The Sugar House Santa Shack is searching for a new home for the upcoming Christmas season after construction for the Utah Transit Authority S-Line extension forced the structure from its current location. The search for a new site is complicated by the shack's height and a lack of available parking and open ground in the Sugar House neighborhood.
Impact of S-Line Construction
The shack must vacate its current site near KeyBank and Patagonia because of upcoming streetcar work, according to owner and photographer Laurie Bray. During a Sugar House Community Council meeting on June 3, Bray stated she is looking for a new location that provides sufficient parking and noted she has discussed the matter with Council Member Sarah Young and local business owners.
Construction and Project Timeline
The S-Line extension project, managed by Utah Transit Authority project manager Ethan Ray, includes a line running approximately a quarter mile across Tywin Drive into Sugar House Center. The project aims to add a third streetcar to maintain 15-minute service intervals and will include new traffic signals at McClelland, 1100 East, and Highland Drive.
While UTA's project page indicates the S-Line is targeting completion in August 2027, the Sugar House Community Council's construction report from September 29 estimated a finish date of July 2027. Current construction work includes utility and trackway excavation on Simpson and in front of the Sugarmont Apartments, as well as the demolition of the former DI building, which was planned to begin in early October after the relocation of Rocky Mountain Power vaults. Additionally, wall forms and rebar are being installed for the new station located in the Sugar House Center parking lot.
Logistical Height Obstacles
Finding a new location is hindered by the physical dimensions of the current structure. Dino Furano, a contractor who built the current shack, stated the building stands 17 feet 10 inches tall. This height creates significant logistical issues because the structure is too tall to pass under the I-80 underpass.
Furano noted that the height is a primary obstacle to moving the building, but he indicated a willingness to modify the structure to facilitate the move. Potential solutions include reducing the height of the building or redesigning the top of the structure to allow it to clear the freeway underpass.
A History of Relocation
The current displacement of the Santa Shack is part of a long history of relocations spanning nearly 80 years. As the Sugar House commercial core has undergone various redevelopment phases, the shack has been moved, rebuilt, or placed at risk multiple times.
Records show the tradition began during World War II when the chamber of commerce built the first Santa structure. In 1947, a more permanent structure opened following a redesign of the monument plaza. Between 1959 and 1988, a round gazebo served as the location for Santa, but it was destroyed when Hygeia Ice was demolished in the spring of 1988.
In 1990, the shack was moved southeast due to changes in traffic patterns and the construction of ShopKo and Sugar House Center. After residents requested its return to the plaza, the shack moved back to the monument in 1993. The current version of the shack was built in 2013 to replace an older shed that had worn out.
The 2013 Reconstruction
The 2013 replacement of the shack was a collaborative effort involving local developers and contractors. The previous structure, a Tuff Shed-style building, had fallen into such poor condition that during a 2012 move, much of the floor fell out.
Mark Isaac, who served as the director of entitlement and planning for Boulder Venture Development, helped facilitate the rebuild after the original structure proved too weathered and fatigued to move. The new shack was credited to the volunteer efforts of construction and architectural professionals, including Furano, who provided the materials and labor for the project.
Continued Search for a Home
As the Christmas season approaches, the search for a suitable site continues. The necessity of finding a location that can accommodate both the 17-foot-10-inch structure and the expected influx of visitors remains the primary challenge for the Sugar House community.
