Where Is Yalecrest in Salt Lake City?
Yalecrest sits on Salt Lake City's East Bench, about three miles southeast of downtown, bounded by Sunnyside Avenue on the north, 1300 South on the south, 1300 East on the west, and 1900 East on the east. Some sources, including the preservation group K.E.E.P. Yalecrest, draw the north line at 800 South. Locals also call it the "Harvard-Yale" area after its two best-known streets, and the city places it in Council District 6.
Yalecrest addresses use two ZIP codes: 84105 on the western blocks and 84108 toward the east, so check the actual listing rather than assuming. Neighbors include the University of Utah and Federal Heights to the north, the 9th & 9th district to the west, Wasatch Hollow and 15th & 15th to the south, and Bonneville Hills and Sunnyside East to the east and southeast. The blocks are mostly a walkable grid, except Normandie Heights between 1300 and 1500 East, where Harvard, Princeton, and Laird curve over rolling ground with deep setbacks.
What Is the History of the Yalecrest Neighborhood?
Yalecrest started as farmland: in the 1870s settlers farmed plots here with orchards, alfalfa, and even silkworms, watered from Red Butte Creek. Development took off after Salt Lake City's population nearly doubled between 1900 and 1910. Builders advertised the East Bench's cleaner air, above the coal smoke that settled on the valley floor, and a streetcar on 1500 East connected the area to downtown.
The first Yalecrest home went up in 1912 at 882 South 1400 East. Between 1910 and 1938, about 22 subdivisions were platted. Normandie Heights was the last large one, built from 1926 to 1935 with serpentine streets and larger lots. Around 74% of the homes date from 1920 to 1939, which explains how consistent the streetscape looks. Some street names changed along the way: above 1700 East, Princeton, Harvard, and Laird were originally Kelsey, Edith, and Hampton. Yalecrest was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 8, 2007. At listing, about 91% of its homes kept a high degree of historic integrity.
What Do Yalecrest Homes Look Like?
Yalecrest real estate is mostly single-family period-revival houses from the 1910s to the 1940s, and English Tudor and English Cottage styles make up the largest share. Expect steep front-facing gables, clinker and red brick, arched doorways, leaded and diamond-pane windows, and prominent chimneys. You will also find Craftsman bungalows on the older western blocks, Colonial Revival, French Norman, and Spanish Colonial Revival homes, and a few standouts such as the Art Deco house at 973 Diestel Road. A handful of duplexes are mixed in, and the easternmost blocks add some postwar homes.
House sizes run from compact one-and-a-half-story cottages on 1920s builder blocks, like those Samuel Campbell built on Princeton and Laird, to large two-story Tudors in Normandie Heights and along Yalecrest Avenue. Most homes have full or partial basements, often finished. Detached single-car garages off a side drive are common, and lots are typically modest city lots with mature trees. Many homes have been carefully renovated, and kitchens, primary suites, and rear additions vary widely from house to house.
Yalecrest at a glance
04 / The rules
Is Yalecrest a Historic District? What the Rules Mean
Yalecrest is a National Register Historic District, and several pockets inside it are also Salt Lake City local historic districts. The difference matters when you buy. National Register status is honorary: it adds no review of exterior changes and does not stop demolition. Local historic districts carry the city's H Historic Preservation Overlay. Any exterior change there needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from city Planning staff or the Historic Landmark Commission before a building permit is issued. Interior work, paint color, and minor maintenance are exempt.
The local districts approved so far include Harvard Park (2014); Princeton Park, Normandie Circle, and Yale Park Plat A & Upper Harvard (2015); Harvard Heights (2016); Douglas Park (2018); Laird Heights and Princeton Heights (2024); and Upper Yale, which covers 24 homes on Yale Avenue between about 1802 and 1885 East (2025). Separately, the Yalecrest Compatible Infill overlay, adopted in 2005, limits the size of new homes and additions throughout the neighborhood. Before you write an offer, check the city's zoning map to see which rules apply to that address.
Local historic districts in Yalecrest
- Harvard Park2014
- Princeton Park2015
- Normandie Circle2015
- Yale Park Plat A & Upper Harvard2015
- Harvard Heights2016
- Douglas Park2018
- Laird Heights2024
- Princeton Heights2024
- Upper Yale2025
05 / Home values
What Do Homes Cost in Yalecrest?
Yalecrest home prices sit in the upper tier of Salt Lake City's market, well above the citywide median and comparable to other established East Bench and foothill neighborhoods. Within the neighborhood the range is wide. Smaller original cottages and bungalows needing updates are the most accessible entry point. Renovated Tudors with finished basements and updated systems trade in the middle of the range. Large Normandie Heights and upper-Yale homes on bigger lots, especially fully restored ones, reach the top of the market.
