|
Ogden: the Junction City mega thread
You asked for it (Delts did anyway), you got it! The official Ogden, Utah, development/news/whimsical banter thread.
Here's a brief rundown of 10 notable developments (in no particular order) that I'm aware of in the greater Ogden area: 1. The Junction (Ogden City Mall redevelopment) Complete demo and redevelopment of 2-block (20 acre) former mall underway. New features include:
2. Ogden River Project redevelopment area Planned as a dense urban village along Ogden River north of downtown http://ogdencity.com/index.php?modul...l.riverproject 3. American Can High Technology Center
Much-debated proposed transit option from DT to Weber State University, proposed ski resort, and McKay-Dee Medical Center, funded through sale of golf course to the resort developer http://www.ogdencity.com/displayarticle50.html 5. Modern Streetcars UTA's choice for transit in Ogden 6. Malan's Basin Ski Resort/Mt. Ogden Golf Course redevelopment New Ski Resort proposed for mountain above Weber State University campus. To finance the resort and gondola, the developer would purchase the golf course from the city and additional land from WSU and build luxury homes around a redesigned course. Not many details have emerged about the resort itself. 7. Winter-sports-related business hub initiative Ogden has actively pursued and successfully landed several business relocations of firms serving the winter sports market 8. Adam Aircraft manufacturing facility New 80k sq. ft. airplane manufacturing facility recently broke ground at Ogden Hinkley Municipal Airport. 9. Union Square New condos and live/work lofts on historic 25th Street in DT Ogden 10. Commuter Rail Ogden will be near the end of the line for FrontRunner, which will connect Ogden to DT SLC by 2008. More to come.... |
Amer Sports may be taking space in the American Can building. I'm excited that they're interested in restoring and occupying historic space downtown, rather than construct a low-rise tilt-up in the 'burbs.
Amer Sports Ogden site revealed Thursday, October 19, 2006 By Scott Schwebke Standard-Examiner staff [email protected] OGDEN -- Amer Sports Corp. is apparently planning to move its North American headquarters to the American Can Co. complex downtown, according to an official with one of the firm's subsidiaries. Olivier Canler, vice president of finance for Suunto, based in Carlsbad, Calif., one of three sports equipment brands Amer Sports plans to relocate to Ogden, said the headquarters will be located in a former downtown cannery in need of extensive renovations. He attributed that information to Mike Dowse, the head of Amer's North American operation. The American Can Co. complex on 20th Street is the only former cannery downtown, Greg Montgomery, the city's planning manager said. Dowse could not be reached for comment. Mayor Matthew Godfrey did not say which downtown buildings Amer Sports is considering, but noted several structures may be suitable, including the First Security Building on Washington Boulevard, the Kiesel Building on Kiesel Avenue, and the American Can Co. complex. Amer Sports will likely sign a lease agreement in the next several weeks, Godfrey said. He also said the city has not offered any cash incentives to Amer Sports. In addition, the Ogden Redevelopment Agency, made up of the City Council, hasn't been asked to commit tax increment financing for the company, said Community and Economic Development Director Dave Harmer. Depending on which building it chooses, Amer Sports could realize as much as $2 million in reduced lease payments over 10 years through the Federal Historic Preservation Tax Incentives program, he said. The federal government offers a tax credit that can be taken over 10 years equal to 20 percent of the amount spent for substantial renovations to certified historic structures. Since the tax credit effectively reduces out-of-pocket expenses for renovations, owners of historic buildings can often reduce lease payments to attract tenants, Ward Ogden, a senior project coordinator for the city's Community and Economic Development Department, said. In addition to reduced lease payments, Amer Sports will also receive several quality-of-life perks for its employees from local businesses, such as free season passes at Snow Basin ski resort, Godfrey said. Amer Sports plans to begin relocating three of its brands, Salomon, a maker of snow-sports equipment and apparel based in Portland Ore., Atomic, a ski manufacturer located in Amherst, N.H.; and Suunto, which makes watches and other diving products, to Ogden in June or July 2007. The company expects to employ about 230 workers when fully settled in the first quarter of 2008. The Governor's Office of Economic Development has authorized tax-rebate incentives totaling about $7.9 million for the company over 10 years. |
Bravo Utaaah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship::worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship::worship: :worship:
We're Overdue for this Thread. Nice Going!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Sorry delts, I have been out of commission for the past 4 days... I got your message buuuuut, i think Utaaaah is much more knowing of whats going on in and around Ogden than I..
Good work Utaaaah! I would love to see Ogden regain its former glory once again... I can feel the turnaround that is going on in and around its downtown area... |
nice.. looks like a great projct for the mall area..
|
Tai Pan Trading breaks ground in Clearfield
2nd location will open in October, create 75 jobs By Natalie Clemens Deseret Morning News A Utah-grown wholesale home decor business is branching out by building a retail building in Davis County. Tai Pan Trading held an official ground-breaking ceremony for a new building at 1400 E. 700 South, Clearfield. The building will be the second for the business, which was started by Nick Stewart of Orem. Stewart said Clearfield city has been very easy to work with. "We are thrilled to death to be here in Clearfield because of the reception we've had from the city," he said. Clearfield Mayor Don Wood welcomed Tai Pan Trading to the area. "I'd like to express our appreciation to Nick Stewart and Bruce McAllister for the confidence and commitment they have for our city of Clearfield," Wood said. The Clearfield location of Tai Pan Trading will create 75 new jobs and is scheduled to open in October. Tom Stuart Construction broke ground on the project in the middle of May. The 100,000-square-foot building will house 70,000 square feet of showroom and 30,000 square feet of warehouse space. It will also include an eatery. The building will be located on the southeast corner of the lot and its parking lot will have 500 spaces Stewart started Tai Pan Trading in 1980 as wholesale home decor distributor to businesses. In February 2005 he opened the wholesale business up to the public in a newly built retail building in Sandy. Bruce McAllister, president of Tai Pan Trading, said he is thankful for support from the company's employees. That support, he said, makes the company's expansion possible. "Without the employees we have right now, and the trust we feel we have with them, we really couldn't make this step," he said. Stewart said the company hopes to open a third location in Orem in 2007. He said about half of Tai Pan Trading's customers come from outside the Salt Lake Valley. "We know we have a large customer base up here and a high level of interest up here," he said of Davis County. McAllister said customers come from as far away as Idaho and Wyoming to visit the Sandy location of Tai Pan Trading. "We can service our customers much better by bringing this closer," he said, adding that the Davis County location is about 40 miles north of the Sandy location. |
Mayor wants 'divisive' gondola signs gone
By Nicole Warburton Deseret Morning News Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey has asked two groups of residents to stop distributing and to remove lawn signs about a proposal to build a gondola and mountain resort in the city. Godfrey made the request last week during a meeting of the City Council, he said Tuesday. His request came just a week after some residents accused Godfrey and the city's police chief, Jon Greiner, of putting an officer on administrative leave for his involvement in a campaign against Godfrey. The officer's wife was seen driving a van that displayed signs that were critical of Godfrey. Godfrey said in an interview that the two incidents were unrelated. "I don't make decisions based on who criticizes me and what they say," he said. "I try to do what's best for the community and then let the chips fall." The request that Lift Ogden and Smart Growth Ogden remove their signs was a way to encourage public dialogue about the gondola and resort proposal, and the signs had become divisive, Godfrey said in a news release. Taking down signs isn't "asking people to take down their view points, just their signs, so that we can come together as a community and dialogue about this proposal." Lift Ogden, which supports the gondola proposal, agreed to remove its signs, according to the news release. Smart Growth Ogden, which is opposed to the gondola project, did not agree. "We understand how some people might want a break from all the lawn signs," Smart Growth Ogden said in a statement. "However, we don't think the messages on the Smart Growth signs are divisive. Rather, we believe they encourage public involvement in the democratic process." Smart Growth is opposed to the project because the group's members say they do not want city funds to be used to build the gondola. Lift Ogden says the project will revitalize Ogden's economy. Residents have been debating the gondola and resort proposal for over a year. The proposal calls for a gondola to run from the western part of the city, through downtown and up Mount Ogden to a pedestrian-only resort in Malan's Basin. Chris Peterson is the project's developer. In addition to building the resort, Peterson is proposing to buy the city's Mount Ogden Golf Course and build about 400 homes. The money from home sales would help pay for the gondola. Over 200 Ogden residents have signed petitions urging the city not to sell the golf course. The proposal is now being debated before the Ogden City Council. Peterson has said in past interviews that he hopes to have the gondola running by 2008. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Huge Ogden Defense Depot, Critical part of Ogden renaisance.
Defense Depot Ogden was a U.S. military installation located in Ogden, Utah. It encompassed 1,128 acres with its southeast corner located on 12th Street and Tomlinson Avenue. Its eastern border is that of the original Central Pacific Railroad's right-of-way.
