The Fleet Block redevelopment project has undergone significant changes since Salt Lake City moved its fleet operations in 2009, leaving the site vacant and contaminated. The project history tracks the evolution of the site from a vacant lot to a planned area for future development through various stages of community engagement and infrastructure planning.
In 2016, the Downtown Master Plan proposed transforming Fleet Block into a walkable, people-centered area featuring businesses, homes, and community spaces. Following an announcement by Mayor Mendenhall in January 2020, the City committed to moving forward with the redevelopment.
Between 2020 and 2022, the City Council and Mayor committed to integrating a social justice theme into future planning. This followed the appearance of murals on vacant buildings in May 2020, painted by anonymous artists to memorialize victims of harmful police interactions. During 2021 and 2022, the City paused redevelopment to focus on community healing, with City staff and therapists meeting with families for grief counseling and art healing sessions.
As part of these efforts, the City established the Commission on Racial Equity in Policing (REPC) to examine police policies, culture, and funding.
In late 2023, the City Council approved new zoning rules for the site to allow for flexible development, including community services, open space, and affordable family housing.
However, research conducted in 2024 determined that saving the existing murals was not possible due to unstable walls, the extreme weight of the murals, and environmental risks. In August 2024, the City met with represented families to discuss upcoming environmental cleanup and the demolition planned for early 2025, noting that the buildings were unsafe and the land required decontamination.
The removal of the buildings and murals was described as a necessary step in spring 2025 to prepare the site for future use.
