From The West View team
The West View has been a cornerstone of Westside community journalism for nearly 15 years, bringing you local stories, amplifying diverse voices, and fostering connections. As we look ahead to 2026, we’re focused on telling the story of the Westside. Your support powers our ability to continue to publish The West View.
A new creative era rises at Salt Lake City’s historic Art Castle
On Salt Lake City’s Westside, a 125-year-old landmark is entering a new chapter. The Art Castle, formerly the historic 15th Ward Chapel for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, has long stood as a symbol of the neighborhood’s layered history. Built in 1900, the Victorian Gothic revival structure has served as a chapel, a playhouse, and — most famously — a world-renowned recording studio used by artists such as Dolly Parton, Elton John, BB King, and Eminem. Now, thanks to the Utah Arts Alliance (UAA), the building is being transformed into a center for creativity, community, and cultural preservation.
Richard K.A. Kletting: Reexamining the legacy of Utah’s quiet architect
When Poplar Grove resident and researcher Nan Weber began looking into the history of her own neighborhood, she wasn’t expecting it to turn into a decade-long endeavour. But one building — an out-of-place mansion near the Jordan River — caught her attention and eventually pulled her into the life and work of one of Utah’s most influential architects: Richard Karl August Kletting.
Weber’s work later became a major contribution to Richard K.A. Kletting: Utah Architect and Renaissance Man, written with preservation architect Alan Dale Roberts, FAIA. But the project started much smaller — with simple curiosity.
“I bought my little frame house, which was [built in] 1902,” Weber said. “And I was really curious about the workers that worked in all these single-dwelling homes. Then I came across the Fisher Mansion… and I thought, well, this is really different than the rest of the architecture here.”
From that point on, Weber was hooked.
Community Spotlight: Little free pantries and fridges
Parents, community members voice anger, frustration at county’s decision to close public daycare centers
“Your privilege is showing. We can all feel it!” Leslie Patino shouted as she left a public comment portion of the Salt Lake County Council meeting on Tuesday, November 4th. A daycare teacher at Northwest Recreation Center and resident of West Valley, Patino was one of dozens of parents, staff, elected officials, and concerned community members who packed the council chambers that day.
The large turnout was in response to the council’s 5-4 Republican party-line decision the week before to abruptly close four county-run daycares in Kearns, Magna, Salt Lake’s Fairpark neighborhood, and Millcreek by December 31, 2025. Roughly 250 to 300 families will be directly impacted by the closure.
A win for cleaner air: Official air quality alerts now available on the Westside
Residents living on Salt Lake City’s Westside now have the ability to receive official air quality alerts for their specific neighborhoods. That’s according to recent updates from local air quality monitoring agencies.
The alerts bring attention to the elevated pollution, confirming what many residents have long observed and known: the air can often be worse on the Westside compared to other parts of the valley.
Love Your Block: From idea to impact
Since 2021, Love Your Block has supported neighborhood improvement projects led by residents across the Westside and Ballpark neighborhoods. Originally funded through the Bloomberg Center for Public Innovation, the program became a full-time city initiative in 2023 thanks to Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall’s support through the general fund investment.
But these projects are not possible without YOU. Yes, you — the neighbor reading this, the one thinking about that vacant lot you would love to see turned into a pocket park. Or maybe it is that wall you pass every day with your kids and your dog, imagining it brought to life with color and creativity. Or maybe you have thought about adding a little library to your street to share stories with your neighbors.
Un Cafecito: A cozy coffee haven in Fairpark
If you’re looking for a place to grab a coffee or pastry, Un Cafecito is definitely a spot to check out. Located at 838 W North Temple in the Fairpark neighborhood of Salt Lake City, this charming café is full of character and warmth.
The Power District takes next step in development with groundbreaking of 10-story headquarters for Rocky Mountain Power
Amid a scene of bulldozers, backhoes, dirt mounds, and golden shovels, city, state, and business leaders braved the rain and cold temperatures for the groundbreaking of the first new building at The Power District.
On October 27th, local leaders and representatives for the Larry H. Miller Company, which owns the 100-acre property at Redwood Road and North Temple, broke ground for a new 10-story building that will house the new corporate headquarters for Rocky Mountain Power. The 300,000-square foot campus will replace the existing structure nearby, a 1951 building originally built for Utah Power, the precursor to Rocky Mountain Power.