History Prior to the establishment of what was known as the Utah General Depot on September 15, 1941, the land was used for pasture and farmland. It was one of seven similar facilities located around the nation. The property entered the ownership of the United States Army, under the command of the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), an agency of the Department of Defense (DOD). The DDOU was used as logistical supply and administrative support for military installations and other DOD and Federal agencies. The mission included the receipt, storage, maintenance, inventory and issue of items that include food, clothing, textiles, packages, petroleum products, pesticides, pressurized gases and general medical, industrial, construction and electronic supplies. During World War II, the DDOU was also used as an internment camp for both German and Italian prisoners of war. The DDOU was listed in the Base Realignment and Closure Act (BRAC) of 1995. As a result, the base ceased its functions on September 30, 1997. Management of the facilities was then handed over to the Hill Air Force Base DLA, at which time the official name of the facility changed to Defense Depot Hill Utah (DDHU) Ogden Site. As early as 1995, the City of Ogden appointed a committee to research the development of the DDHU. Much of this work was towards the conversion of the area into a commercial and industrial park. The Ogden Local Redevelopment Authority (OLRA) is charged with ensuring that the City of Ogden's DDOU Reuse Plan is properly implemented. The transfer of ownership was completed in 2003, giving the facility to Ogden City. After nearly ten years, and at the expense of $115 million dollars, the DDOU/DDHU became the Business Depot Ogden (BDO). The transition from a former military installation to a commercial park involved many changes to the street layout and buildings. The local Ogden newspaper, the Ogden Standard-Examiner, moved into a remodeled administrative building in the northeastern side of the BDO, investing in a new and much larger printing press for the new facilities. Present The City of Ogden and Boyer Co. entered an agreement early in the conversion process that forced any and all profit from the BDO to be diverted directly into investments in the facilities. This has been instrumental in the continuing expansion and development of the BDO. In October 2006, this agreement will expire, giving Ogden City and Boyer Co. even shares of future profits. In 2004, $7 million in revenue was seen, with an expected increase in 2005. Several notable Federal facilities continue to operate in the BDO. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) maintains a large facility on site as part of its local network of buildings in the Ogden area. The United States Army Reserve continues to operate in its facilities, and a Deployable Medical Systems (DEPMEDS) unit, responsible for the refurbishment and supply of medical units, operated until 2002, when it moved to Hill Air Force Base. Commercial facilities on site include, among others, Lofthouse Foods, ION Fitness, Kenco Logistic Services, and the Standard Examiner. Two new buildings totaling 280,000 square feet and nearing completion have already been partially leased. New road and construction area for several industrial buildings along the park's western border, and a planned 500,000-square-foot cross-dock warehouse will be built on a plot near the center of the park. Future The BDO is part of a larger plan to entice business to the Ogden area. As of 2005, there are already more employees in the BDO than there was when the facility was still operating as a defense depot. Both Ogden City and Weber County are investing heavily in the hopes that the BDO will be an important part of the health of the city and county for the next 50 years. Boyer Co. has plans for both commercial and retail offerings along the busy 12th street border. This should include everything from restaurants to office buildings. Environmental impact As part of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), the DDOU was placed on the National Priorities List. Due to the nature of many of the activities that occurred under the DDOU's military supervision, groundwater and soil contamination are under an ongoing investigation. Included in this history was the storage of 2,328, 55-gallon drums of hazardous waste in 1993. This was part of an RCRA Part-B permit, issued by the Utah Solid and Hazardous Waste Control Board. These drums were stored in a facility called the Conforming Storage Building. Storage of these materials ended in 1997, and the building was closed. As part of the transfer of ownership to the OLRA, two Finding of Suitability to Transfer (FOST) documents were developed and approved by state and federal agencies. A total of 544 acres of uncontaminated ground were transferred to the OLRA. Further FOST activities are ongoing, and should eventually result in a nearly complete transfer of properties. |
Does anyone have pics of this center?
Davis to issue bonds for center
By Joseph M. Dougherty Deseret Morning News FARMINGTON — Davis County has the space to expand the Davis Conference Center, and soon will have the money for it. The Davis County Board of Commissioners voted to issue $9.96 million in sales-tax revenue bonds to help pay for an addition to the center, located in Layton. "Ladies and gentlemen, start your engines. Phase two is coming," Commissioner Dannie McConkie said. Commissioners want to expand the conference center to include exhibition spaces to attract larger conventions and more tourism to Davis County. A feasibility study completed earlier this year found that an expansion would be in the county's economic interest. The bonds will be sold to New York-based UBS Securities, which placed the lowest of seven bids the county received Tuesday morning. When the bonds close Sept. 26, the county will pocket nearly $10 million, which it plans to pay back at 4.35 percent over 21 years. The county will pay nearly $626,000 a year in principal and interest payments. Commissioners were pleased to learn that the county received the highest bond rating possible by Standard and Poor's, a AAA rating. "This is amazing," said Jon Bronson, with Zions Bank Public Finance, who has been advising the county on the bonds for the center. "It is incredibly good. It doesn't get any better than this." The high rating means the county doesn't need to guarantee its good standing and will save $87,000 in insurance. When the county issued bonds in 2003 for the existing conference center, it had to pay insurance costs. County officials plan to pay for the bonds, which use sales-tax revenues as collateral, through a recent increase in the county's hotel-room tax, which will bring in an extra $225,000 starting in October. The rest of the financing for the $12 million expansion will be made up through a $500,000 grant from the Utah Legislature and $225,000 in fee waivers and infrastructure improvements that Layton will provide. Steve Rawlings, Davis County clerk/auditor, said the county is awaiting design plans for the expansion from the architectural firm that designed the original conference center and could break ground as soon as winter, depending on weather. |
Does any one live up near the Ogden area? Someone should take some pics of all the new projects going on in downtown Ogden.
If not maybe i'll head up there to take some pics of that old mall site project with the new office buildng and apartments going up. |
ok i just got buildinggurl's permission to go up to Ogden today to take some pics of projects up there. I'll try to post some later today maybe once we get back. LOL.
Looks like we will hit some road delays while going up there... :tup: Road Construction Likely to Cause Major Delays this Weekend October 20th, 2006 @ 2:57pm Alex Cabrero Reporting Presumably, a lot of drivers are going to have to take different routes to get where they need to go this weekend. All the traffic heading Northbound on I-15 is going onto Riverdale Road, and if you've ever been on Riverdale Road you know it's always busy anyway. Walk into Dave Gibby's floral shop in Riverdale and you'll find things to make you feel better, things for a big achievement, and things for your loved one. Soon you might also find things to help you smile while sitting in traffic. Dave Gibby: "It's been horrible ever since they started I-15." Gibby's shop is just off of Riverdale Road, right near I-15, and with all the construction on the interstate Riverdale Road has become one big stop and go. Dave Gibby, Gibby Floral: "Every time they close a lane or something like that, then everybody spills out on the surface streets." That makes delivering flowers on time a little tricky. Dave Gibby: "Luckily we know all the back roads." Others should get to know them too. This weekend in Weber County, at night and early morning, I-15 will be totally shutdown. Heading south, it'll detour off at 21st street. Heading North, off at Riverdale Road, same for traffic on I-84. UDOT says it'll be a mess, but necessary. Nile Easton, Utah Dept. of Transportation: "When we look at when we can do these things, there is really no good time because, in our growing state, people are driving 24-7 now." Dave Gibby: "I got a stack of maps here. I stack them here just to help the people who get lost." As frustrating as it all is, though, even Gibby agrees when the work is done, it'll be worth it. Dave Gibby: "Thank goodness we got the freeway system. What would happen if we didn't have it? It'd be the pits." Work being done on the interstate includes new surfaces, new lanes and new bridges. The closure tonight lasts until 8 tomorrow morning. Then, it closes again at 9pm until 10am. Sunday, it's shut down from 9pm to 5am. More closures in the future will be necessary as well. There will also be traffic changes on Hinckley Drive, or 31st street. Traffic will be rerouted to use the new ramps. Expect some abrupt lane changes along I-15 near the 31st street exit. Road crews are widening the road and will shift traffic to the new inside lanes to I-15 while they work on the old part of the road. There are two other problem areas you need to know about too. In Davis County, starting tonight at 7pm until tomorrow night, traffic on I-15 will narrow to one lane in the Clearfield area for bridge repair. During the same time eastbound on I-215 between State and 20th East will also be down to one lane. |
Leebuddy, I won't say it!!!!!!!
:tup:
Because BuiLDingGurl say's that it gives you a big head.Anyway, the icon's will do! :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: :worship: p.s. Can't wait for those pic.'s!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
Ogden has an awesome stock of historic buildings... leeBuddy, you should take some pictures of those as well...
|
Quote:
Ogden does have alot of historic buildings. The city has some tall buildings too that were built in the 1930's. I'll be sure to take some pics of those also. :tup: |
I spent my high school years in Ogden and my family still lives there. It hasn't been much fun looking at 2 or 3 Utah-sized blocks in the middle of downtown sit as a dirt lot. I hope the get going (maybe they have?) with the plans. The other thing the need to do in tear down half that parking garage to better connect the new developments with ballpark.
That being said, I think the future of downtown Ogden is bright. The plan of attracting ski-related business is going suprisingly well. If it fully pans out, it is going to give Ogden a unique vibe. The gondola and resort, however, is unnecessary and a good way to destroy a beautiful mountain. |
Ogden must decide, International destination or not.
