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

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.


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

ENERGY STAR® appliances

WELL BUILDING STANDARD® features throughout


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

2024 USA Climbing Youth Nationals (Summer 2024)

2024 International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) World Cup (Summer 2024)


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)