Condition drives value more than square footage here. A home with original character intact and modern systems (updated electrical, a replaced sewer lateral, a radon system, a newer furnace and roof) usually sells faster and closer to asking than a similar house that needs that work. Location within Yalecrest matters too: proximity to Miller Bird Refuge, the curving Normandie Heights streets, and the quieter interior blocks away from 1300 East and 1300 South tend to command premiums. Because inventory is limited and many owners stay a long time, well-presented listings often draw multiple interested buyers.
06 / Daily life
What Is It Like to Live in Yalecrest?
Living in Yalecrest means tree-shaded sidewalks, front porches, and parks within a few blocks of most homes. Miller Bird Refuge and Nature Park is an 8.75-acre wooded ravine along Red Butte Creek at 900 South and Diestel Road (about 1735 East). It has trails, Depression-era WPA stone walls, stairways, and a footbridge, and the city has been investing in trail and historic-wall restoration there. Laird Park, on 1800 East between Laird and Princeton avenues, was created in 1945. Wasatch Hollow Park & Preserve, Red Butte Garden, Hogle Zoo, and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail are a short drive or bike ride away.
For everyday errands, the small commercial node at 1300 South and 1700 East includes Harmons Emigration Market, a compact neighborhood grocery that opened in 2011 in the former Emigration Market building, plus a few restaurants and shops. The 15th & 15th shops sit just south of 1300 South. The 9th & 9th district is about half a mile west, and Foothill Village and Sugar House are a few minutes' drive away. K.E.E.P. Yalecrest, a local preservation nonprofit, hosts historic walking tours, including a fall 2025 tour of the Upper Yale district.
07 / Schools & access
Which Schools Serve Yalecrest, and How Is the Commute?
Salt Lake City School District, minutes to the University of Utah, and quick freeway access via Foothill Drive.
Salt Lake City School District
Yalecrest is served by the Salt Lake City School District. Uintah Elementary (K–6) has stood at 1571 East 1300 South, on the neighborhood's southern edge, since 1915; the current building opened in 1995. Bonneville Elementary (K–6), at 1145 South 1900 East, serves some eastern addresses. Students typically continue to Clayton Middle School (1470 South 1900 East) and East High School (840 South 1300 East). Boundaries change, so confirm current assignments for a specific address with the district before you buy.
University, downtown & canyons
Yalecrest is one of the closest-in single-family neighborhoods to the University of Utah, University of Utah Health, and Research Park, all a few minutes north by car or bike. Downtown is about three miles northwest via 800 South, 900 South, or 1300 South. Foothill Drive connects to I-80 and I-215 at the mouth of Parleys Canyon, so Park City is an easy drive, and I-215 leads to the Cottonwood Canyon ski areas. The University TRAX line ends on campus, and UTA buses run on nearby arterials such as 1300 East and 1300 South; check UTA for current routes.
08 / Compare
Yalecrest vs Bonneville Hills, the Avenues, and Sugar House
| Yalecrest | Bonneville Hills | The Avenues | Sugar House | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Era | 1910s–1940s; most 1920–1939 | Mostly mid-century and later | Victorian-era and early 1900s | Bungalows plus newer condos, townhomes, apartments |
| Homes | English Tudor & Cottage brick, bungalows | Mid-century homes, later builds | Older Victorian and early-1900s homes | Mixed: bungalows to multifamily |
| Lots & terrain | Modest city lots; flatter grid, curving Normandie Heights | Hillier lots, valley views | Steeper, tighter lots | Varies around a busy commercial core |
| Historic review | Local districts on some blocks + infill overlay | No local historic district review | Much of it under local historic rules | Varies |
| Feel | Quiet, almost entirely detached single-family | Near Foothill Village & Bonneville Golf Course | Close to downtown | Sugar House Park, wider range of price points |
Yalecrest vs Bonneville Hills: both are East Bench single-family neighborhoods with mature trees, but they feel different. Yalecrest is older and flatter, with a uniform 1920s–30s Tudor and cottage streetscape and historic-district rules on some blocks. Bonneville Hills, east of 1900 East between 1300 South and 1700 South up to Foothill Drive, has more mid-century and later homes, hillier lots, valley views, and quick access to Foothill Village and Bonneville Golf Course, with no local historic district review.
