AT BLASER VENTURES, WE BELIEVE IN RESPONSIBLE GROWTH.
COMMUNITY
We believe that our projects should enrich the lives of all people, not just one subset of the population.
AFFORDABLE HOUSING
As real estate developers, we recognize the pivotal role we play in shaping communities and acknowledge the pressing social needs related to housing accessibility. Prioritizing the construction of affordable housing is a proactive response to the growing challenges of homelessness and the increasing demand for housing options that cater to a diverse range of individuals.
Beyond mere accommodation, affordable housing initiatives contribute significantly to broader community development. They form the foundation for vibrant, sustainable neighborhoods by establishing a mix of housing types that accommodate various income levels. This diversity not only promotes socio-economic inclusivity but also fosters a sense of community where residents from different backgrounds can coexist, share resources, and engage in social activities.
With our affordable housing projects, we aim to give access to low income individuals and families that are often left out in society. We believe these projects contribute to the overall resilience and vibrancy of urban areas, ensuring that residents, regardless of their economic status, can participate in and benefit from the city's opportunities.
ATTAINABLE HOUSING
Attainable housing serves as a crucial lifeline for the missing middle, a demographic characterized by moderate incomes that often fall outside the eligibility criteria for subsidized housing and struggle to afford market-rate homes. Tailored to the needs of essential workers like teachers and healthcare professionals, attainable housing provides a means for this population to secure affordable and stable living spaces. By doing so, it plays a pivotal role in preventing displacement during urban redevelopment, fostering community engagement, and promoting economic diversity within neighborhoods. Attainable housing stands as a key solution, ensuring that the missing middle can not only find housing that aligns with their incomes but also actively contribute to and enrich the communities they call home.
Unlike low income housing programs, attainable (or moderate income) housing programs are less defined and incentives and subsidies are rarely available. Therefore, we employ several methods to create attainable units within our market rate developments. This includes designing extremely efficient units to reduce overall rents, incorporating energy savings solutions to reduce utility costs, and employing cost-effective construction methods.
NEIGHBORHOOD-FOCUSED RETAIL
We have a robust retail program throughout our mixed use portfolio that tailors retail strategies to meet the specific needs of the local community, offering businesses and services that align with residents' preferences and lifestyles. This supports local economic development by promoting entrepreneurship and job creation, contributes to the identity of the community by reflecting its culture and values, and enhances convenience and accessibility for residents by providing essential goods and services in close proximity. Furthermore, we believe neighborhood-focused retail fosters social interaction and community building, encourages walkability and healthier lifestyles, and contributes to the diversity and revitalization of commercial districts, contributing to vibrant and resilient neighborhoods.
AFFORDABLE ARTIST SPACE
Many of our mixed use projects are located in Salt Lake City’s Granary District, known for its deep roots in diversity and creativity. We are focused on offering affordable artist spaces and live/work units in both our existing assets and new developments that help anchor the creative community. Beyond providing affordable spaces for artists to create and reside, these spaces contribute to the positive growth of the community, fostering a rich artistic ecosystem that engages residents and provides spaces to host events and community meetings. Affordable artist spaces promote inclusivity and offer a pathway for the district's continued flourishing as a vibrant and culturally diverse creative hub.
SUSTAINABILITY
We believe that our developments should protect the environment, not harm it. We employ innovative building technologies and operational practices that result in the smallest possible carbon footprint.
ADAPTIVE REUSE
Our company was founded on the idea that giving existing buildings new life is the most environmentally friendly form of development. In all of our mixed use projects, we aim to incorporate some level of adaptive reuse with a new build program that compliments the history of the site while bringing new life to the neighborhood.
Where it is infeasible to repurpose a building as a whole, we aim to reuse elements of the building throughout the project, whether it be the structure, skin, landscape, or interior finishes.
TRANSIT-ORIENTED DEVELOPMENT
Urban development with convenient access to transit has been proven to significantly reduce carbon emissions.
All of our urban developments are strategically located along existing or proposed transit lines. Where transit is proposed, we are active and vocal in pushing those projects forward. As an interim solution where public transit is not yet available, we are working on solutions to transport tenants and customers to and from the nearest transit station to reduce the need to drive to the site.
GREEN BUILDING INITIATIVES
Solar - We strive to include solar photovoltaic panels or solar-ready systems in all of our projects.
Low-flow fixtures and ENERGY STAR® appliances can be found in all multifamily projects.
WELL BUILDING STANDARD® features throughout, including access to health and wellness facilities and outdoor spaces in multifamily and commercial projects.
URBAN BEEKEEPING
Bees are the ultimate pollinator and are, therefore, an essential part of the food chain. Unfortunately, urbanization has caused the bee population to decline rapidly in recent decades. In order to combat the detrimental effects of development on bees, many companies and everyday citizens are turning to urban beekeeping. We are fully on board with this initiative and strive to implement rooftop urban beekeeping programs on all of our new developments, starting with Pickle & Hide. Utah is the Beehive State after all!
MASS TIMBER
Mass timber construction involves the use of engineered wood products like cross-laminated timber (CLT) and glue-laminated timber (Glulam). It has a lower carbon footprint compared to traditional building materials like concrete and steel, as wood captures and stores carbon dioxide. This contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and promotes environmentally friendly construction. Mass timber construction also allows for quicker assembly on-site due to prefabrication and precision in manufacturing, resulting in shorter construction times. This efficiency can lead to cost savings and a reduced impact on the surrounding environment.
As it is still a relatively new technology, higher material costs for engineered wood products, limited market adoption leading to economies of scale issues, and the need for specialized labor and compliance with evolving building codes makes its implementation challenging. However, we are big believers in this technology and are actively evaluating the use of mass timber construction in all of our projects.
In addition to these pillar initiatives, we are always looking for creative ways to make our projects as sustainable as possible. Please reach out if you are interested in partnering with us to advance the cause!
LOCAL EVENTS & ACTIVATIONS
In addition to our investment and development initiatives, we support our local community by offering space for locally produced events and long-term activations.
CURRENT ACTIVATIONS
UPCOMING EVENTS
PAST EVENTS & ACTIVATIONS
Utah Beer Festival (August 19-20, 2023)
2023 USA Climbing Youth Nationals (July 9-16, 2023)
Little City - Summer in the Granary (Summer 2022)
2024 USA Climbing Youth Nationals (Summer 2024)
2024 International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup (Summer 2024)