Neighbors' pleas for preservation have saved a 153-year-old carriage house in Sugar House from demolition — at least temporarily.

Dan Richards of ADC Corp. plans to build three duplexes on 0.8 acres at approximately 2750 S. 1000 East, using dead-end Forest View Avenue to access the development.

The project, as proposed recently to the Salt Lake City Planning Commission, would require demolition of three buildings at the site — a single-family home, an old wash house and the historic carriage house.

After listening to comments from the developer and residents who live near the property, commissioners crafted a compromise that allows the project to move forward while delaying — and possibly preventing — demolition of the carriage house.

The conditional approval calls for a phased development, allowing Richards to build up to five units on the property while requiring him to "make every effort" to save the carriage house.

"Only as a last resort would it be demolished," Commissioner Prescott Muir said as part of his motion to approve the project.

To build the sixth unit, Richards must prove to city staff that he has no other option than to knock the building down.

Richards said he likely will build the first two duplexes — or four units — and hold off on the third until the carriage house issue is resolved, rather than modifying design of the third duplex to build five units. The carriage house, built in 1855, is a stand-alone 1,600-square-foot brick building with decorative woodwork on the doorways and along the roof line.

"It's in fairly decent condition," said city planner Doug Dansie.

Richards is calling the development Carriage Court, and designs for the new buildings feature architecture similar to that of the historic structure.

"I think it would be a shame to call it Carriage Court and tear the carriage house down," said John Tronier, a Forest View Avenue resident.

The Sugar House Community Council has requested that the carriage house somehow be incorporated into the development, possibly as a clubhouse for the duplexes or even as a gazebo.

"In this development, you could really incorporate that into a garage or a smaller home," said Derek Payne, community council board member. "I think it would be a great amenity for the development."

Other possibilities for preservation include moving the structure to a site where its historic value would be celebrated, such as This Is the Place Heritage Park.

Richards said cost estimates to move the building range between $60,000 and $80,000. That figure gets higher, he said, the farther it has to move.