The grid pattern of Salt Lake City was created by Joseph Smith, the founder of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, when he planned the layout of the town. Smith's original vision for Salt Lake City included 10-acre square lots that would provide plenty of room for a family to spread out and plant a large garden. While the lack of zoning laws in the early 1900s resulted in Smith's vision being corrupted by 2.5 acre lots in The Avenues, the grandeur of large city lots is still appreciated and enjoyed by many of today's residents.
Salt Lake City is divided into two regions by Interstate 15. The western portion of the city has historically been known as the less desirable portion but is experiencing a phenomenal amount of interest and growth. In fact, many neighborhoods such as Rose Park, Glendale, and Poplar Grove have become extremely popular residential areas for professionals who cannot afford the expensive real estate prices associated with the east side. Higher property values on the east side are attributed to the view since this side of the city is elevated. The railroad also runs through the west side which negatively impacts real estate prices there.
Elevation plays a major role in Salt Lake City with more prestigious communities being found higher on the mountain. On the southern slope of Wasatch Range, just north of downtown, is The Avenues. This residential area is identified by the smaller lots and is mostly a student community with a young population. Just slightly higher in elevation you will find The Upper Avenues and Federal Heights. Property values correlate to elevation as well with multi-million dollar homes and gated communities watching over the city from mountainous heights.
In spite of the lower elevations, many of Salt Lake City's informal basin neighborhoods are gaining increased attention as trendy and eclectic locations. This trend has been increasingly noticeable over the past five years and is primarily due to the great deals in real estate that can be found in these areas.
