A Guide To Architectural Styles In The Avenues

Ever stroll the tree-lined streets of the Avenues and wonder what you are actually looking at? From ornate Victorians to cozy bungalows and sleek contemporary infill, each style tells a story about Salt Lake City’s oldest large residential neighborhood. If you are buying, selling, or planning a remodel, understanding these styles helps you set realistic expectations for layout, upgrades, and long-term value. This guide breaks down how to spot each style, what to expect inside, and the practical checks to make before you write an offer. Let’s dive in.

The Avenues at a glance

The Avenues runs across lettered streets A through V and numbered avenues 1st through 18th, climbing the Wasatch foothills on relatively narrow, walkable blocks. Most historic homes in the core were built from the late 1800s into the early 1900s, with later infill extending into the upper Avenues as water and transit improved over time. For context and history, the neighborhood’s book-length survey offers a reliable overview of development patterns and styles you will see on a typical walk. You can explore that survey in “The Avenues of Salt Lake City.”

The Avenues Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and much of the neighborhood also carries local historic district protections. You can review the National Register listing through the NPS NPGallery and see Salt Lake City’s local historic district guidance and processes on the city’s website. If you are planning exterior changes, design review and a Certificate of Appropriateness may apply.

• Reference: The Avenues of Salt Lake City neighborhood survey
• Reference: NPS NPGallery listing for the Avenues Historic District
• Reference: Salt Lake City Historic Preservation: The Avenues

Victorian-era homes

Victorian-era houses dominate many blocks in the lower Avenues. Styles range from vernacular forms with simple trim to high-style Queen Anne and Eastlake.

Street-view cues

Look for asymmetrical fronts, bay windows, and steep, varied rooflines. You might see decorative spindlework, patterned shingles, and sometimes a tower or turret on grander homes. Many have full or wraparound porches and mixed materials that create visual depth.

Inside layout and details

Interiors tend to have taller ceilings and formal rooms. Expect a front parlor, a separate dining room, and a series of smaller rooms rather than a single open great room. You might find original wood trim, built-ins, pocket doors, stained glass, and tiled fireplaces.

Buyer notes

Many kitchens have been expanded or relocated over the decades, and basements or attics are often converted. If a property once served as a rooming house, confirm that any interior changes were permitted. Porches and complex roofs can be costly to restore, so budget for those items if condition is fair.

Local examples identified in neighborhood surveys include the William Barton house at 231 B St, the Jeremiah Beattie house at 30 J St, and the David Murdock house at 73 G St.

Craftsman and bungalow

Early 1900s through the 1920s brought an Arts and Crafts sensibility. You will see many bungalows in mid-block sections between roughly 4th and 11th Avenues.

Street-view cues

Bungalows sit low and horizontal with broad porches. Look for low-pitched gabled roofs, wide eaves with exposed rafter tails, and tapered porch piers often set on stone or cobble bases. Many mix natural materials like shingles, clapboard, and clinker brick.

Inside layout and details

Plans feel more relaxed than Victorians with living and dining spaces that connect. Built-in bookcases, window seats, and a central fireplace are common. Most are one to one-and-a-half stories with efficient footprints.

Buyer notes

Original millwork and built-ins are prized and often preserved. Mechanical updates such as wiring, plumbing, and insulation are typical projects. Watch porch piers and stone bases for settlement, and check for moisture wear where wood meets masonry.

Mid-century and ranch

Postwar building brought single-story ranches and mid-century modern variants, especially in the upper Avenues and on infill lots.

Street-view cues

You will notice low, horizontal massing with larger picture windows and attached garages. Many have sliding doors to patios or terraces and minimal exterior ornament. Mid-century modern homes tend to emphasize flat planes and more glass. For a concise overview of what you will see in the Avenues context, review this neighborhood summary of postwar styles.

• Reference: The Avenues neighborhood overview with mid-century context

Inside layout and details

Plans are more open and informal than historic houses. Single-level living is common. Kitchens and baths can be smaller by today’s standards, but many have been remodeled.

Buyer notes

Updates often focus on kitchens, baths, insulation, and windows. Check roof systems and older picture windows for age and efficiency. Evaluate driveway slope, garage access, and winter practicality given the Avenues’ grades.

Contemporary infill and additions

Recent builds and remodels appear where lots were subdivided or older structures were replaced. Designs range from contextual to clearly contemporary, often shaped by steep topography and compact parcels.

