Salt Lake City is known for having the largest city blocks and the widest roads in the nation which creates challenges when trying to make a walkable, urban neighborhood. The unique size of the blocks have created a development pattern that features single and multi-family residences built around the perimeter of a block, leaving a large and generally underutilized land mass in the middle of the block.

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The location of the Markea Townhomes are situated in the middle of one of these land masses. Accessed by two narrow roadways from separate streets there was the opportunity for a through block connection. The intent of the design for the development was to enliven the center of the block by providing missing middle housing while creating a pedestrian thoroughfare that could help break down the scale of the city into a more pedestrian-friendly, walkable environment.