The urban infill site where The Aster now rises in Salt Lake City was once a shell of concrete and steel floors left behind when a previous development was scrapped a few years after its 2012 groundbreaking. Now it’s the next chapter in the downtown’s transformation, providing a mixed-income, mixed-use community that brings accessibility and connection to the urban core.
Project Details
Location: Salt Lake City
Developer: Brinshore Development
Architect: KTGY
Builder: Wadman Corp.
Opened: July 2023
Number of Units: 190
Unit Mix: Studios to four-bedrooms
Rents: $340 to $2,723
The Salt Lake City Community Reinvestment Agency repurchased the land in 2017 with hopes of transforming the site into something financially accessible for residents. Brinshore Development, architect KTGY, and general contractor Wadman Corp. stepped forward to create a flagship redevelopment project between existing high-rises and hotels.
The Aster accommodates a diverse range of incomes and household sizes in its 190 units. From studios to four-bedroom units, 22 apartments are at market rates, 95 are financially accessible to residents earning between 20% and 50% of the area median income (AMI), and 73 are for those earning between 51% and 80% of the AMI.
Kyle Aiken
The team created a three-building concept with integrated public spaces to set the development apart from other downtown projects. In addition to the apartments, the two newly constructed mixed-use buildings include 19,000 square feet of commercial space. The 2,000-square-foot historic building, Cramer House, was renovated to serve as a commercial space and will once again house a local business just as it did when it was a flower house after it was constructed in 1890. The paseo between the towers serves as a social gathering place for residents and the public.
“The Aster is helping to transform residents’ lives with new opportunities by providing a range of affordability and unit sizes, while also delivering on all of the elements that make an urban fabric complete,” says KTGY principal Keith McCloskey. “By providing a wide range of market-rate and income-based affordable units close to jobs, transportation infrastructure, amenities, and commercial spaces, The Aster delivers a flagship development and vibrant cultural hub that serves as an example of how mixed-income housing can catalyze equality among diverse urban communities.”
The Aster provides a modern twist to the skyline by combining the look of a contemporary glass and sleek metal high-rise with the industrial feel of an artist loft community. While the eight-story tower uses standard construction techniques and materials, the 12-story tower leverages a steel structural system aimed at shortening the overall construction timeline and achieving more affordable construction costs.
The amenities promote connection, with two large community rooms providing kitchens and ample seating. Residents also have access to a fitness center, a pet wash, bicycle storage, a wellness room, and multiple outdoor grilling decks.