Ski82,
:shrug: I'm not sold either way yet on the gondola. But all those businesses that are ski and sport's and tourist related are banking on it. It will be like making downtown Ogden a main street Park City or Whistler/Blackcomb, only alot bigger. They are anticipating thousands of tourists being carried right from the curb of a vibrant downtown Ogden to the mountain tops, and back down again. Without the gondola, all those world-class plans for Ogden will not happen even close to the level hoped for. Hmmmmm, I think I just sold myself on the gondola's |
Hey guys, you may have already said but what is that HUGE project that is under construction near the big mormon church? Right of of Washington street I think? I drove by it on friday night, and it looked HUGE.
PS I like the older buildings in Ogden too - that church is really nice. -jard |
:previous:
Yea, that big project is the "Junction" here are some of the pics buildinggurl and i took just today... http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2138/dsc01798cx0.jpg Here is where the new Cinema is going to go. http://img221.imageshack.us/img221/5125/dsc01800nt8.jpg Soon retail store will go here where this lot is now. http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/2047/dsc01797ee0.jpg Here is the new Rec. center. it's getting close to be done. http://img243.imageshack.us/img243/7417/dsc01791mk8.jpg With this project new condos will go in as well. http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/2405/dsc01793ey0.jpg Right behind the Rec. center this is where the new 6-story condo building will go. http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/8861/dsc01796qq3.jpg This is where the new 4-story office buildng will go. right now work is being done with the under ground parking. http://img226.imageshack.us/img226/4571/dsc01794ay6.jpg http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/2583/dsc01795jm8.jpg |
Quote:
Ok now here are some of the historic buildings in Ogden... A welcome sign as we enter into downtown ogden. http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/4971/hisogden3my5.jpg Here is the old wells fargo center building... http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1...sogden4wc2.jpg Here is a closer look of the wells fago building. (Next two pics) http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/6817/hisogden2xc4.jpg http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/1633/5bd5.jpg Here is a Hotel, not sure what hotel it is. LOL. http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1576/6mi7.jpg And here is the city hall building. it was built in 1939. http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3328/7ii3.jpg Here are the main doors to the old city hall building... http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/1733/hisogden1tr9.jpg Another view of the city hall builidng looking north. http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8776/hisogdenog4.jpg All three of these old buildings are around 13-stoires tall and all were built during the 1930's. Since then Ogden hasn't had any new highrise buildings built. |
So Cool!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
That Earnshaw Building/Downtown condo's is incredible looking. What a handsome building. It has a definite 1890's Italianate feel to it. Great Pic's Leebuddy.Thanks alot. |
I am so Jazzzzzzzed, MORE PHOTO'S,
Man, I've got to get my butt up to Ogden,and see this stuff for myself. |
/\ wow, I knew it was a big project, I didn't know it was that big. Congrats to Ogden.
|
Work on the i-15
On our way up to ogden there is a big project going on at I-15. Looks like some upgrades are taking place as well as maybe adding a few more lines...
http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6...aywork5so9.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/4...aywork4ma4.jpg http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/3...aywork3mw1.jpg http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/5...aywork2ap3.jpg http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/8...wayworkvv0.jpg |
Quote:
The other thing that makes me upset is the mayor promoting the use of the gondola as mass transit. That just doen't make any sense. The option UTA prefers is streetcars, but the mayor would rather have his gondola. As for the companies that have moved to Ogden, I doubt many of them put much weight in a plan that is so contriversial and far away from being started. I don't want to sound like a NIMBY, but I just don't think it makes sense. As for the pictures... I really need to go check out the mall site over the hollidays. Looking good. I would encourage everyone to make it up to Ogden for a visit. Really a great downtown. 25th St is like Main St in PC without the prices. For a good meal and brew, head to Roosters. There was a good comedy club when I lived in town, too. If you really want to see Ogden's potential, head a few blocks east and you will find some great residential architecture. Some are pretty run down, you can see what can, and will be. |
An interesting and important read to consider.
ski82, The points made here would seem to strongly disagree with your concerns. Let's research the existing gondola's in the Alps and Dolomites. I think there might be some European example's which have worked well. It would be good to get a perspective from cities which have used this mode for many years now. Kind of like the new tunnel at Snowbird. It's a new and exotic project for North America, but a long proven mode in Europe. Infact, I think we should write in to the Mayor's office asking for existing set-ups that prove their points. Hmmmm, see how they respond.
Ogden's Proposed Gondola/Resort The news of a proposed gondola/resort project is generating a lot of interest throughout our community. In an effort to provide answers and facts, we are including the most frequently asked questions about the project and answers to those questions. OGDEN’S PROPOSED GONDOLA/RESORT The proposed gondola/resort project is generating much interest throughout our community, and unfortunately a lot of misinformation is being circulated. In an effort to provide answers and facts, listed below are the most frequently asked questions about the project and answers to those questions. 1. What will happen to our trails and access? Trails will remain open to the public. In fact, the resort will create more trails and access for the community than exists today. Some foothill trails would be relocated on a dedicated trail through the redesigned golf course. 2. Will roads be constructed up the mountain or in Malan’s Basin? Chris Peterson, owner of Malan’s Basin, and Ogden City are working on making this a roadless project, even for construction. The use of a construction tram may make this concept feasible. 3. Will Mt. Ogden Golf Course remain available to the public and will fees be prohibitive? The golf course will remain open to the public and the green fees for Ogden residents will remain in the same range that they are today. 4. Will the parks be preserved, hurt or improved? The parks will be preserved and improved. There have been many improvements needed at Mt. Ogden Park and Marquardt Park that can now be completed as part of this project. There is some City-owned land east of the golf course that will be included in the golf course sale. 5. What are the benefits for the average person in Ogden? More trails and improvements to existing trails—1,200 new jobs--$5 million in new annual property tax revenue—more shopping downtown—transit between commuter rail and WSU (less cars on Harrison)—greatly improved Mt. Ogden Golf Course with a locals’ discount to keep green fees in the same area they are today—eliminate losses to golf course ($320,000/year) and greatly reduce, if not eliminate, Conference Center losses (almost $1 million/year)—new recreational opportunities with discounts for Ogden residents. 6. Do the plans include the gondola connecting to Snowbasin? The plans do involve a leg of the gondola that would go to the top of the mountain, which would allow skiers with a Snowbasin lift ticket to enter Snowbasin. That leg will require an environmental study by the Forest Service to approve, while the rest of the project can be built on private property without Forest Service approval. 7. How will winds affect the gondola? Gondolas can operate in winds up to 35 miles per hour. Winds in Ogden City are rarely above 35 mph. On the mountain, winds above 35 mph will occasionally cause the gondola to be closed, but few customers should be inconvenienced by these closures because demand for skiing and sightseeing is low on very windy days. 8. Will the gondola be air-conditioned? They can be if needed, but lift manufacturers, after reviewing our temperature data, don’t believe it will be necessary because they generate a wind of approximately 15mph that will cool the cabins sufficiently in our arid climate. 9. Will neighborhood privacy be protected with the gondola across the city? The current plans have the gondola averaging 40 feet above ground level. From that height, riders will be looking at trees and rooftops. We have pictures that show what the view is like along the route from that height. 10. What are the advantages and disadvantages for Weber State University? Advantages: This will make Weber the only university in the world that is connected to a ski resort. Students and faculty could literally ski between classes. They will receive international exposure as a result. This could easily bring 1,000 new students from out of state, which would bring more than $9 million per year of new revenue from tuition. It also provides additional money that can be used to complete the university’s master plan. The old McKay-Dee property could be purchased with this money and parking garages could be constructed on campus to provide more parking and allow for some existing parking to be used for new buildings. Disadvantages: Weber will receive international exposure and that could change the “commuter college” reputation. Students and faculty could ski between classes (worse grades perhaps!). 11. Will construction of the gondola require a strip swath of bare ground up the mountain? The visual impact of the gondola will be minimal. There will certainly need to be some things cleared along the way, but new technology allows for a much more discrete construction. 12. Could a gondola across town coexist with the current bus system or a streetcar, which might be constructed in 15-20 years? What advantage would the gondola have over a streetcar system? Yes, the gondola could easily coexist with a streetcar or bus technology. The advantages of the gondola are that it doesn’t take a lane of traffic in each direction (cars can travel over the tracks, but the streetcar’s average speed is only 20 mph), its total travel time is faster and it costs about one-fourth as much to build. The people of Ogden would have to come up with $50 million for a streetcar and the Federal government would have to be willing to pay for the other $50 million. 13. Are there other business people considering further investment if the project moves forward? The city is receiving visits weekly from people who are going to invest in Ogden if this project moves forward. They will bring jobs, retail shopping and recreation to our community. 14. What is the total potential investment? This project will easily surpass a half-billion dollars when completed. This does not include the investment that will be made by others as a result of this project. 15. What effect is the “ski hub” concept having on economic development in our community? Already six ski companies have announced their move to Ogden. A seventh will announce in April. Investors are coming from all over the country to look at downtown for potential properties. 16. Who benefits from these investments? Everyone will benefit. Even if you don’t ride the gondola, ski, hike, mountain bike, rock climb or anything else that will be offered, you will benefit from the tax money that will come in (most of which will go to our schools). Everyone will also benefit from the additional retail shopping that will come to downtown. The 1,200 new jobs that will come will be of benefit to those of low income as well as college graduates, looking to stay in Ogden. The economic prosperity of our community is the proverbial rising tide that will lift all boats. 17. Why have the cross-city gondola go down streets including Harrison Blvd.? It is the most cost-effective route and provides the least interruption to the community while serving the transit needs it’s designed to achieve. 18. What about drainage and flood concerns relative to the Malan’s Basin changes? There will be careful environmental engineering as part of this project to assure there is no adverse flooding affect. 19. What is the difference between a tram and a gondola? A tram has two big cabins that travel in opposite directions along the same cable loop. They only travel every 20 minutes or so. The gondola is a much smaller 8-passenger cabin that is about 30 seconds apart. They can carry far more people per hour and offer a much better traveling experience, since you can get on the gondola with only those you are traveling with. 20. How will the gondolas be paid for and maintained? The gondola will be operated and maintained by Chris Peterson. 21. Will restrictive covenants relative to the building on the property be followed? There will be very strict guidelines governing the development of this project to assure it is attractive and fits in well with the natural environment. 22. Will the gondolas be accessible to the disabled? Yes, it will be fully ADA compliant. 23. What will be the cost to the riders of the gondolas? Right now, the goal is to have the downtown gondola be in the same price range as a UTA bus pass. The mountain pass will probably be in the $10-$15 range for one-time use. There will be seasonal passes and local passes at significant discounts. 24. Are there any environmental benefits to the proposed plan? There are many environmental benefits to the plan including less carbon monoxide in the air as a result of the downtown gondola. It provides the ability for Snowbasin patrons to use the gondola and not drive to the resort. If this happens with just 10 percent of their customers, it will reduce acres of parking, as well as eliminating approximately 15,000 pounds of emissions in the air per year. 4345 Reads |
Big Aerial/Gondola development or not? Let's call Ed!