Forty Three Bakery: Where artistry meets comfort in Glendale
If you’re looking for a place that perfectly blends sweet treats, savory dishes, and elegant ambiance, Forty Three Bakery is a must-visit. Located in the Glendale neighborhood at 733 Genesee Ave in Salt Lake City, this spot stands out as one of the most beautiful and thoughtfully curated dining experiences on the Westside.
Summer’s over, now what?
We’ve begun that time of year with a certain melancholic feeling to it. Fall.
Salt Lake City Council District 1 candidates gather on Westside for community forum
Ballots for the 2025 Municipal General Election have been sent out. Leading up to the election, many candidates have made themselves available for questions and public input.
In our constitutional republic, it’s crucial to participate in elections. Part of participating means learning about each candidate and their priorities, which candidates often provide opportunities to do. Nearly every Westside neighborhood was represented at one such opportunity — the Westside Forum: Candidates and Community Conversations event held on September 30. It was organized by The West Side Coalition and League of Women Voters.
Two of the three candidates running for District 1 participated in a lively panel discussion centered around key issues affecting the Westside. Prior to the panel, members of the community engaged in roundtable conversations about various issues and concerns from Westside residents, and were also able to speak directly with two people running to represent District 1: incumbent Victoria Petro and challenger Stephen Otterstrom.
Plans unveiled for complete rebuild of West High School
For the first time in more than a century, West High School — Utah’s oldest high school — will leave behind its historic brick building and move into a $300-million modern campus across 300 West.
Community Spotlight: Summer 2025
From the editor… Summer 2025
Managing Editor Andy Cupp discusses the importance of supporting local businesses on the Westside, and thanks Mestizo Coffeehouse for their years of serving the community.
Cafe Plov & Borsch: Bringing Eurasian Flavors to the Westside
If you’re looking for something new, unique, and absolutely delicious, Cafe Plov & Borsch is a must-visit. This hidden gem is the first of its kind in Utah, introducing the Westside to the bold and comforting flavors of Eurasian cuisine. With roots in Central Asian, Russian, and Eastern European traditions, the menu is packed with dishes that will excite your taste buds and open your mind to a whole new world of flavors.
Caring for the trees: Pitching in to save our urban forest
Urban trees offer vital benefits to our community, such as conserving energy by cooling buildings and streets with shade, providing animal habitats, and filtering the air. However, in Salt Lake City's arid climate, trees don't thrive naturally. This creates a dilemma: keeping our urban forest healthy requires property owners to irrigate, which often feels contradictory to our necessary efforts to conserve water by cutting back on yard watering.
Trash, encampments persist in Salt Lake City’s industrial corridor
Black garbage bags are scattered along the sidewalk on Gladiola Street amid cardboard, plastic, and other debris. Farther north, a camper trailer sits parked by the curb, surrounded by bicycles, boxes, and more bags. Nearby, an old refrigerator, broken trash containers, and other discarded items lie in a heap beneath a tree.
Gladiola Street is one of several industrial corridors where trash piles up near homeless encampments. Similar problems have occurred under the 700 South underpass at Bangerter Highway, near the Amazon Fulfillment Centers on 700 North, and near a newly-built Wendy’s on 5600 West and Amelia Earhart Drive.
Madsen Park reopens after playground renovation, other park enhancements
A local park in the Fairpark neighborhood is welcoming back neighbors of all ages after recent renovations. Madsen Park, located at 9 N Chicago Street, has evolved from once-empty land donated by private citizens to a full-fledged park. Now, it’s received upgraded amenities including a new playground and open green space.
1,300-bed homeless campus coming to Westside, residents concerned about plans and impacts on local safety
State officials have announced the acquisition of land in a more rural part of Salt Lake City’s Westside to be used for a major homeless campus.
The 15.85-acre plot of land — which sits just off I-215 north of 2100 North — backs up to the freeway in an area filled with farmland, marshlands, and warehouses. Officially located at 2520 North 2200 West, it will be designed to house approximately 1,300 beds, creating a space state officials say will provide a “sustainable and transformative solution to address homelessness in Utah.”