Planners set to weigh 7-story hotel near Sugar House Park

State of play: Magnus Commercial Properties wants the city to rezone the former Sizzler site at 2111 S. 1300 East to allow a 90-foot building — more than double the current 40-foot height limit.

• The hotel would include 145 rooms and 180 underground parking stalls.
• As part of the community benefits required by the city, the developer is proposing ground-floor retail for local businesses, a GREENbike station and public parking.

The other side: The project — proposed for prime land east of 1300 East — has drawn criticism from opponents who say it would block Wasatch Mountain views, worsen traffic and erode the park's open feel.

• "Putting a very heavy looking building of 90' in height is not acceptable," Judi Short, vice chair and land use chair of the Sugar House Community Council, wrote in a Sept. 11 letter.
• In an Oct. 10 letter to the commission, Juan Arce-Larreta, board chair of the Parley's Rails, Trails and Tunnels (PRATT) Coalition, warned the hotel would negatively impact the trail and Sego Lily Plaza.

Flashback: It's not the first controversial idea for the site. Two other proposals for the land have been abandoned since 2020.

• A six- to seven-story multifamily building with underground parking was proposed on the land in 2020. It was scrapped after community members warned about high-density housing and traffic in the area.
• Later, Kum & Go planned a gas station and convenience store on the land in 2023, but the city later rejected it over environmental concerns.

What's next: The recommendation will advance to the Salt Lake City Council, which has the final say on the project.