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Rowland Hall's Lincoln Street campus to be sold to student housing developer

Rowland Hall's Lincoln Street campus to be sold to student housing developer

Money Moves Salt Lake City, UT local

Sale funds school's consolidation into new Steiner Campus near University of Utah

Today: Lincoln Street campus under contract to student housing developer

Overview

Updated 2 hours ago

Rowland Hall's Lincoln Street campus is under contract to a developer that builds off-campus student housing. The 1921 building, which has housed the school's middle and upper grades since 1984, sits in Salt Lake City's 9th & 9th neighborhood.

The sale is the final piece of Rowland Hall's plan to consolidate its two campuses into one new Steiner Campus near the University of Utah. Proceeds will fund a 150,000-square-foot expansion that lets the high school grow from about 320 to 440 students.

Why it matters

A century-old school in Salt Lake City's 9th & 9th neighborhood becomes student housing, funding a private school's consolidation and reshaping the area.

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Key Indicators

105
Years the Lincoln Street building has stood
Built in 1921 as Roosevelt Junior High, the building has housed Rowland Hall's middle and upper schools since 1984.
~1,000
Rowland Hall students
Students across the school's two Salt Lake City campuses.
440
Planned high school capacity
Up from about 320 students, after the consolidation to the Steiner Campus.
2 → 1
Campus consolidation
Rowland Hall will move from two campuses to one by December 2026.

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People Involved

Organizations Involved

Timeline

1867 December 2026

8 events Latest: Today
Tap a bar to jump to that date
  1. Steiner Campus scheduled to open

    Upcoming Milestone

    New campus unites all grades at one location for the first time in over 40 years.

  2. Lincoln Street campus under contract to student housing developer

    Today Real Estate

    Building Salt Lake reports the campus is under contract to a developer of off-campus student apartments.

  3. Steiner Campus construction begins

    Construction

    Construction starts on the new campus adjacent to McCarthey Campus.

  4. Consolidation plan made public

    Announcement

    Salt Lake Tribune reports Rowland Hall plans to sell Lincoln Street campus and consolidate.

  5. Lower school moves to McCarthey Campus

    Institutional Change

    First Avenue campus sold to Madeleine Choir School; school splits across two sites.

  6. Rowland Hall moves into Lincoln Street campus

    Institutional Change

    Middle and upper schools relocate to the former public junior high building.

  7. Lincoln Street building constructed

    Construction

    Building built as Roosevelt Junior High, a public school.

  8. Rowland Hall founded

    Founding

    St. Mark's School established in Salt Lake City by Episcopal Bishop Daniel Sylvester Tuttle.

Scenarios

1

Sale closes, Lincoln Street becomes student housing

Likely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Building Salt Lake, Salt Lake City real estate observers

The developer completes the purchase and converts the 1921 building into off-campus student apartments, likely with new construction on the site. The 9th & 9th neighborhood gains housing for University of Utah students, and Rowland Hall gets the funds for its Steiner Campus expansion.

2

Historic designation blocks redevelopment

Possible Resolves by End of 2027

Discussed by: Historic preservation advocates, Salt Lake City Planning Division

The 1921 building, originally Roosevelt Junior High, gets nominated for historic landmark status. That could restrict demolition or major alterations, forcing the developer to adapt the building rather than replace it.

3

Sale collapses, Rowland Hall seeks new buyer

Unlikely Resolves by Q2 2027

Discussed by: Salt Lake City real estate market analysts

The student housing developer backs out due to financing or zoning issues. Rowland Hall must find another buyer for the Lincoln Street campus, delaying funding for its consolidation.

Historical Context

3 moments from history that rhyme with this story — and how they unfolded.

1921-1984

Roosevelt Junior High conversion (1984)

The Lincoln Street building was built in 1921 as Roosevelt Junior High, a public school. Salt Lake City sold it to Rowland Hall in 1984, and the private school converted it for its middle and upper grades.

Then

Rowland Hall gained a larger home for its growing secondary program.

Now

The building has served as a school for over a century, now facing conversion to housing.

Why this matters now

The building has already changed hands once between institutions. A second conversion, from school to student housing, would continue that pattern.

2002

Rowland Hall's First Avenue campus sale (2002)

Rowland Hall sold its historic First Avenue campus, its home since 1880, to the Madeleine Choir School when it moved its lower school to the new McCarthey Campus. The school has a pattern of selling campuses to fund moves.

Then

The Madeleine Choir School took over the historic building, which still operates as a school today.

Now

Rowland Hall consolidated to two campuses, a step toward its current plan to reach one.

Why this matters now

This is the second time Rowland Hall has sold a campus to fund a consolidation, showing the school's established playbook.

2000s-present

Historic school-to-housing conversions across the U.S.

Cities across the country have converted closed or surplus school buildings into apartments, often preserving facades while gutting interiors. Former elementary schools in Chicago, Denver, and other cities have become lofts and rental units.

Then

Developers gain character-rich buildings at lower cost than new construction.

Now

Neighborhoods keep familiar landmarks while gaining housing.

Why this matters now

The Lincoln Street building could follow this pattern if the student housing developer adapts rather than demolishes it.

Sources

(5)

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