Neighbors Rally Against 800 East Rezone

Residents gathered in the rain outside three historic homes to oppose a proposed five-story mixed-use development near 400 South.

Updated on Nov. 14, 2026 in City Hall

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a rain-wet residential street lined with older brick homes receding toward a distant mountain ridge, evoking neighborhood debate over new housing density. — Residents of three historic 800 East homes rallied in the rain Saturday against a rezone that would allow a five-story project with 109 apartments. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Should cities allow older homes to be replaced with apartments in your neighborhood?

Neighbors gathered in the rain on Saturday outside three residential buildings on 800 East to oppose a rezone that would clear the way for a five-story mixed-use project. The proposal, called The Viv, would replace the buildings with 109 apartments.

Why it matters

The rezone request pits housing growth on a mixed-use corner against the preservation of existing homes in Salt Lake City. The outcome will shape how the city balances new density with the character of its neighborhoods.

The three residential lots are not zoned for mixed-use development, while the corner property already is. Council action on the rezone and community plan amendment remains pending.

The players

Jennifer Napier-Pearce

Salt Lake City Council member for District 4, who was reported to be negotiating with the developer over the proposed project.

The details

The Planning Commission recommended approving the rezone but denying the change to the community plan. Council staff said District 4 Council Member Jennifer Napier-Pearce was negotiating with the developer, a local hospitality firm.

1901, 1906 and 1921: The three residential buildings were constructed.
May: The City Council held a public hearing on the rezone.
Nov. 6: A council staff email said Napier-Pearce was negotiating with the developer.
Saturday, Nov. 8: Neighbors gathered outside the three buildings to oppose the rezone.

Political Context

The request asks the city to rezone three residential lots and amend the community plan, a combination the Planning Commission split on by approving the rezone but rejecting the plan change. Neighbors say they back housing on the corner but want the existing homes kept.

A rezone would allow 109 apartments where seven homes now stand, changing what residents see and how traffic and parking work on 800 East. Residents who want to weigh in can follow the council's review of the request.

The takeaway

Rezoning decisions often hinge on whether new housing and existing neighborhood character can coexist on the same block. Watch how the council resolves the split between the rezone and the community plan amendment.