SALT LAKE CITY HISTORIC LANDMARK COMMISSION

The Historic Landmark Commission (HLC) reviews all applications for landmark sites, demolition and new construction within locally-designated historic districts. They do not review interior work or exterior paint color, only exterior alterations. The majority of the projects presented to the HLC are either approved as submitted or with modifications.

Capitol Hill Historic District: Listed 1984

Download design standards for this district (as Adobe Acrobat PDF file).

The Capitol Hill Historic District is distinguished by narrow streets, steep topography and high density. Several of the homes in this district are among the oldest in the city, and for decades it attracted newly-arrived residents of limited means. Capitol Hill was convenient for its proximity both to Main Street and manufacturing establishments on the west side, yet it was removed from the noise of downtown. For about forty years only the lower slopes were developed owing to the difficulty of bringing water to the upper reaches of the neighborhood. The availability of water in the 1890's led to development that imposed the city's regular grid on top of paths created by residents to most easily navigate the steep land. The resulting small streets and irregular lots are an anomaly in Salt Lake City. Like the Avenues, Capitol Hill was derelict by the 1960's, but underwent a successful turnaround, one house at a time.