park neighborhood began development in 1947, marking a significant chapter in Salt Lake City’s urban history. Four independent contractors—Edward Holmes, Howard Layton, Stayner Richards, and Alan E. Brockbank—orchestrated the original development, resulting in one of the city's largest concentrations of affordable postwar housing.

Characterized by small, simple brick and frame houses, Rose Park's homes were designed to qualify for Federal Housing Administration loans, particularly benefiting returning veterans. This neighborhood is a testament to intentional community planning efforts that shaped suburban living in the postwar era.

The 1947 development plan was ambitious, laying out a ten-year vision that included high-density senior living, duplex rental units, a shopping center, churches, schools, and parks. Additionally, the planners embraced the newly proposed I-15 freeway system, integrating it into the neighborhood’s layout.

Departing from Salt Lake City’s traditional grid, Rose Park’s streets were famously replatted into curvilinear roads. These roads were designed to evoke the shape of the neighborhood's namesake flower, breaking up the monotony of the simple housing designs. Each street was named after a popular rose variety of the era, adding to the neighborhood’s unique charm.

Landscape architecture was a fundamental part of Rose Park’s initial development. Each street was assigned a tree variety to create a canopy, which has largely survived and now represents one of the densest tree covers on Salt Lake City’s westside. This thoughtful design has made Rose Park not just a place to live but a vibrant, cohesive community.

Rose Park is a symbol of postwar suburban development, reflecting historical and architectural significance in Salt Lake City.

Purchase Tickets for the Homes Tour 

Preservation Utah's Modern Advocacy: A Legacy of Preservation and Progress

Preservation Utah, formerly the Utah Heritage Foundation, began its journey into modern advocacy in 2001. The catalyst was the threatened demolition of the 1955 International Style First Security Bank building. This pivotal moment marked the organization's commitment to preserving modern architectural heritage.

In the early 2000s, Preservation Utah played a crucial role in the Section 106 consultation for the former Salt Lake City Main Library (1964). Through meticulous research, the organization demonstrated the building’s eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places and successfully advocated for a seismic retrofit that preserved its character-defining features.

Following these significant victories, public opinion shifted positively towards modern design. Preservation Utah's efforts culminated in the successful designation of the 1958 Northwest Pipeline building on the National Register of Historic Places. This designation facilitated its purchase by a developer who utilized historic rehabilitation tax credits after the city’s police department vacated the building in 2013.

To build on these successes, Salt Lake Modern was established in 2008 as a committee dedicated to documenting and raising awareness about mid-century modern design in the Salt Lake region. Salt Lake Modern quickly gained momentum by hosting events and engaging with property owners, enthusiasts, and the design community. This initiative reached a new audience beyond traditional preservation circles, highlighted the significance of post-war architecture, and generated additional revenue for Preservation Utah.

Though Salt Lake Modern went on hiatus during the pandemic, it is now experiencing a revival with the launch of the Rose Park Modern Homes Tour. This renewed effort aims to continue the mission of preserving and celebrating Utah's mid-century modern heritage.

Tour Logistics

  • Ticket Requirements: Every participant must have a ticket. Tickets come as a tour brochure and wristband, which are needed to enter each home.
  • Ticket Collection: Brochures and wristbands will not be mailed in advance. All ticket holders, including those purchasing tickets in advance or on the day of the event, must collect their materials at the tour headquarters (location TBA) before starting the tour.
  • Event Conditions: The tour will take place regardless of weather conditions (rain or shine). Unused tickets cannot be refunded.

Important Information for Attendees

  • Accessibility: None of the homes are wheelchair accessible, and most have stairs. Please be cautious and watch your steps.
  • Shoe Covers: Shoe covers will be provided and must be worn inside all homes.
  • Pets: Pets are not allowed inside the homes.
  • Personal Items: Backpacks and umbrellas are not permitted inside homes. You may leave umbrellas outside, where staff and volunteers will watch them. Small purses are allowed inside.
  • Privacy: All homes are private residences, accessible only during the tour. Homeowner names and home addresses will not be disclosed before the tour.
  • Photography: Photography is allowed only outside the homes; it is prohibited inside.
  • Tour Flexibility: During the tour hours, attendees are free to visit any or all homes at their own pace. (There is no specific order and you do not need to be at a specific house at a specific time.)

Purchase Tickets for the Homes Tour

 

More in this category: « Annual Historic Homes Tour
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