Things to consider when planning your sking vacation:
how to find or contact us: :D For more information on skiing anywhere in the world, or to book - - send me an e-mail at [email protected] or fax to 905 842 7203 - or give me a call toll free 1-888-775-2581 If you're thinking about a skiing holiday, whether it's for a family ski vacation, a ski trip for two or just yourself, flying, driving or other means of getting there (even a day or side trip when you're away on business), we'd be happy to help you plan your trips. Our travel agency, Ultimate Destinations travel agency specializes in ski vacations. As a ski writer with more than 50 years of skiing experience, Ed Pollock has personally visited and skied at many, if not most of the major ski areas in the Alps, eastern & western Canada and the U.S. including Austria, France, Italy, Switzerland, California, Colorado, Montana, Nevada, New York, Utah, Vermont, Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario and Quebec. Ed not only can help you select the ski area with the slopes, accommodation and ambience you are looking for, but can also help you get the best value to enjoy the best experience for your ski holidays' dollar. There are so many things to consider, selecting the right ski package isn't easy. What makes it even more difficult is trying to find out what the different ski packages include, in order to figure out the total cost of the ski trip , , , ski pass? -- none, 3, 4, 5, or 6 days? -- for one small area or many big areas? number of runs? -- novice, intermediate & expert? type & number of lifts? -- altitude, verticals & lengths? snowmaking? -- night skiing? -- grooming? ski equipment rentals? hotel?-- 4, 5, 6 or 7 nights? -- 2, 3, 4 or 5 star? location? town, village or boondocks? -- character (modern, traditional or blah)? single supplement (if alone)? escort? -- ski area guide? -- instruction? meals -- none, continental breakfasts, buffet breakfasts, dinners? times? -- mid-week or week-end travel? -- flight times, both going & returning? transfers? -- to and from airport and around ski area or car rental? apres-ski? -- for some people, this is as important as the skiing. Ask Ed for the answers. If he can't tell you off-hand, he can find out for you. Some of the very best places to ski: In EUROPE, many if not most of the ski areas, hotels, restaurants and shops are owned and staffed by local people. Most of the families have owned the property and lived there for many, many years. They are genuine local people who like and depend on visitors and want them to return again, year after year. Visitors are treated as guests. (Unlike in North America, where most major ski resorts are owned by corporations with itinerant skier employees.) :shrug: Major ski areas in the Alps have longer runs with greater vertical height than North American, with more snowmaking, better grooming and far more aerial trams, cable-cars, and gondola lifts. |
Thanks for the pics, Lee -- you're awesome!!! Since I've moved away I can't take pics, but I will continue to follow Ogden news and post interesting tidbits in this thread. It would be fantastic if you or another forumer could get up there once in a while to take pics so that expatriates from the Republic of Utah like myself and ski82 can follow the progress visually. I agree that Ogden has a lot of good, old architecture. Next time you're up that direction, check out 25th Street, Union Station, St. Joseph's Cathedral, and Adams Avenue (they've restored some historic mansions and resurrected the historic trolley tracks along a couple blocks east of down town). Thanks again, and keep up the good work!
|
OGDEN’S PROPOSED GONDOLA/RESORT
The proposed gondola/resort project is generating much interest throughout our community, and unfortunately a lot of misinformation is being circulated. In an effort to provide answers and facts, listed below are the most frequently asked questions about the project and answers to those questions. 1. What will happen to our trails and access? Trails will remain open to the public. In fact, the resort will create more trails and access for the community than exists today. Some foothill trails would be relocated on a dedicated trail through the redesigned golf course. Trails through golf courses are just what the Ogden residents need. Currently, those trails go through undisturbed foothills. 2. Will roads be constructed up the mountain or in Malan’s Basin? Chris Peterson, owner of Malan’s Basin, and Ogden City are working on making this a roadless project, even for construction. The use of a construction tram may make this concept feasible. I still don’t understand how they are going to ignore fire codes, or heard their plan on doing so. Or maybe we could have sweet new firefighting gondolas 3. Will Mt. Ogden Golf Course remain available to the public and will fees be prohibitive? The golf course will remain open to the public and the green fees for Ogden residents will remain in the same range that they are today. 4. Will the parks be preserved, hurt or improved? The parks will be preserved and improved. There have been many improvements needed at Mt. Ogden Park and Marquardt Park that can now be completed as part of this project. There is some City-owned land east of the golf course that will be included in the golf course sale. I don’t know enough on this particular matter to comment. Who owns what land, etc. 5. What are the benefits for the average person in Ogden? More trails and improvements to existing trails—1,200 new jobs--$5 million in new annual property tax revenue—more shopping downtown—transit between commuter rail and WSU (less cars on Harrison)—greatly improved Mt. Ogden Golf Course with a locals’ discount to keep green fees in the same area they are today—eliminate losses to golf course ($320,000/year) and greatly reduce, if not eliminate, Conference Center losses (almost $1 million/year)—new recreational opportunities with discounts for Ogden residents. So it sounds like all the tax revenue is coming from the sale and redevelopment of the golf course (which I don’t have as much a problem with). Why is this a package deal? Why not sale the course and build a streetcar with the proceeds? Clearly, the mayor is selling an ‘if A, then B’ proposal when A and B are completely different issues. 6. Do the plans include the gondola connecting to Snowbasin? The plans do involve a leg of the gondola that would go to the top of the mountain, which would allow skiers with a Snowbasin lift ticket to enter Snowbasin. That leg will require an environmental study by the Forest Service to approve, while the rest of the project can be built on private property without Forest Service approval. I am planning on being a billionaire one day too. Not much merit here. It is easy to say they have plans to grow even more support. Snowbasin has said they want nothing to do with this project and Peterson is Earl Holding son-in-law…kinda makes things more sketchy and raises more questions. 7. How will winds affect the gondola? Gondolas can operate in winds up to 35 miles per hour. Winds in Ogden City are rarely above 35 mph. On the mountain, winds above 35 mph will occasionally cause the gondola to be closed, but few customers should be inconvenienced by these closures because demand for skiing and sightseeing is low on very windy days. 1: Windy days are very common on Mt. Ogden, esp in the winter. 2: Windy days mean lost revenue 3: What about skiers who go up and get stranded on the mountain due to wind. 8. Will the gondola be air-conditioned? They can be if needed, but lift manufacturers, after reviewing our temperature data, don’t believe it will be necessary because they generate a wind of approximately 15mph that will cool the cabins sufficiently in our arid climate. 9. Will neighborhood privacy be protected with the gondola across the city? The current plans have the gondola averaging 40 feet above ground level. From that height, riders will be looking at trees and rooftops. We have pictures that show what the view is like along the route from that height. No concern…and I admit, it would be kinda cool to have a gondola going through a neighborhood 10. What are the advantages and disadvantages for Weber State University? Advantages: This will make Weber the only university in the world that is connected to a ski resort. Students and faculty could literally ski between classes. They will receive international exposure as a result. This could easily bring 1,000 new students from out of state, which would bring more than $9 million per year of new revenue from tuition. It also provides additional money that can be used to complete the university’s master plan. The old McKay-Dee property could be purchased with this money and parking garages could be constructed on campus to provide more parking and allow for some existing parking to be used for new buildings. Disadvantages: Weber will receive international exposure and that could change the “commuter college” reputation. Students and faculty could ski between classes (worse grades perhaps!). I love the disadvantages…how could you live with that? Lol. This is the best part about the project is that it puts WSU on the map, and it would suddenly become a “cool” school for many coming from out of state. 11. Will construction of the gondola require a strip swath of bare ground up the mountain? The visual impact of the gondola will be minimal. There will certainly need to be some things cleared along the way, but new technology allows for a much more discrete construction. Don’t know enough about the sightlines to comment. I do know, however that the are building it over the waterfall in Waterfall Canyon, one of the city’s most unique aspects. 12. Could a gondola across town coexist with the current bus system or a streetcar, which might be constructed in 15-20 years? What advantage would the gondola have over a streetcar system? Yes, the gondola could easily coexist with a streetcar or bus technology. The advantages of the gondola are that it doesn’t take a lane of traffic in each direction (cars can travel over the tracks, but the streetcar’s average speed is only 20 mph), its total travel time is faster and it costs about one-fourth as much to build. The people of Ogden would have to come up with $50 million for a streetcar and the Federal government would have to be willing to pay for the other $50 million. A gondola is not mass transit. You would have no stops between downtown and Weber (maybe one). A gondola would coexist but in no way compliment the other systems. I had previously heard that the cost of the streetcar was twice that of the gondola. If that is the case, sell the golf course (50 mil) and get the federal grants (50 mil). Weird how the gondola wont be able to get grants... maybe because its not viable transportation. 