Salt Lake City’s Avenues Neighborhood

See What The Avenues’ History Looks Like Today

The Avenues in Salt Lake City attract visitors from throughout the country. Well-preserved mansions tower over quaint bungalows on narrow streets that ooze historic charm. Many trees that line the steep streets on the northeastern side of Downtown Salt Lake are older than the houses they shade.

The term, “The Avenues,” has come to represent one neighborhood. The Avenues features a series of streets built into a perfect grid by industrious members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and others who helped domesticate the harsh desert. The area, on a hill overlooking the developing city, was one of Salt Lake’s first neighborhoods in the 1850s.

Famous Utah Grid System Defines The Avenues

Salt Lake City’s Avenues neighborhood is organized using a grid system that gives the city a well-structured layout. This grid system is a network of streets that intersect at right angles, forming blocks of consistent sizes. The Avenues neighborhood, is part of this larger grid system.

The grid is set up in relation to the cardinal directions (north, south, east, and west). The roads running north and south are called “Avenues,” while those running east and west are referred to as “Streets.” The Avenues neighborhood, situated north of downtown Salt Lake City, follows this pattern.

The streets are numbered in increments as you move away from the city center. The center of the grid system is the point where South Temple and Main Street intersect in downtown Salt Lake City. The Avenues neighborhood starts just north of this point.

For instance, the streets in the Avenues are often referred to using letters of the alphabet (e.g., A Street, B Street, etc.). As you move northward, the streets progress in alphabetical order. Similarly, the Avenues are numbered as you move eastward. This creates a clear and organized addressing system that helps residents and visitors navigate the area.

The grid system not only simplifies navigation. It also contributes to the aesthetic and architectural character of the Avenues neighborhood. The consistent layout of the streets and blocks allows for a mix of housing styles and designs. Those elements add to the neighborhood’s diverse and historic ambiance.

Porch Life Rules in The Avenues

The term “porch-life” is a modern label for an old Utah tradition. Many of Utah’s older neighborhoods feature homes of all sizes on narrow streets with large porches. These neighborhood features are credited with bringing people together. The tradition of spending evenings on the porch while watching the children play helped people connect. A wave or a nod over lemonade in the evening, or a few minutes spent rifling through a newspaper on the porch in the morning encouraged interaction.

Reynolds Price wrote a book called Out on the Porch, “In the evenings, as the outdoor air provided a cool alternative to the stuffy indoor temperatures, the entire family would move to the front porch.”

The Avenues porches are masterpieces designed for socializing. In time the area catered to society’s upper echelon (some of whom were compelled to compete with their neighbors). Ornate exteriors were masterfully handcrafted for mansions that line the city’s Avenues and they are a sight to behold. Even simple bungalows feature porches that are just as effective for strengthening the fabric of society.

Aerial view of the Avenues neighborhood in Salt Lake City Utah

Aerial view of The Meridien At Capitol Park in the Avenues neighborhood in Salt Lake City Utah

Stone structure in the Avenues neighborhood in Salt Lake City Utah

Aerial view of playground in the Avenues neighborhood in Salt Lake City Utah

Aerial view of the Salt Lake City Cemetery in Avenues neighborhood in Salt Lake City Utah

Aerial view of the Salt Lake City Cemetery in the Avenues neighborhood in Salt Lake City Utah

Sawadee Thai Restaurant in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City Utah

The Kura Door Japanese Spa in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City Utah

Library building in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City Utah

Aerial view of tennis courts overlooking the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City Utah

Aerial view of Lindsey Gardens Park in the Sugar House neighborhood of Salt Lake City Utah

The Avenues Neighborhood Highlights

Urban/Suburban

Power Vibe

Upscale

Status

Historic

Urban/Suburban

While 52 percent of residents in The Avenues rent their homes, 48 percent own. A high rent ratio and fast access to the inner city make this an urban neighborhood but the atmosphere is very suburban with large yards, tree-lined streets, and many immaculate mansions. When homes are remodeled, most are restored to their original period appeal with some modern-day amenities the pioneers would have loved to have had.

Power Vibe

The Avenues’ power vibe is like none other. Remember, this was one of the first neighborhoods built by a stalwart people determined to finally find peace after years of persecution. The Avenues’ elevated geographic location, and nearby Capitol Hill (the power center of the state) contribute to the ambiance in this historic, respected neighborhood. Some narrow streets and a steep incline from west to east give the area an eclectic feeling.

Upscale

Home prices in The Avenues are higher than the national median. The median home price is $672,251 compared to the national median of $281,900. The area is close to the University of Utah and Historic Downtown. It’s a prime location. The mountain and city views are stunning, and the neighborhood’s storied history has a lure of its own. Public transportation is easily accessed, and it’s just a short walk to the city center. Utah’s world-class ski resorts are less than 30 minutes to the east. The Salt Lake International Airport is about 20 minutes to the west. The location is prime and the lifestyle comes at a premium price.

Status

An address in The Avenues has always been a status symbol of sorts. It was established by people who could afford to hire the finest architects to design upper-class homes for socialites. Not every property was a mansion but many were. Today an Avenues address is a different kind of status symbol for university students, young professionals, and generational owners. The area is hip and modern thanks to the reclamation of many historic buildings. Coffee shops, restaurants, mom and pop shops, and small neighborhood mainstay stores keep the community centered. It looks to me like that’s working just fine.

Historic

The Avenues dates back to the late 19th century when it was developed as an upscale residential area. Established in the 1880s, it quickly became home to the city’s affluent families, drawn by its scenic location and convenient proximity to downtown. This neighborhood showcases a rich tapestry of architectural styles, including Victorian mansions and quaint bungalows, reflecting its historical evolution. The Avenues is known for well-preserved historic buildings, many of which are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Today people are drawn to its historic charm and eclectic atmosphere.

Salt Lake City’s Avenues Neighborhood

Joel Carson, REALTOR®

Salt Lake City's #1 Agent

The Avenues features a blend of Victorian, Craftsman, and Tudor-style houses, many of which date back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

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