Yalecrest vs the Avenues: the Avenues, north of downtown, has older Victorian-era and early-1900s homes on steeper, tighter lots, and much of it is also under local historic district rules. Yalecrest offers somewhat larger lots, more period-revival brick, and flatter walking.
Yalecrest vs Sugar House: Sugar House mixes bungalows with condos, townhomes, and apartments around a busy commercial core and Sugar House Park, giving a wider range of price points. Yalecrest is almost entirely detached single-family homes with a quieter residential feel.
09 / Buying
Buying a Historic Home in Yalecrest: What to Know
If you are buying in Yalecrest, plan for a near-century-old house: budget for inspections beyond a standard home inspection, and check the historic-district status before you fall in love with a remodel plan. Here is the inspection checklist for a near-century-old house.
Electrical
Have a licensed electrician look for knob-and-tube wiring and undersized panels.
Plumbing
Check for galvanized supply pipes.
Sewer scope
Clay or cast-iron laterals and big street trees often mean root intrusion. Lateral repairs are generally the owner’s cost.
Radon
The American Lung Association estimates roughly 41% of Utah homes have elevated levels. Test before closing.
Basement & chimney
Look closely at basement moisture, foundation cracks, chimneys, and any asbestos-wrapped boiler or duct insulation.
Lead paint
All Yalecrest homes predate 1978, so federal lead-based paint disclosure applies.
Seismic
Many brick homes are unreinforced masonry on the Wasatch Fault. Ask about a retrofit; the city’s Fix the Bricks program can fund part of one.
Historic status
Confirm whether the address is in a local historic district or the infill overlay before planning windows, additions, or a second story.
Scroll for all 8 checks →
10 / Selling
Selling a Home in Yalecrest: What Buyers Pay For
Selling a home in Yalecrest goes best when you present the house as both historic and move-in ready, because buyers here pay for preserved character backed by up-to-date systems. Original features carry real value: leaded or diamond-pane windows, arched doorways, coved ceilings, hardwood floors, fireplaces, built-ins, and intact brick. Gather documentation for the work buyers worry about most, such as electrical upgrades, sewer-lateral replacement or a recent clean scope, radon mitigation, seismic or chimney work, roof, and HVAC, along with permits and any Certificate of Appropriateness approvals.
A pre-listing inspection and sewer scope remove surprises and help defend your price. Prune and care for mature trees, refresh landscaping, and make sure the basement is dry and well lit, since finished lower levels with legal egress add usable space. If your home is in a local historic district or has a documented house history, put that in the marketing; many Yalecrest buyers are looking for exactly that. Tell buyers early about any exterior-review rules so they don't slow down escrow.
- Leaded & diamond-pane windows
- Arched doorways
- Coved ceilings
- Hardwood floors
- Fireplaces
- Built-ins
- Intact brick
- Updated systems, documented
11 / Jpok Homes
Work With a Yalecrest Real Estate Expert
Yalecrest and neighboring Bonneville Hills are the focus of Jpok Homes, with Signature Group Real Estate. We help buyers and sellers work through its historic-district rules, older-home inspections, and limited inventory. If you're thinking about selling, request a free home valuation built on recent Yalecrest sales and what your home's condition and character are worth to today's buyers. If you're buying, we can set up alerts for new Yalecrest homes for sale, preview homes with you, flag inspection items specific to 1920s and 1930s construction, and help you check local district and infill-overlay status before you write an offer. We also cover nearby East Bench neighborhoods, including Bonneville Hills, Federal Heights, and 9th & 9th, if you want to compare. Reach out to schedule a tour or a no-pressure conversation about your plans.
Featured Listings
Questions & answers
Yalecrest Real Estate FAQs
The questions buyers and sellers ask most about living in, buying in, and selling in Yalecrest.
Where is Yalecrest in Salt Lake City?
Yalecrest is a historic neighborhood on Salt Lake City's East Bench, about three miles southeast of downtown and just south of the University of Utah. It is generally bounded by Sunnyside Avenue (some sources say 800 South) on the north, 1300 South on the south, 1300 East on the west, and 1900 East on the east. It is often called the Harvard-Yale area.
What ZIP code is Yalecrest in?
Yalecrest in Salt Lake City falls in two ZIP codes: 84105 for the western part of the neighborhood and 84108 for the eastern part. Some streets, such as Yalecrest Avenue, have addresses in both. When searching Yalecrest homes for sale, filter by the neighborhood name or map boundary instead of a single ZIP code so you don't miss listings.
Why is it called Yalecrest?