What to expect

Newer homes often maximize light and views with larger glazing, cantilevers, and rooftop decks. On steep lots, structural work, retaining walls, and drainage can drive costs more than finishes. In the local historic district, visible exterior changes and new construction go through city design review that emphasizes compatible massing and setbacks while allowing contemporary interpretation. For details, review Salt Lake City’s design guidelines used in historic settings.

• Reference: Salt Lake City design guidelines for historic contexts

Touring and buyer checklist

Use this quick framework to evaluate condition, scope, and timelines before you commit.

Confirm historic status and permits

• Check whether the address is inside the local historic district. If so, exterior changes likely require a Certificate of Appropriateness. Start early with city preservation staff and confirm prior approvals in the public permit record. See Salt Lake City’s Avenues district guidance.

Watch for environmental hazards in older homes

• Lead paint: Homes built before 1978 may have lead-based paint. If you are renovating, understand federal disclosure and EPA RRP rules. See EPA guidance for real estate and RRP.
• Asbestos: Many pre-1980 materials can contain asbestos. Have a qualified pro test and handle abatement before disturbing suspect materials. Review EPA information on asbestos-containing materials.

Inspect structure and site conditions

• Foundations and grading: Older stone or brick foundations and hillside retaining walls are common. Look for settlement, step cracks, bulging, or poor drainage patterns.
• Roofs and porches: Complex Victorian roofs and aging porch structures can need significant work. Budget accordingly.
• Windows and doors: Original sash are often repairable and energy performance can improve with storms and weatherization. See NPS guidance on windows and doors.

Order the right inspections

• Hire a home inspector experienced with older structures. Add a structural engineer if you see movement or wall cracking.
• Schedule chimney and roof inspections, and line up lead or asbestos testing if you plan renovations.
• Request permit histories and any Certificates of Appropriateness for past exterior work. For a quick primer on historic home due diligence, see this buyer-oriented overview of historic home considerations.

Plan for approvals and timelines

• In the local historic district, exterior work often needs administrative review or commission approval. Build extra time into your schedule for design and permitting. The city’s design guidance helps shape compatible new work.

Explore potential incentives

• For income-producing historic properties, a federal 20 percent rehabilitation tax credit may be available, and Utah has a state credit program. Consult the Utah State Historic Preservation Office early to confirm eligibility and process. See examples of recent projects documented by the Utah State Historical Society in this roundup of rehabilitation tax credit projects.

Which style fits your plans

If you want character-rich details and formal rooms, a Victorian can be rewarding, especially if you value craftsmanship and do not need an open plan. If you prefer warm woodwork and efficient, connected living spaces, a Craftsman bungalow might be your match. If low-maintenance living and single-level layouts appeal to you, a mid-century or ranch home could simplify daily life. If you value light, views, and newer systems, a contemporary infill or thoughtfully expanded home may deliver that blend.

No matter your choice, pair style with practicality. Confirm historic status, understand likely upgrades, and match the home’s layout to how you actually live.

Ready to find the right Avenues home or plan a smart sale or remodel? Reach out to Adam Frenza for neighborhood-driven guidance, buyer and seller strategy, and clear next steps tailored to your goals.

FAQs

What makes The Avenues a historic district in Salt Lake City?

• Much of the neighborhood is listed on the National Register and carries local historic protections, which guide compatible design and require approvals for visible exterior changes.

How do I tell a Victorian from a Craftsman bungalow in the Avenues?

• Victorians are taller and asymmetrical with ornate trim and bay windows, while Craftsman bungalows sit lower with broad porches, exposed rafter tails, and tapered porch piers.

Are mid-century ranch homes common in the upper Avenues?

• Yes. Postwar ranch and mid-century modern homes appear more often in the upper Avenues and as infill, with low profiles, larger windows, and attached garages.

Do I need city approval to change windows or add a porch in the Avenues?

• If the property is in the local historic district, most visible exterior changes need design review and possibly a Certificate of Appropriateness from Salt Lake City.

What inspections should I order for an older Avenues home?

• Start with a full home inspection by someone experienced with older houses, then add structural, chimney, and roof evaluations, plus lead and asbestos testing if renovating.

Are there tax credits for restoring historic Avenues properties?

• Income-producing historic properties may qualify for federal and Utah state rehabilitation tax credits. Confirm specifics with the Utah State Historic Preservation Office early.