13. Are there other business people considering further investment if the project moves forward? These businesses are already coming to the city…and most the employees, once the move to Ogden and see the outdoor opportunities on the bench, they are probably against the gondola. 14. What is the total potential investment? This project will easily surpass a half-billion dollars when completed. This does not include the investment that will be made by others as a result of this project. 15. What effect is the “ski hub” concept having on economic development in our community? Already six ski companies have announced their move to Ogden. A seventh will announce in April. Investors are coming from all over the country to look at downtown for potential properties. Again, none of the companies that have come to Ogden or have announced coming to Ogden took much if any weight in a very contraversial plan and one that isn't even close to being started. 16. Who benefits from these investments? Everyone will benefit. Even if you don’t ride the gondola, ski, hike, mountain bike, rock climb or anything else that will be offered, you will benefit from the tax money that will come in (most of which will go to our schools). Everyone will also benefit from the additional retail shopping that will come to downtown. The 1,200 new jobs that will come will be of benefit to those of low income as well as college graduates, looking to stay in Ogden. The economic prosperity of our community is the proverbial rising tide that will lift all boats. 17. Why have the cross-city gondola go down streets including Harrison Blvd.? It is the most cost-effective route and provides the least interruption to the community while serving the transit needs it’s designed to achieve. Streetcars = transit, not gondola. Just imagine a successful streetcar in Ogden. The press Ogden would get for something like that in a city its size. Can you say trend setter? 18. What about drainage and flood concerns relative to the Malan’s Basin changes? There will be careful environmental engineering as part of this project to assure there is no adverse flooding affect. This makes it sound like environmental studies are a minor part of any project, including ones built on the middle of an undeveloped mountain (including the SB leg). But hey, if they get to that point and get by it, all the power to them. Has anyone else ever been hiking up around Malan’s? Not much buildable area up there. 19. What is the difference between a tram and a gondola? A tram has two big cabins that travel in opposite directions along the same cable loop. They only travel every 20 minutes or so. The gondola is a much smaller 8-passenger cabin that is about 30 seconds apart. They can carry far more people per hour and offer a much better traveling experience, since you can get on the gondola with only those you are traveling with. 20. How will the gondolas be paid for and maintained? The gondola will be operated and maintained by Chris Peterson. So wait, Peterson is buying the golf course, Ogden is going to use the money to build the lift, but Peterson operates and maintains it? 21. Will restrictive covenants relative to the building on the property be followed? There will be very strict guidelines governing the development of this project to assure it is attractive and fits in well with the natural environment. 22. Will the gondolas be accessible to the disabled? Yes, it will be fully ADA compliant. 23. What will be the cost to the riders of the gondolas? Right now, the goal is to have the downtown gondola be in the same price range as a UTA bus pass. The mountain pass will probably be in the $10-$15 range for one-time use. There will be seasonal passes and local passes at significant discounts. So your telling me a family of 4 would take the lift for $40-60 above driving to the mountain and back for $10 gas and half the time? The only people I know who can afford that don’t ride "mass transit." 24. Are there any environmental benefits to the proposed plan? There are many environmental benefits to the plan including less carbon monoxide in the air as a result of the downtown gondola. It provides the ability for Snowbasin patrons to use the gondola and not drive to the resort. If this happens with just 10 percent of their customers, it will reduce acres of parking, as well as eliminating approximately 15,000 pounds of emissions in the air per year. Is that net of the CO2 => O2 that will be lost from cutting down trees? Can you think of any other mountain town that would support this plan? Geograhically, Ogden is much like Boulder, CO. If such a thing like this was even legal in Boulder, I would love to see the reaction of those crazy hippies. Mountains are what make these areas special and they should be protected. Three Final thoughts: 1) The companies who came to Ogden didn't do so becasue of some plan. And can continue to be successful with out it. Kudos to the city and mayor for getting these companies and jobs. 2) There are better transit options that can put Ogden on the map as well. Streetcar anyone? 3) The plan itself hasn't been revealed all that much. Still many questions. The development thusfar has involved very few people, not just developers and politians. The resort is also in a bad location with poor exposure for snowsports. |
So Peterson is Billionaire,Earl Holding's son-in-law. I hadn't realized that. Now this is starting to make alot of sense. If anyone can pull this whole mega-resort thing off and make Ogden an even bigger ski town than Whistler/Blackcomb it would be the Holdings. It would take a Billionaire family to fast-track this thing. At least we know that if the Holding's are involved they will be very passionate about it and it will be top-notch all the way.
|
I love the Ogden City hall... its one of the few expamples of Art Deco in Utah...
http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8776/hisogdenog4.jpg and I looooooove this hotel for some odd reason http://img208.imageshack.us/img208/1576/6mi7.jpg |
Here's a nice, brief profile of Ogden's young, enthusiastic mayor. He's initiated and promoted some radical ideas (such as the gondola, extensive redevelopment, etc.) that upset the old stodgy NIMBYs, but I think he's done a lot of good for the city and the state. I wonder if he'll move onto a larger stage after his current term in office.
Utah magazine upbeat about Ogden's future Tuesday, October 24, 2006 By Scott Schwebke Standard-Examiner staff [email protected] Mayor Godfrey chosen as state economic player OGDEN -- A Salt Lake City business magazine has ranked Mayor Matthew Godfrey as one of 25 Utahns responsible for driving the state's economy. Godfrey will be featured in an article in the December edition of Connect Magazine. The article will tout Godfrey's role in revitalizing Ogden through projects such as The Junction, a retail, recreational and residential development being built downtown and helping to establish Ogden as a burgeoning hub for the snow-sports industry. "Mayor Godfrey is well-liked and respected by many of Utah's business community members. His future plans and current accomplishments for Ogden's economic growth are often praised as visionary," said Colin Kelly Jr. senior editor of Connect Magazine. "Utah's business community recognizes that we can't raise state and local taxes much beyond current levels. The sorely needed additional revenue for government and education must come from sustained long-term economic growth. Mayor Godfrey gets that." Godfrey finished fifth in an online poll conducted by Connect Magazine to determine which 25 individuals had the most impact on promoting business and growing Utah's economy in 2006. About 700 people responded to the survey. The top four spots in the poll went to Gov. Jon Huntsman, Sports and Entertainment mogul Larry Miller, billionaire and father of the governor, Jon Huntsman Sr., and Scott Anderson, chief executive officer of Zion' Bank. Godfrey said he is pleased and surprised to be included with those on the top 25 list. "It's a great honor to be lumped in with that group," he said. Mike Ostermiller, president of the Weber/North Davis Association of Realtors, said Godfrey deserves to be on the list. "What I appreciate about Mayor Godfrey is that he doesn't think or act like a regular politician," he said. "He is not afraid of being criticized and is all about doing what he feels is best for Ogden and in driving the economy. He's fearless and tireless." The nomination process for the top 25 list occurred in the last two weeks of August. About 250 people were nominated by Connect Magazine readers. Final voting took place via an online poll in early September. Godfrey's mention in next month's edition of Connect Magazine won't be the first time the publication has highlighted Ogden. In May, the magazine's cover story featured the city's success in luring high-tech manufacturing firms such as Adam Aircraft and Fresenius Medical Care as well as several snow-sports companies. Connect's Utah business leaders, top 20 Jon Huntsman Jr. - Utah governor Larry Miller - Larry H. Miller Group Jon Huntsman Sr. - Huntsman Corp. Scott Anderson - CEO Zions Bank Matthew Godfrey - Ogden mayor Alan Hall - chairman, Grow Utah Ventures Lane Beatie - Salt Lake Chamber president Greg Butterfield - CEO Altiris Fred Lampropoulos - CEO Merit Medical Jack Brittain - Dean, U of U Business School Dinesh Patel - managing partner vSpring Capital Paul Allen - founder, Provo Labs Bob Garff - Garff Enterprises Fraser Bullock - managing director, Sorenson Capital Ragula Bhaskar - CEO FatPipe Networks Betsy Burton - The King's English Bookshop, co-founder/president James Dreyfous - managing director, UV Partners David Simmons - CEO, Simmons Media Group Greg Warnock - managing director, vSpring Capital/Mercato Partners Harris Simmons - chairman, Zions Bancorporation |
More suburban retail sprawl near Ogden
I wish they would have built in Boyer's portion of The Junction -- the mixed-use reincarnation of the former Ogden City Mall that JC Penney abandoned several years ago.