Yalecrest takes its name from its Ivy League street names, Yale and Harvard, along with Princeton. That is also why locals call it the Harvard-Yale neighborhood. The streets were named during development in the 1910s through 1930s. Some were renamed: above 1700 East, Princeton, Harvard, and Laird avenues were originally Kelsey, Edith, and Hampton.
Is Yalecrest a historic district?
Yes. Yalecrest has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district since November 2007. National Register status is honorary and doesn't regulate remodeling. Several smaller areas inside Yalecrest are also Salt Lake City local historic districts, including Harvard Park, Princeton Park, Normandie Circle, Harvard Heights, Douglas Park, Laird Heights, Princeton Heights, and Upper Yale, where exterior changes require city review.
Can you tear down or remodel a house in Yalecrest?
It depends on the address. In Yalecrest's local historic districts, exterior changes and demolitions need a Certificate of Appropriateness from Salt Lake City, and demolition is difficult to get approved. Outside those districts, National Register status alone doesn't prevent demolition, but the Yalecrest Compatible Infill overlay limits the size of new homes and additions. Interior remodels don't need historic review.
Do I need approval to replace windows on a Yalecrest home?
If the Yalecrest home is in a Salt Lake City local historic district, yes: exterior changes such as window replacement need a Certificate of Appropriateness before a building permit is issued. Paint color, minor maintenance, and interior work are exempt. Homes that are only in the National Register district don't need this review, though normal building permits still apply. Check the city's zoning map for the address.
When were most homes in Yalecrest built?
Most Yalecrest homes were built between 1920 and 1940, and about 74% date from 1920 to 1939. The first house, at 882 South 1400 East, went up in 1912. Roughly 22 subdivisions were platted between 1910 and 1938, ending with Normandie Heights. The easternmost blocks include some postwar homes. The neighborhood has nearly 1,500 homes in total.
What style are Yalecrest homes?
Yalecrest homes are mostly period-revival styles from the 1910s through 1940s. English Tudor and English Cottage are the most common. The neighborhood also has Craftsman bungalows, Colonial Revival, French Norman, and Spanish Colonial Revival homes, plus a few Art Deco examples. Brick, steep gables, arched doorways, and leaded windows give Yalecrest a consistent look that helped it qualify for the National Register.
How much do homes cost in Yalecrest?
Yalecrest home prices are in the upper tier of the Salt Lake City market, well above the citywide median. Prices range from smaller original cottages and bungalows needing updates to fully restored large Tudors in Normandie Heights and on upper Yale Avenue at the top of the market. Condition, updated systems, and lot location within the neighborhood drive the biggest price differences.
What schools serve Yalecrest?
Yalecrest is in the Salt Lake City School District. Uintah Elementary at 1571 East 1300 South and Bonneville Elementary at 1145 South 1900 East serve the neighborhood, with Clayton Middle School and East High School typically next in line. Boundaries can change and vary by address, so confirm the current school assignments for any Yalecrest home with the district before buying.
What parks are in Yalecrest?
Yalecrest's main green spaces are Miller Bird Refuge and Nature Park and Laird Park. Miller Park is an 8.75-acre wooded ravine along Red Butte Creek at 900 South and Diestel Road, with trails and Depression-era WPA stone walls. Laird Park is on 1800 East between Laird and Princeton avenues. Wasatch Hollow Park, Red Butte Garden, and the Bonneville Shoreline Trail are nearby.
How far is Yalecrest from the University of Utah and downtown?
Yalecrest borders the University of Utah area, so campus, University of Utah Health, and Research Park are a few minutes north by car or bike. Downtown Salt Lake City is about three miles northwest. Foothill Drive gives quick access to I-80 and I-215 at Parleys Canyon, so Park City is an easy drive, and the Cottonwood Canyon ski areas are reached via I-215.
What should I inspect when buying an older home in Yalecrest?
When buying a Yalecrest home, add a sewer scope to look for root damage in clay or cast-iron laterals. Also get an electrical evaluation for knob-and-tube wiring and a radon test. Check plumbing for galvanized pipe, basement moisture, foundation and chimney condition, and possible asbestos insulation. All homes predate 1978, so lead paint disclosure applies. Ask whether unreinforced brick has been seismically retrofitted.
Is Yalecrest a good place to live?
Yalecrest suits buyers who want historic architecture close to the city's core. It offers 1920s and 1930s Tudor and cottage homes, mature tree-lined streets, Miller Bird Refuge, and a location minutes from the University of Utah, downtown, 9th & 9th, and 15th & 15th. The trade-offs are older-home maintenance, limited inventory, upper-tier prices, and historic review rules on some blocks.
