South Salt Lake City leaders are considering a new zoning request for a proposed affordable senior housing project called Platform 3900. The project is a collaboration between Thomas Lee of the Lee Group and Marion Willey of the Western Region Nonprofit Housing Corporation. The developers gave the council a first look at the proposal Aug. 13, asking for some zoning concessions to make the project possible.

“We’re super excited about this project,” Lee told the council. “This is essentially a passion project for us because it’s not a market rate project. This is an affordable project, and it’s a senior project. So when we get to do projects like this, we think about our parents and why we’re doing it and what they need in their community and their lives and stuff like that to improve their lives.”

The project would feature 150 one- and two-bedroom rental apartments across two buildings. Tenants would pay 60-80% of the area median income, and the developers intend to retain and manage the property long-term. 

“Our goal is to hold this long enough that our kids and the next generation can grow up learning property management, learning how to do this, and hopefully we shepherd them along the way, do it right, and they get to take over,” Lee said.

Beyond housing, the project aims to foster social interaction with six dedicated community rooms, green spaces and a dog park. Planned programming includes yoga and gardening. The developers also hope to attract a grocer to a 4,000-square-foot ground-floor retail space, offering discounted rent to a qualifying tenant.

To move forward, the project needs a zoning change because certain aspects, such as a proposed 0.5 parking spaces per unit, do not meet current city requirements. Lee noted that many seniors have only one vehicle or no vehicle at all, and the project's proximity to the Meadowbrook TRAX station makes a lower parking ratio workable.

“Currently, our code for multi-family dwelling developments we require a certain number of amenities according to the number of units provided and we think it will be best if we come up with a different category to best accommodate this project,” City Planner Jess Shum said.

Initial council response seemed positive. Councilmember Clarissa Williams expressed her support.

“I love this idea because we all would like to have our grandparents closer and having them in a community that can thrive rather than them being alone somewhere,” she said. “It's a great concept.”

Councilmember Ray deWolfe praised the developers’ thoughtful approach.

“I like your project, and I like how it encompasses a holistic approach…to senior living,” he said. “I could see that you guys are really thoughtful about it, and I also like how you hold on to your investments and manage them.”

Shum and her staff will continue to work with the developers to determine the appropriate zoning and will bring the project back to the council for further consideration in the coming months.