JCPenney to return to Weber County with new off-mall format By Debbi Taylor The Enterprise After months of speculation, J. C. Penney Co. Inc. has signed a letter of intent with both The Boyer Co. and Big-D Construction to build a free-standing store in Riverdale. The Riverdale JCPenney store will mark the company's return to Weber County. It closed its store in the Ogden City Mall six years ago. The new store will be built in the company's new off-mall format and will be 100,000 square foot single-level free-standing store. "Our off-mall stores have exceeded our expectations, generating higher sales per square foot than our mall-based stores and more frequent visits by customers," said Myron E. (Mike) Ullman III, J. C. Penney chairman and chief executive officer. "We have a unique advantage in that our off-mall department stores provide a neighborhood presence that offers convenience and accessibility for mid-week shopping, while complementing our mall stores, which continue to be a weekend and holiday shopping destination." To be located at approximately 4181 Riverdale Road, JCPenney will be part of a 200,000 square foot, 17-acre retail center called Riverdale Center. |
Utaaah,
:tup: :tup: Really enjoyed your article's this morning from the Examiner and the Enterprise. I noticed the same thing the other day with JC Penney. I was out West Jordon way and noticed a big new free standing, JC Penney store at that new shopping area off of Bangerter. I've also noticed the same kind of thing happening all over the Wasatch Front in the new generation shopping district's like The Meadows in Am. Fork. Anyone, who is interested in real-estate development should visit The Meadows. There are some really cool feature's there. I especially like the round-about's, and bridges over the wetland's. It's right off of I-15 at the first Am. Fork exit that you come to. Anyway, there are alot of freestanding stores like Kohl's,Sears,etc arranged in that development. You know, I was really glad to see the Mervyn's store leave Crossroads. I know for a fact alot of people in Nordstrom management and also City Hall were very elated. I have nothing against a Mervyn's or a JC Penney. I just think they are more appropriate at a location like the suburbs, where large families etc. are shopping. I remember when a substantial amount of the Nordstrom businesss downtown came from out-of-state visitor's. In a place like the core of downtown Salt Lake or "the new and upcoming, shiek,(courtesy of people like Holding Oil and Mayor Godfrey) downtown Ogden", a more upscale establishment like Nordstrom,or Sak's is much more attractive to the tourist and convention industry. Although, I would bet that as downtown Salt Lake densifies with working folk there will be more demand for stores like Mervyn's and JC Penney. I guess there's alot of talk about a Target in or around Gateway,which I think makes good sense. Just some thought's, What do you think? Thanks again for bringing us this great site, Delts |
I agree that downtowns need to offer something unique that you can't find in the suburbs to bring in suburbanites and visitors. However, downtown retail also needs to serve the needs of close-in residents. I don't shop at Saks, Nordy's, or Nieman Marcus (although the original flagship store is only a couple blocks from my office and is the only significant retailer in DT Dallas). I would and do shop at Mervyns, JC Penny, Sears, etc. I guess I'm just cheap.
|
How did my name end up on this list?
Connect's Utah business leaders, top 20 Jon Huntsman Jr. - Utah governor Larry Miller - Larry H. Miller Group Jon Huntsman Sr. - Huntsman Corp. Scott Anderson - CEO Zions Bank Matthew Godfrey - Ogden mayor LeeBuddy - Skyscraper Nerd Lane Beatie - Salt Lake Chamber president Greg Butterfield - CEO Altiris Fred Lampropoulos - CEO Merit Medical Jack Brittain - Dean, U of U Business School Dinesh Patel - managing partner vSpring Capital Paul Allen - founder, Provo Labs Bob Garff - Garff Enterprises Fraser Bullock - managing director, Sorenson Capital Ragula Bhaskar - CEO FatPipe Networks Betsy Burton - The King's English Bookshop, co-founder/president James Dreyfous - managing director, UV Partners David Simmons - CEO, Simmons Media Group Greg Warnock - managing director, vSpring Capital/Mercato Partners Harris Simmons - chairman, Zions Bancorporation[/QUOTE] |
Nothing wrong with being a smart shopper
Hey, you're not cheap,just smart. If I can get a perfectly good but previously worn Armani on E-bay for a small fraction of the original price, then I'll take it. I'm a firm believer in not paying full retail. I never pay over 1.69lb for boneless-skinless chicken breasts, and on and on. The problem with downtown Salt Lake is it doesn't have the density of close-in resident's who would shop at or support a lower end department store in the temple square vicinity. However, there are many locally unique stores,like Mr.Mac which will continue to do well amongst both close-in residents and visitor's alike. Also, the new generation of big box retailer's such as Target would probably do well somewhere around Gateway.
You brought up an important point about Dallas. It's interesting that so many downtown's of very large metro's like Dallas/Ft.Worth or Los Angeles don't have a much larger cache of Department Stores. Is Houston the same? Of couse, all the major metro's have large surrounding mall's/lifestyle center's with prestige retailer's,but usually not downtown. Downtown Salt Lake will be amongst a small crowd of cities nationwide in five years. When all is done with City Creek there will be four to six major department stores in the immediate downtown vicinity. Nordstrom,Macy's,(yet unamed: Sak's,Dillard's,Bloomy's),Sears and probably Target. I still think that if the ski and tourist industry in Salt Lake keeps soaring we'll see two more upscale department stores at the City Creek Center. |
Macy's to offer a range of value's
Quote:
:tup: :tup: Utaaah, I thought you may find this article of interest. Macy's of course will have a major presence at the downtown City Creek Center. They have a good reputation for straddling both the upscale and bargain conscious public. You know, I would lay odds that if the plan to make downtown Ogden a world-class resort go through, that Macy's and Nordstrom will return. Macy's planning big party Lots of events are on tap for firm's official Utah openings Excerpt's from article: By Jenifer K. Nii Deseret Morning News When Macy's opens its doors for business, it'll be dressed in its party clothes, serenaded, offering drinks and treats and games for the kids. Ravell Call, Deseret Morning News The former Meier and Frank store at the ZCMI Center has been gearing up for the official opening as a Macy's store and will have new product lines. The host of the events will be Macy's Northwest chairman and chief executive officer, Jeff Gennette. "Utah is a very important market for us," Gennette told the Deseret Morning News in a phone interview from the division's headquarters in Seattle. "The Salt Lake market is a big opportunity for us, and I wanted to be there" for the official opening of Macy's in Utah. Macy's parent company, Federated Department Stores, completed its $11 billion purchase of The May Co. in 2005. That acquisition doubled Federated's size to more than 800 stores. The, "Red Carpet & Ribbon-Cutting Celebration" included remarks from Gennette, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and Salt Lake County Mayor Peter Corroon. The event featured cider, cake, live entertainment and activities for children. More than that, though, Gennette said the event marked the beginning of what Macy's hopes will be a new and satisfying relationship for consumers looking for mid- and upscale clothes, shoes, accessories, gifts and the like. Which, according to Gennette, is something Meier & Frank didn't adequately provide in Utah. "It's no secret that (Meier & Frank) was a more robust business when it was ZCMI," Gennette said. "Over the last five years, it diminished to a point where we believe we have a tremendous opportunity for growth." Macy's has been out stumping hard in the run-up to Saturday's re-launch, promising noticeable improvements in the merchandise quality, presentation and service offered at its stores. Deseret Morning News graphic "We're a department store, but what Macy's really strives for is that our products are differentiated and unique," Gennette said. "Hopefully, customers who have been in our stores in the last few weeks have experienced an environment that was less cluttered, more easily navigated and discernible." Macy's has "edited" its assortment of merchandise — the majority of which, including private labels, will be new to Meier & Frank faithful — to make shopping a "more inspiring" experience for customers, Gennette said. And that merchandise will be tailored on a store-by-store basis to fit the needs of individual communities. "We are big on making sure that the assortment we offer is specific to each building," Gennette said. "If you walk into Layton Hills Mall versus Riverdale versus Cottonwood Mall versus Salt Lake, you should see a difference." Also, Federated rolled out a new advertising and marketing campaign, said to be the largest in the company's history. Block parties and shopping parties are scheduled in Boston, Chicago, Denver, Minneapolis, Pittsburgh, St. Louis and El Paso over the weekend, and parades are scheduled in Chicago and 20 other cities leading up to the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in November. "This is the beginning," Gennette said. "I think in a lot of cases people expect that we'll show up for this, and then pack up our bags and go home, but that's not the case at all. We expect this to be the start of a very active relationship, the beginning of what I hope will be a beautiful marriage." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Taking flight-- Kays Creek project gives wing to vital wildlife habitat.
