Phillips Congregational Church Demolition Update

Fencing has been put up around the historic Phillips Congregational Church near Trolley Square, 479 S 700 East Salt Lake City. The first sign that demolition is imminent.

As seen on July 3 2025, fencing around the Phillips Congregational Church, SLC.

Summer Time is Demolition Time

 Summer is the time for demolitions. Most significantly, the imminent demolition of the historic Phillips Congregational Church near Trolley Square.

Already demolished are the historic Utah Pickle Building and the Christian School.

Thankfully, @artcastleslc saved many sculptures from the Christian School. Be sure to check out some of the large sculptures that are now on the front lawn, 915 W 100 S.

This or That - Preservation or Demolition

Very different attitudes toward community and history between these two owners of prominent historic buildings of Salt Lake City.

Micah Christensen, the new owner of the B'nai Israel Temple building at 249 S 400 E, talks about his sense of stewardship to the community which prompted him to purchase the building and preserve it, making it the home to the new Salt Lake Art Museum (@saltlakeartmuseum). Check out some recent media coverage: Salt Lake Tribune, Fox13

Vs.

Owners Robot Butcher Shop LLC (associated with Petersen family, owners of Overland West, Inc of Ogden) are pursuing demolition of the Phillips Congregational Church, 479 S 700 E. Their real estate agent, Chad Aris of AIM Real Estate Group, told Building Salt Lake they are prioritizing profit.

Of course, it is the owner's prerogative to do what they like with their property.

It's nice that we have community members like Micah Christensen. Thank you!

Demolition of the historic Phillips Congregational Church near Trolley Square

Demotion Pending! 

The historic Phillips Congregational Church near Trolley Square, 479 S 700 East Salt Lake City has a demolition permit filed with Salt Lake City. (The address is also identified as 495 S 700 East due to recent parcel consolidation) .

Owner Robot Butcher Shop LLC (Las Vegas, NV) plans to start demolition at the end of January, per their submitted permit to Salt Lake City.

Robot Butcher LLC is associated with Beer Zombies (Las Vegas), HallPass SLC, and Overland West. A source indicates that Beer Zombies and HallPass are no longer associated with Robot Butcher and it is Overland West, Inc has decided to proceed with the demolition permit. Erik Petersen of Overland West, headquarters in Ogden, was the company's signature for the parcel consolidation application.

This historic church was built in 1907. The church is not a local historic landmark site so there are no legal protections against demolition. It is up to the property owner to decide to demolish it or to keep it.

Building Salt Lake request comment from Erik Petersen who did not return their inquiries; however, their listing agent, Chad Ariss of AIM Real Estate Group did and told Building Salt Lake:

“RBS [Robot Butcher Shop] is exploring all options and entertaining the possibility of a sale prior to demolition for redevelopment or a lease opportunity.”

While that might encourage preservationists, Ariss added, “RBS believes the potential gross income from a ground lease is better than the lease rate with the structures in “as-is” condition and/or also in an updated condition with the necessary improvements done so the buildings are safe and desirable to prospective tenants.”

What about adaptive reuse? Ariss noted that “RBS was engaging in preliminary plans with a brewing company to turn the church building into a brewery, but parking restrictions made that unfeasible for the tenant.”

The Congregational Church is interesting because they delivered the first "Gentile Christian" sermon in SLC on Jan 22 1865 (nearly 160 years ago exactly!)

Of note, the pastor's house is now X-Wife's Place. X-Wife's Place is a separate parcel and is not proposed for demolition.

Some additional photos of the Phillips Congregational Church on 700 East 500 South, Salt Lake City. The property is up for sale (last photo) while the application for the demo permit is being processed by the City.

Artist Ralphael Plescia's Christian School at 1324 S State SLC is nearing demolition

Artist Ralphael Plescia's Christian School at 1324 S State SLC is nearing demolition.

You may have seen the news report that many of his sculptures were removed recently and will be rehomed to the Utah Arts Alliance's Art Castle (the old 15th Ward LDS Church building they purchased and saved from demolition in 2021).

