For nearly a century, a modest green-and-white building near downtown Salt Lake City has been at the heart of Utah's Latino community. Founded in 1935, Centro Civico Mexicano is the oldest Latino organization in Utah — and for generations, its building at 155 S. 600 West has been a gathering place for dances, cultural celebrations, youth sports, and community events.
But after decades of use and significant damage from the 2020 Salt Lake City earthquake, the building can no longer keep up with the community it serves. It needs major repairs, more bathrooms, more classrooms, and a structure built to modern earthquake standards. The decision was made to start fresh — and build something worthy of the next century.
What Is El Centro?
Centro Civico Mexicano has partnered with Centro de la Familia — a childcare and education nonprofit that grew directly out of the Centro Civico Mexicano community in 1975 — to build a $25 million community hub on the same site at 155 S. 600 West.
The partnership is a natural one. Centro de la Familia was founded by people who met through Centro Civico Mexicano and wanted to go beyond cultural celebration to actively improve the lives of their community. Coming together on this project is, in many ways, a return to their shared roots.
What the New Building Will Include
El Centro is designed to be a true community hub — not just a meeting space. Plans for the new building include:
- A Head Start early childhood education center serving children 5 and younger
- Centro de la Familia offices and space for family education and after-school programs
- Basketball courts and sports facilities
- Cooking and community classrooms
- An art gallery and black box theater
- A playground and underground parking
Renderings show a striking modern red building with multicolored murals and a partially covered outdoor gathering space, a design that reflects the culture and history of Salt Lake City's Latino community and makes a far more visible statement than the quiet building it replaces.
Part of a Larger Vision
El Centro is the second phase of a broader development effort that has already begun transforming this corner of Salt Lake City. The first phase — Casa Milagros, roughly translated as Miracles House — is an affordable apartment complex developed by Centro Civico Mexicano next door, earmarked for older and lower-income Utah residents.
Together the two projects represent one of the most meaningful community development efforts currently underway in Salt Lake City.
What's Next
Project leaders are targeting a January 2028 groundbreaking. Fundraising is actively underway with support from developer and former Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon, but the project still needs outside financial support to reach its $25 million goal.
To learn more about El Centro or to support the project, visit elcentroutah.org.
Why This Matters for Salt Lake City
Stories like this one are easy to overlook when the conversation about Salt Lake City is dominated by market data, new construction, and population growth. But the organizations and community institutions that give a city its character are just as important to its long-term vitality as any development project.
Centro Civico Mexicano has been part of Salt Lake City's story for nearly 90 years. El Centro is its next chapter — and it is one worth following.
We are proud to be part of a city that builds things worth staying for. Follow along for more Salt Lake City community news, neighborhood updates, and local market insights.