By Joseph M. Dougherty
Deseret Morning News :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: :tup: LAYTON — "The whole morass was animated with multitudes of waterfowl, which appeared to be very wild — rising for the space of a mile around about at the sound of a gun with a noise like distant thunder." That's how John C. Fremont described what he saw when he came to the Great Salt Lake for the first time in September of 1843. Every spring and fall, migratory birds in the millions pass though the lake's wetlands during their worldwide treks. But because of growth and encroaching development since the mid-1800s, the wetlands have shrunk, and so have bird populations. "Nearly 60 percent of the historic wetlands in the river basins in and around the Great Salt Lake have already been lost," said Dave Livermore, Utah director of The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy is the largest private owner of wetlands in Davis County with the 5,000-acre Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve that runs along 16.5 miles of shoreline. The preserve is home to a sea of cattails and features a one-mile round-trip boardwalk that leads to an observation tower that visitors can use to spot birds and learn about wetlands habitat. A recent project on Kays Creek, which feeds about 10,000 acres of wetlands on the east side of the preserve, is working to bring birds back to the wetlands. So far, it's working. Kays Creek is a 10-mile stream that drains three canyons in the Layton area. In many spots you can jump over it. It's hidden most of the time by trees that grow along its banks. And you don't see it except when you drive by it or live nearby. Much of the natural habitat upstream and downstream has disappeared, but downstream is where things have begun to change. About 60 years ago, the Army Corps of Engineers dredged out a 10-by-10-foot channel for the last mile of the creek to help divert storm water from neighborhoods. It was a ditch, good for moving water but not much else, says Jeff McCreary, a regional biologist with Ducks Unlimited, a waterfowl conservation organization. Over the past seven years, Duck Unlimited has been working with The Nature Conservancy to redesign the last mile of the creek to turn it into what it once was: productive habitat. "If you miss the opportunity to protect these areas, it costs a lot of money to put them back," McCreary said. With $350,000 in donations from the Hemingway Foundation, Utah Wetlands Foundation, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Bechtel Foundation, and a federal grant, Ducks Unlimited and The Nature Conservancy got to planning, and they touted their success with a tour of the restored Kays Creek Sept. 15. Where once was a grassland with a ditch running through it are now five ponds fed by a meandering stream with natural willows and cottonwoods growing in the banks. A bonus for those who worked on the project is that the plant life came back on its own. McCreary said the stream is "as close as we're ever going to get to what used to be out here." To get to this point, engineers and managers alike had to play Mother Nature. They hired a lot of heavy equipment in 2004, said Chris Brown, manager of the conservancy's 5,000-acre Great Salt Lake Shorelands Preserve in Layton. With a yellow cavalry of bulldozers, backhoes and dump trucks, workers reshaped the drainage ditch into a natural-looking stream bed with a shallow slope that will still accommodate storm runoff. They piled earth to make 20 acres of ponds that Brown can raise or lower depending on what species of bird needs a boost. Mike Terry, Deseret Morning NewsJeff McCreary of Ducks Unlimited speaks with members of conservation groups about the restoration of the last mile of Kays Creek as productive habitat. Ducks like deep water, he explained, but shorebirds, like black-necked stilts, need shallow water. Simply by adding a board to a drainage gate, Brown can raise the water level in a particular pond 18 inches. Brown said he doesn't expect to take an active part in managing the ponds for the next year or so. He wants to see what happens. The winter work was so torturously cold, Brown said, that sometimes he wondered why he put himself through it. Now that he sees changes every day in the habitat, the hard work was worth it. "Where I used to just see birds occasionally flying overhead, this spring I recorded thousands of them nesting and feeding on the newly expanded wetland habitat and ponds," Brown said. He has counted 176 avocet nests and 5,000 pintails, a species of duck. Plovers, godwits, avocets, stilts, sandhill cranes and tundra swans use the ponds. "The bird use has been far more than I expected," Brown said. McCreary is jubilant. "The reason this project succeeded is because of a unique collaboration between conservation biology and engineering," he said. "We created a science-based plan to re-create the types of native habitat that Kays Creek would have offered these birds before decades of human impacts." Bird populations may never reach numbers like what Fremont saw and heard — noise like distant thunder — but McCreary expects populations to skyrocket over the next few years. Since March 2005, when that first trickle of water began to flow over a small concrete dam designed to not get clogged with debris, Brown has begun thinking of his next project, which he hopes will be similar to the Kays Creek project, only on the north end of the preserve. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Work to begin on HAFB business park
By Joseph M. Dougherty and Stephen Speckman Deseret Morning News A 550-acre parcel on Hill Air Force Base's west side that has been "underutilized" for over 60 years is a step closer to becoming a business and technology park, Hill officials announced this week. It's uncertain when construction will begin, but the first phase will include a 44-acre space and missile complex, with office space for about 2,000 government and contractor employees, base officials said in a press release. Commercial businesses are also expected to be part of the first phase. The development will stretch over four cities' boundaries: Clearfield, Sunset, Roy and Riverdale, according to Clearfield Mayor Don Wood. Clearfield and Roy will likely be home to the two largest parcels of development. A private company will oversee construction of all buildings and eventually lease the facilities back to the Air Force and other defense-related and commercial businesses. The entire "west-side development project" could take 20 years to complete, according to a Hill official. Doug Clark, managing director of business growth in the Governor's Office of Economic Development, said the location will be one of the most efficient in the state for future employment. The land sits alongside Interstate 15 and is close to Interstate 84 and a future commuter-rail line. By localizing some of the jobs for which Davis County residents currently commute outside of the county, there could be shorter commutes, Clark said in the news release. Wood said the project is designed to give the base some new office space and replace some deteriorating buildings. The people who will work in new offices will need to eat, and Wood said the development would likely include some restaurants, which would increase sales-tax revenue for the cities. There's also a potential of a motel coming to town, Wood said. "It helps put the city in a better light in terms of being economically viable and being able to sustain retail and businesses," Wood said. Clearfield city manager Chris Hillman said Wednesday that his city's knowledge about the project is limited right now, but he looks forward to meeting with neighboring cities and Hill administrators to find out more. |
Ogden on perilous terrain.
