Westwood Village Historic District
The Westwood Village Historic District [†] is located in West Valley City, Utah, and consists of homes from a mid-twentieth century subdivision platted by Estel and Leah Wright, developed by Trends, Inc., designed by Arthur K. Olsen, architect and built by A.P. Nielsen and Trends, Inc. West Valley City is located in Salt Lake County, Utah, and evolved from the town of Granger as a suburb of Salt Lake City, the county seat. The homes in the Historic District are locally significant examples of the Modern Movement and Ranch style. Of particular interest is the high concentration of homes that maintain historic integrity from the period of significance, 1959-1962, with no out-of-period intrusions. All of the buildings within the Westwood Village Historic District were built within the period of significance, 1959-1962. Of the 143 buildings within the boundaries, 92 (64%) are contributing while 51 (36%) are non- contributing. Westwood Village was built during a time of rapid growth for the area. Prior to the period of significance, most of the land in the Granger community was agricultural use with a small population of people who lived on family farms. In the post-war era, as demand for single-family homes skyrocketed, the development of previously rural communities throughout the Salt Lake Valley swiftly accelerated. The Historic District exemplifies a pivotal moment in the residential development of the west side of the Salt Lake Valley, as many rural communities transitioned into larger established cities.
All contributing homes in the District are split-level or split-entry dwellings that fall into two broad architectural styles: Ranch style and mid-century modern. In the post-war construction boom, California Ranch style homes were ubiquitously constructed all over the country and ushered in a new era of domestic life as thousands of families purchased tract homes in the suburbs. Ranch style houses in the Westwood Village Historic District utilize clapboard or aluminum siding and brick for exterior materials, and feature either a carport or attached garage that is flush with the front of the house. Some also feature wood shutters with geometric designs.
National Home Week began in Salt Lake County on Sunday, Sept 13, 1959, and featured a home design from Trends, Inc. — The Westwood. Intentionally marketed as the namesake of Westwood Village, the Westwood included a unique feature, held in copyright by Trends, Inc.: a covered patio easily accessible from inside the living room and the kitchen, as well as from outside the main entrance. The front elevation of the Westwood was typical of many Modern Movement homes at the time, with broad eaves and low sloped roof. The interior of the home featured a large living room attached to a formal dining room, an eat-in kitchen, as well as three bedrooms and one and a half-bath on the upper floor of the split level. The lower floor was unfinished but was plumbed for an additional bathroom, featured an outside entrance and was marketed as perfect for “do-it-yourselfers” who wanted to add a “second full bath, a utility room, and a playroom.”
Adapted from" Kirk Huffaker, Principal/Architectural Historian & Tiffany Greene, Research Historian, Kirk Huffaker Preservation Strategies for the West Valley City Historic Preservation Commission, West Valley Historic District, nomination document, 2023, National Register of Historic Places, Washington, D.C.
Street Names
2475 West • 2700 West • 2880 South • 3935 South