I toured the interior of the Christian School in 2023. Here are some of those images.

The space is divided into 3 levels, which I interpreted roughly as akin to heaven (top), the terrestrial world (main floor), and the underworld (basement, sub-basement dug-out).

My understanding is that the building will be demolished and new apartments will be constructed.

The ownership of the building is a complicated relationship. Ralphael Plescia did not own the building, rather his father owned the building, and in his father's will he arranged for Ralphael to have occupant rights until Ralphael's death. After Ralphael's death in 2022, the ownership of the building went to Shriners Children's Hospital, per his father's will.

The Salt Lake Tribune reported on Aug 4 2023 that developer Colmena Group (via a LLC named 1324 South State, LLC). purchased the property from Shriners, although Ralphael's daughter had attempted to gain ownership.

Many of Plescia's sculptures cannot be removed from the building because they are a part of the building.

Demolition of the Glendale Neighborhood Tejada's Market Building, the old Safeway mid-century modern building

Tejada's Market building, August 2024.
1179 Navajo Street, Salt Lake City, Utah

The old Tejada’s Market building at 1179 Navajo Street in the Glendale neighborhood has a demolition permit filed with Salt Lake City and will likely soon be demolished. Townhomes are planned to be constructed in its place.

This building opened in February 1967 as a Safeway. It advertised a large parking lot to accommodate 138 cars and modern construction of “tilt-up stone walls, laminated roof beams, and expansive glass front.”

The building was designed by William J. Monroe & Associates of Salt Lake City and the construction contractor was Horne-Zwick Construction Co.

It was a Safeway through the mid-1980s, was briefly a Famer Jack market about 1987, and became a Food World in the 1990s. Most recently, the building has been home to Supermercardo de las Americas and the Tejada’s Market.

Source: Salt Lake Tribune 1967-02-12 p51

Tejada's Market building, originally a Safeway. August 2024.

Even the original light posts are still present, August 2024.

Tejada's Market building, originally a Safeway. August 2024.

Grand opening of the Glendale Safeway.
From the Salt Lake Tribune 1967-02-12 p51

New homes for Angelo Caravaglia's twin bronzes

This Angelo Caravaglia sculpture was previously located on the south side of the southwest corner of the old Ma Bell building at 205 E 200 South SLC. It is now on public display by its new owner at 460 S 400 East SLC.

One of the Angelo Caravaglia bronze sculptures from the old Mountain Bell Building has been relocated to 460 S 400 East SLC, in front of the Rencher-Anjewierden law office while the other is in the front yard of a private residence in SLC. 

Salt Lakers may recall that twin (fraternal, not identical) sculptures once adorned the brutalist Ma Bell data center building at 205 E 200 South SLC. The sculptures were created in 1971 and cast in bronze in Pietrasanta, Italy.

The sculpture that was on the south side of the southwest corner of the old Ma Bell building is now back on public display by its new owner at 460 S 400 E. Interestingly, it is now possible to view the back of the sculpture, and I have included a photo of that as well.

Sculptures in front of the Rencher-Anjewierden law office at 460 S 400 East SLC. August 2024.

Back of the Angelo Caravaglia sculpture.

 
Of note, a demolition permit has been filed with SLC to demolish the old Mountain Bell building. Back in 2022 the plan was to potentially reuse the building for a new development, but those plans have changed as there is a new owner of the building.

The sculpture that once adorned the west side of the southwest corner of the old Ma Bell building is now on display at a private home in Salt Lake City.  

This Angelo Caravaglia sculpture was previously located on the west side of the southwest corner of the old Ma Bell building at 205 E 200 South SLC. It is now on display in the front yard of a private residence in SLC.

The artist, Angelo Caravaglia, was a professor at the University of Utah. You will also likely know of his sculpture in front of the Wallace F. Bennett Federal Building at 125 S State SLC. Also visit this website for more info: www.angelocaravaglia.com