The 136‑year‑old Hancock Mansion, a landmark at 700 East in Salt Lake City, continues to stand while a wave of new construction swirls around it. Developers have broken ground on multiple eight‑story apartment complexes that will soon tower over the historic home, casting shade and generating noise and dust for the owners.
Preserving original details
Owners Danell Murdock and her husband bought the mansion in 2013 to house their graphic‑design firm, Design of Today. “It has its original wallpaper in there,” Murdock said, noting that all the doors and transoms are original. The couple has worked to maintain those historic features even as the surrounding neighborhood changes.
Impact of the new development
Construction crews have placed bulldozers, jackhammers and cranes on the block, and the new apartment towers will rise eight levels high. “Pretty soon there will be just a large 70‑foot wall, with no windows that we look out to,” Murdock warned, describing how the new buildings could block natural light. The mansion is already shaded on three sides, and Murdock estimates the property will be in shade for eleven of the twelve months each year – a serious concern for a design studio that relies on natural light to assess color.
Dust and constant movement have added to the challenges. “It’s a struggle to keep my car clean. It’s a struggle to keep my place clean. A lot of dust and movement,” Murdock said, describing the daily reality of working and living amid a major construction site.
Commitment to stay
Despite the disruption, the Murdocks have chosen to stay rather than sell. “Who are we to make that decision? Why wouldn’t we want to show the people who intentionally made something so beautiful the respect of keeping it?” Murdock asked. Their plan is to keep both the historic house and the design business inside it, hoping that once the apartments are finished, the mansion’s beauty will still be visible.
“When you walk past this place and it’s surrounded by big buildings, those who have respect for the past will see it, or curiosity about the past will see it,” Murdock added, emphasizing the importance of preserving a tangible link to Salt Lake City’s architectural heritage.
Context of local development
The construction reflects a broader trend of higher‑density housing projects in downtown Salt Lake City, driven by city‑government zoning decisions aimed at increasing housing supply. While the new apartments promise additional housing options, the case of the Hancock Mansion highlights the tension between growth and historic preservation that many neighborhoods are navigating.
City officials have not yet issued a formal response to the owners’ concerns, but the situation underscores the need for balanced planning that respects both new development goals and the city’s cultural landmarks.
Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Scripps) – Salt Lake City — read the source article.
