The property which is now the Dakota Lofts in downtown Salt Lake City has had many incarnations in the past century. It has a lot more history with the city than I originally thought.
Original Building Permit for Dakota Lofts
Dakota Origins
The property was originally owned by Aaron Keyser, a prominent real estate investor in Salt Lake City. From the looks of things, he owned most of the block on either side of 2nd South. In 1923, the property was deeded to the N.O. Nelson Manufacturing Co. N.O. Nelson manufactured heating and plumbing supplies as did Mountain States Supply Co. and the Crane Co. in the same area.
Nelson took out a building permit on May 1, 1923 to build the existing structure for the price of $100,000, although they had been operating in Utah since 1913, working out of 347 W 200 S (now the WestGate lofts). The company, although never officially incorporated in Utah, operated here until 1956.
The architects were Scott Welsh and Joseph J. Burke. Incorporating structural materials of brick and concrete, the elements create a grid pattern pleasing to the eye. Each rectangular unit of grid contains two, twelve-pane windows. A two-story arcade is created by the curved corners of the concrete members on the second floor level.
Dakota Building as Salt Lake Stamp Co.
In 1958, Nelson sold the building and the property to Edwin O. Cannon and William W. Cannon. Edwin was president of the Salt Lake Stamp Co. which took residence in the building in 1959. The Salt Lake Stamp Co. made rubber and steel stamps, corporate and notary seals, shipping supplies and much more.
In 1982, the Division of State History notified the Cannon’s of its want to submit the Dakota Building to the National Register of Historic Places. Based on the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, owners of properties could reject being added to the register (The register provides opportunities for monetary help with rehabilitation costs but also limits what can be done to the building). The Cannon’s rejected the nomination two months later.
In June 1996, the property and building were sold to Westside Development Associates LLC who, in 1998, converted the Dakota Building into Dakota Lofts, a 36-unit project with selling prices ranging from $85,000 to $355,000.
To see all active property listings in the Dakota Building, click here for an updated list!
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