The University neighborhood is the area surrounding the University of Utah campus; the state’s oldest institution of higher education. It is located on Salt Lake City’s East bench between the neighborhoods of Federal Heights and Foothill. Since 1920, young families have lived alongside professors and students in what feels like a small college town; complete with its’ own zip code and tree-lined streets. Local establishments line 1300 E. and provide a unique and active atmosphere with numerous shops and well-known restaurants like The Pie Pizzeria, Aristos, Indochine Vietnamese Bistro, and Market Street Grill; which is housed in an old historic fire station.
President’s Circle, a district located on the University campus, is listed on the historic register and is composed of eight unique and historic buildings, named after former University of Utah Presidents. On the northern edge of the neighborhood are the notable fraternity and sorority houses that have been regularly packed since the early 1920s.
Many of the homes in the area are Victorian and can be traced back to the days when the University of Utah was founded. Other architectural styles include Gothic Revival, Tudor, and Craftsman.
Like other neighborhoods in Salt Lake City, the residents of the University district place a high priority on preserving the historic characteristics within the neighborhood, and add to the progressive vibe of the University next door.
Photo courtesy of Todd McKinley