Article and Photos by Jacob Rueda
Local media and community members in Salt Lake City are abuzz over the partial demolition of the 5th Ward Meeting House near the downtown area.
The building, which was constructed in 1910 and belonged to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, is listed under the National Register of Historic Places. It housed a number of venues after the church sold it in 1978, including concerts and a few nightclubs, before finally becoming a Buddhist temple. After the Buddhist temple left, the building has been unoccupied.
Although the building is recognized as a historic structure, both by the State of Utah and nationally, it is not granted any additional protection as a result. However, because Salt Lake City recognizes its historicity, it is given some protection in that any change to the building must be approved by the city before it can take place, including demolition.
Different views of the partial demolition of the 5th Ward Meeting House near Downtown Salt Lake City.
The building was in a derelict state before it was partially demolished on Easter Sunday. Graffiti had been spray painted on the front and inside the building. A person named Jordan Atkin is listed as the owner of the property.
The demolition carried on until the city, once aware of the demolition work, put a stop to it the same day. Red “Stop Work” notices were placed around the property and on an excavator at the site.
Although the old world-style building remained largely intact, the front steps and the facade were completely destroyed. On the front steps lay a pile of red brick rubble on top of a cement foundation. Large trees that once stood next to the building's south side were uprooted and strewn about in the parking lot.
A fence was installed around the building on Tuesday to prevent anyone except city workers from going into it.
The partial destruction of the building drew considerable criticism from authorities and community members alike. However, the motivation behind the demolition remains unknown.
Nick Norris with the city’s planning division told local media on Monday that Atkins did not go through the proper procedure to obtain the necessary permits for a demolition.
As time passes, more and more is coming to light as to what led to the partial demolition of the building. Local station KUTV reports Atkin gave the order to have the building destroyed despite claiming that there was a “miscommunication.”
Two local entrepreneurs with The Third Space, Craig Sorensen and Jacob Buck, were in talks to acquire the property from Atkin, but their plans were put on hold once they learned of the demolition.
Sorensen and Buck’s goal was to convert the building into an events space that was “LGBTQIA, women, and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and other People of Color) focused,” according to their Instagram page.
Entrepreneurs Craig Sorensen and Jacob Buck say they had big plans for the 5th Ward Meeting House.
Although Atkin has remained tight-lipped about the situation, there was some indication in the beginning of what he was hoping for in the building.
“Initially, [Atkin] bought it and [he] wanted to turn it into some type of a residential home,” Sorensen said. Because the building was listed as historic, there were restrictions on what type of construction and renovations could be made to the building.
Buck said he and Sorensen, along with other prospective buyers, attended a meeting on March 20 to discuss revitalization plans for the building.
“It was a really good meeting. A lot of people loved what we were going to do with the building,” Buck said. Atkin also attended the meeting, but left before others could speak to him about their ideas, let alone get feedback from him.
“We had never met him in person,” Buck said. They communicated off and on with Atkin weeks before and the day after the demolition, but have not heard from him since.
For his part, Sorensen said he was excited for what he and Buck had envisioned for the space. When they received word of the demolition, they both felt a sense of confusion.
“We were so entrenched in the plans of the city and with Jordan as well and so it was hard to conceptualize,” Sorensen said.
Buck was equally baffled by the situation.
“How can this be, especially because it's a national landmark?” he said, “Something's wrong.”
Despite that, Sorensen said he’s grateful the demolition didn’t go further than it did.
“I'm glad they didn't get the best parts of the building,” he said, “The best parts are really the main chapel area, I call it the cathedral. Thank God they didn't get that part 'cause if that was gone, it would be the real soul of the building.”
There is discussion as to how much Atkin will have to pay for his attempt to destroy the building. The estimated fine is expected to be in the thousands of dollars. John Paulsen with Paulsen Construction told KUTV that those responsible for the demolition may have violated more than just city ordinances, but federal and other environmental rules as well.
Meanwhile Sorensen and Buck remain hopeful their plan for the space will come to fruition.
“I have an earnest hope that from the reputation we've already built individually, and now together as an organization, that people will select us to be the ones to lead the project,” Sorenson said, adding that he also hopes for some justice.
“My hope for the city is that they do the right thing, they find the person whose error this was,” he said.
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