The site for the University of Utah’s first west-side campus occupies 1.89 acres in Salt Lake City’s Rio Grande District, currently enclosed by wire fencing and overgrown with weeds.
Inside the lot lies a cement foundation, a remnant of the industrial businesses that once thrived here, including a soap factory and a poultry plant dating back to the early 1900s.
However, the ground beneath is tainted with arsenic and other hazardous contaminants, marking the area as blighted for decades, according to a university report.
Efforts are now underway to transform this derelict space into a hub for education, expected to address both the needs of the community and the growing focus on health science at the U.
Recently, university officials announced another significant step towards revitalization, celebrating the acquisition of a $2 million Brownfields Cleanup Grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
This funding will initiate the cleanup process necessary for transforming the polluted land into usable classroom space.
In 2021, the University purchased the lot for $6.8 million from a private owner.
Located just west of Pioneer Park, the site runs between 550 West and 570 West along University Boulevard, approximately three miles from the main campus on the foothills of Salt Lake City.
Transport accessibility via the Utah Transit Authority’s TRAX line along University Boulevard was part of the vision for the satellite campus.
Originally, the university was expected to play a key role in the city’s plans for the Rio Grande District, which aims to create an “innovation hub” by revitalizing the area’s educational and economic potential.
However, doubts were cast regarding the U.’s commitment to this vision in 2024, as officials pointed to leadership changes leading the university to explore different directions.
Now, under the direction of Mike Brehm, the U.’s associate director of environmental management and code compliance, the project appears back on track.
Brehm noted that the collaboration among various university departments, including real estate, campus planning, and environmental researchers, has been crucial in moving the project forward.
Some preliminary cleanup work has already started, although the complete remediation project is expected to cost $3.5 million.
The University has committed to investing $1.5 million in addition to the federal grant to ensure the site is ready for future construction.
The goal is to witness a transformed landscape within a decade, reflective of the city’s broader revitalization plans.
Currently, much of the Rio Grande District mirrors the U.’s site, marked by graffiti, trash, and remnants of an industrial past, coinciding with struggles related to a significant homeless population.
Despite the demolition of a previous shelter in January 2020, many individuals experiencing homelessness have remained in the area, drawn by its proximity to critical services.
City officials are working towards revitalizing this 20-acre area, of which 11 acres belong to the city, and planning for art installations, housing, offices, and a festival street along 300 South.
The Rio Grande Depot renovation is already underway, proving that revitalization efforts are indeed in motion.
Cara Lindsley, deputy director of the city’s Community Reinvestment Agency, acknowledged the challenges that accompany such transformative projects.
The city aims to create a vibrant west-side area, but that vision is complicated by the historical contamination of the land.
The process of removing toxins from the site will be expensive and daunting.
As part of its commitment to the EPA grant, the university will work to remediate the ground to business-level standards by conducting soil removal and chemical treatments.
In contrast, the city’s goals resonate with providing housing that requires stricter cleanup standards, creating a complex intersection among various stakeholders.
The previous landowner, who did not contribute to the contamination, invested $100,000 in remediation efforts but made little headway against the entrenched issues.
Now, with the land in the U.’s stewardship, it was previously leased to a company for office space and repairs during planning phases.
That lease ended when the company ceased operations, leading to the demolition of the remaining building in 2023.
Asbestos materials requiring removal have already been addressed by university personnel.
The site has a long history, housing industrial operations for 127 years, shifting from a multi-tenant building in 1898 to a variety of other uses including soap production, poultry processing, and automotive repairs.
These varied industrial activities have left the site littered with evidence of historical contamination, with reports indicating releases of harmful chemicals over several decades.
Moreover, communities residing in the west-side area face socio-economic disadvantages, marked by lower household incomes relative to the broader county averages.
For residents, health issues exacerbated by environmental burdens are a pressing concern, with asthma rates among adults in the region surpassing national averages.
The university acknowledges these challenges and aims to construct a campus that not only serves educational purposes but also enhances local public health and outcomes for residents.
This initiative aligns with the U.’s ongoing development of a new hospital in West Valley City—promoting health services in the west-side community.
Nevertheless, the timeline for addressing the contamination remains fluid; initial groundwater treatments are slated for completion by December and ongoing work is set to continue into 2029.
Specific construction timelines for the campus itself are still being determined.
As part of its strategic expansion, the University also acquired a downtown building last year for $38 million, which is expected to house another satellite campus, although it too requires updates for adaptive reuse.
Exhibits showcasing renderings of the envisioned west-side campus illustrate a vibrant future with thriving classrooms and research spaces, though substantial planning is ongoing.
Ultimately, the university anticipates building this new campus through a combination of public-private partnerships, strategic state funding, and private donations, contributing to a shared vision for a revitalized west-side legacy.
image source from：https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2025/06/02/university-utah-gets-2m-clean-rio/
