During the 2008 recession, while most homebuilders were pulling back, Garbett Homes moved forward. The company became the first builder in Utah to offer solar as a standard feature, a decision that set the course for everything that followed. Today, Garbett Homes builds 250-300 single-family homes and townhomes annually along the Wasatch Front, with energy efficiency and attainable pricing at the center of every project.
A STRATEGY BUILT ON PERFORMANCE
That early commitment was not circumstantial. For Garbett, energy efficiency is not an add-on. It is fundamental to the quality of the home and to the communities they build. Efficient homes are less expensive to operate and contribute to broader environmental goals, including improved air quality along the Wasatch Front. They also improve day-to-day comfort, with healthier indoor air and enhanced noise insulation that creates quieter homes.
Since then, the company has continued to focus on delivering highly efficient homes at a price point buyers can reach. That approach is both practical and values-driven.
Creating Places People Want to Live
While performance is essential, Garbett’s approach to development is equally grounded in livability. Location remains a top priority, followed closely by delivering a product that is attractive, functional, and connected to its surroundings.
Price point continues to shape today’s housing market, but affordability alone is not enough. A successful community must create a sense of place. It has to be somewhere people genuinely want to live.
A Collaborative Approach with Think Architecture
Bishop Place, a townhome community located within Salt Lake City’s historic district, illustrates what the Garbett and Think Architecture partnership looks like under pressure. The approval process required balancing subjective design expectations from the historic commission with practical constraints: density, budget, and development viability.
Working closely with Think, Garbett achieved a solution that satisfied the commission while keeping the project’s financial and development goals intact.
“They are creative and they are problem solvers,” said Paul Garbett, Land Acquisition, Garbett Homes. “They understand our goals, how we approach communities, and what we look for in a home we will sell to buyers.”
That kind of familiarity, built across multiple projects, means design intent and development realities get aligned from the start rather than negotiated later.
Design That Holds Its Value
For Garbett, design is central to long-term success. It influences first impressions, creates emotional connection, and drives buyer decisions.
“Design is the first thing people look at,” Garbett said. “It creates an emotional connection.”
That connection often translates into lasting value, helping communities remain desirable as they grow and mature.
Looking Ahead
As Utah continues to grow, Garbett sees affordability and long-term operating costs as the defining challenges for residential development.
Higher-density communities are becoming an essential part of the solution, helping address demand while maintaining attainable price points. At the same time, rising energy costs are increasing buyer awareness around efficiency. Homeowners are beginning to pay closer attention to what it costs to heat and cool their homes, much like they consider fuel efficiency in a vehicle.
When a Community Comes to Life
For Garbett, the most rewarding part of the work is the moment a project becomes a place.
Driving through a completed community and seeing residents outside, enjoying the spaces that were once just plans on paper, offers a tangible reminder of the impact thoughtful development can have.
Looking forward, Garbett is encouraged by the industry’s continued shift toward more sustainable solutions. As housing evolves, the company remains focused on solving complex challenges through innovation, design, and a commitment to building better homes.