Building in Utah's flood, landslide areas poses risks
By Doug Smeath Deseret Morning News In late April, Brad Hall was anxiously keeping an eye on his $500,000 home in Mountain Green, Morgan County, monitoring cracking foundations and a bowing back deck and wondering how far the ground supporting his foundation would slide during this year's wet season. An 80-foot-wide mudslide in South Weber on April 10 wreaked havoc when it crashed into a home, hurling 4-year-old Kendell Keyes against a wall as she watched TV and breaking her leg. Just down Weber Canyon in South Weber, 4-year-old Kendell Keyes was recovering from a broken leg she suffered after a torrent of mud 80 feet wide swept down the hillside behind her family's home, crashing into the house and throwing the girl against a wall as she watched TV. Farther south, in South Jordan's river bottoms, Andy and Jeanette Meisenbacher were at work cleaning up their soggy basement and filling their yard with wells and drainage channels to avoid a repeat of the floods that filled their basement and those of two nearby homes in March. The water came from rising groundwater as spring runoff seeped from the western reaches of the valley toward the Jordan River. This year, the Utah Geological Survey was watching at least 50 landslides from Utah County to Morgan County, many of them near housing developments. The disasters are not just an anomaly due to this year's wet spring. After rain and snowmelt last May, a dramatic landslide in Cedar Hills, Utah County, crashed into some hillside townhouses, forcing four families to move. And in St. George in January 2005, helpless residents watched as homes washed away in the flooded Virgin and Santa Clara rivers. For homeowners, such disasters are distressing and frustrating. "It was just like they were in a nightmare," said Trudy Keyes, Kendell Keyes' aunt. As growth brings more and more families to Utah, new housing developments are popping up throughout the state — sometimes in places that once may have seemed off limits. From the homes perched atop Traverse Mountain in Draper's SunCrest neighborhood to east-bench homes straddling the Wasatch Fault, more and more Utahns are building homes in geologically unstable areas. "A lot of our easily developed land is now developed," said Gary Christenson, geologic-hazards program manager at the Utah Geological Survey. "Our risk is increasing. We are building into riskier areas." If it all comes tumbling down, fills with water or washes away, who is responsible? "They screwed up when they gave everybody permits down here to build basements," Jeanette Meisenbacher told the Deseret Morning News after shallow groundwater breached her South Jordan basement earlier this spring. When she says "they," she's talking about South Jordan city officials — the people she and her husband say are primarily to blame for the flooding. The river bottoms are a natural destination for runoff from the Wasatch and Oquirrh mountains. Sometimes that water trickles via above-ground streams, and sometimes it seeps underground and rushes downhill. It's that underground water that caught the Meisenbachers by surprise. They had thought they were prepared. They had installed basement sump pumps and dug drainage channels around their yard after their city-issued building permit warned of the potential for groundwater flooding. The fact that those precautions weren't enough makes the Meisenbachers angry. Maybe the city shouldn't have given them a permit at all, they now say. But South Jordan public services director Don Bruey said the building permit gave the homeowners plenty of warning and that ultimately it is the builder's responsibility to act on that warning. Christenson said fluctuating weather patterns can contribute to such situations. "That's one of those problems when you build in a drought," he said. "The groundwater may be down, but the water table can fluctuate five to 10 feet in a year in some places." Because geologic stability can vary so greatly depending on a given year's weather, cities regularly require developers or builders to commission geotechnical studies before they build next to hillsides, in river bottoms, on mountain benches or near fault lines. Some cities, such as Layton, have begun requiring such studies citywide. The Highland View Estates neighborhood in South Weber, where the Keyes family once lived, was built in an area marked on the city's master plan as prone to landslides. But not everyone pays close attention to things like that. "We never knew it was a landslide hazard," said Trudy Keyes, who lives in another house on the same street. Depending on where you live, your city or county government may or may not have designated certain geologically hazardous areas off limits for developments. Your government may or may not be willing to negotiate when developers come knocking with plans for a new hillside neighborhood or river-front subdivision. "There is pressure from the development community, but cities are trying to respond by developing ordinances," Utah League of Cities and Towns planning consultant Megan Ryan said. Some cities have created so-called sensitive-lands ordinances. Such regulations may prohibit developing on slopes of a particular grade. They may require developers to put certain precautions in place before building in river bottoms. Or they may declare wetlands off limits, among many other provisions. "Often it's cities that have had problems in the past that are especially cognizant of it," Christenson said. In St. George, development has long been prohibited in areas designated as floodplains by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. However, last year's rushing rivers swept away houses that weren't built in the floodplain. Instead of being flooded, they actually fell into the rising water as the ground around them eroded. FEMA has since re-evaluated the Virgin and Santa Clara floodplains, which have changed as erosion altered the riverbeds. The agency has also designated "erosion zones," where high water could destabilize homes without ever flooding them. St. George has updated its ordinances to require special precautions for development in such zones. Even still, it's no guarantee. "It's hard to know where those will occur," assistant city manager Marc Mortensen said. "We have an idea, but even now we're not 100 percent confident that that erosion zone won't grow over time." Christenson said the UGS is willing to work closely with cities seeking to focus their planning on safely guiding future growth. Cities like Layton, Ogden and Provo have made use of that offer. Some other cities, Christenson said, have not. "We certainly encourage all cities and counties to deal with geologic hazards," he said. Stuart Johnson, Deseret Morning NewsFlooding of the Santa Clara River ravaged the yard of this home last year, causing most of the structure to topple into the river. Cities have a number of tools to consider in their efforts to deal with those risks. In addition to sensitive-lands ordinances, some cities have turned to zoning to keep development away from certain areas. But zoning can be a sweeping designation of a huge chunk of land and can ignore the existence of undevelopable areas mere yards away from perfectly safe areas. Tim Watkins, senior planner at quality-growth advocacy group Envision Utah, promotes the idea of purchasing or transferring development rights. A developer who owns land zoned to allow three homes per acre could buy the right to more density from a nearby landowner whose land is in the same zone but is more sensitive and less suitable for development. The overall density would remain the same — no more than three homes per acre in the entire zone — but the stable land would be developed more densely while the sensitive land would remain untouched. The idea has been used recently to keep development out of Mapleton's foothills and canyons by driving density toward the valley floor. But not everyone supports the idea of governments managing development to that degree. During the 2006 Legislature, several bills came up that would have restricted cities' ability to zone and manage land-use planning. Most of those bills were gutted, killed by committee or replaced by less-dramatic bills. But many involved in city government believe some legislators are trying to send a message: Let landowners have more control of how their land is developed. "Cities are trying to do the right thing, and I'm not sure the Legislature supports that," Ryan said. "Maybe that's a message (lawmakers) need to hear from their constituents in the cities." One group that has criticized so-called quality-growth planning and other land-use controls by city and county governments is the conservative Sutherland Institute. However, president Paul Mero said protecting homeowners from geologic instability is one of the instances when such controls might not be out of the question — as long as developers and builders are involved in the process. "The role of local government in development is health and safety, so this certainly fits into that category," Mero said. Doing your homework: UGS has created maps for areas throughout the state showing general geologic hazards — fault lines, historic landslides and the like. But usually those maps don't do the trick when it comes to planning a few acres here, a few more there. On the local scale, more detailed studies are needed to look at soil types, groundwater levels, the potential for liquefaction during an earthquake and other risks. Those so-called geotechnical studies are sometimes done by cities, sometimes required of developers by city ordinance and sometimes left up to individual builders or homeowners. Even when cities require geotechnical studies, and even when those studies lead officials to require certain precautions, the necessary follow-through isn't always there. "Few cities actually have a process to make sure what is agreed to actually gets done," Christenson said. "There's quite a few places where the process breaks down. Local governments need to be vigilant in approving developments — vigilant and, basically, hard-nosed." When the studies are done, they are often commissioned by developers — who want to be told their land is safe and stable and who might shop around until they find someone who will tell them that. "There are certainly economic pressures on the consultants to say what the developers want to hear," Christenson said. Taz Biesinger, a spokesman for the Home Builders Association of Utah, said developers must comply with cities' requirements and try to use the best information they have available when building. "Do bad things happen? Unfortunately they do," he said. "But I don't think anyone tries to do anything intentionally wrong." Because hazards monitoring and planning vary from city to city, Christenson recommends anyone looking to buy or build a home do a little of their own homework first. Homebuyers "need to realize that when they're looking at a home, there is no guarantee that it was permitted with geologic hazards in mind," he said. The extent of the legwork that would-be homeowners should do depends on several factors: where they plan to build or buy; how comfortable they are with the information they have received from developers, builders and real-estate agents; and, ultimately, their gut instincts. Deseret Morning News graphic There are warning signs. For example, low-lying valley and river-bottoms areas are at a greater risk for groundwater flooding, though such floods can occur in foothills as well. Landslides are most likely to occur on steep natural or construction-related slopes, areas in or at the mouths of drainages or canyons, slopes below leaking canals or ponds, developed hillsides where septic-tank soil-absorption systems are used and landscapes are irrigated, or below cliffs or hills with outcrops of fractured rock, according to the UGS. High-risk areas become more landslide-prone once development starts as hillsides are cut away and become more unstable. Landscaping with thirsty plants also increases hazards as hillsides quickly see five or six times the water they normally would. First and foremost, Christenson said, homeowners need to pay close attention to zoning maps, city master plans and building permits. If a permit application says an area may be prone to landslides or groundwater flooding, he said, more research is in order. When cities have carried out geotechnical studies of a certain area, those studies are available to anyone who wants to see them, and Christenson recommended checking them out before building or buying. The Deseret Morning News visited several city offices to explore the availability of such studies. In every case, studies were available — although in some cities, it took a lot of asking and being sent to different departments before someone was able to help. Sometimes, however, it might be wiser to hire your own geologist or engineer to visit your property, do a study and offer advice. "It could cost a lot, but it could cost a lot more not to know," Christenson said. Picking up the pieces Christenson stresses individual responsibility in checking out a homesite's safety because, ultimately, legal and financial responsibility will probably lie with the homeowner. Once disaster strikes, you may or may not get any help from local, state or federal governments. In South Jordan and elsewhere, victims of natural disasters have discussed seeking financial help from their cities. In the case of Mountain Green's slow-moving landslide, some homeowners are discussing filing lawsuits, though it is unclear whether the target would be developers, builders or the city. But proving the city is to blame can be a tough legal process. "Cities generally think that if we don't cause the disaster, we're not legally responsible for it," said David Church, general counsel for the Utah League of Cities and Towns and attorney for several Utah cities. "If someone builds in a disaster area, they do that of their own choice." It can be especially hard to get money in cases like South Jordan's flooding or South Weber's landslide, where the city provided warning about the hazards, Church said. The best way to be poised to recover as quickly and easily as possible, experts say, is to have a comprehensive insurance policy. Gus Miranda, a spokesman for State Farm Insurance, said flood insurance is an often-overlooked need. Miranda said floods are the most common natural disaster in the United States, and about 20 percent to 25 percent of those floods occur in areas considered at low or moderate flood risk. A home has a 26 percent chance of being flooded during the life of a 30-year mortgage, compared with a 4 percent chance of fire, Miranda said. Of course insurance coverage has its limitations, too. "Most insurance policies do not cover earth movement," Miranda said, meaning responsibility for damage from landslides, mudslides and debris flow often falls in the lap of the victims. And even when homes have flood insurance, it doesn't cover everything. Many of the homes destroyed by the Virgin and Santa Clara rivers, for example, weren't technically flooded. The water didn't come to the homes so much as the homes fell into the water. In the end, the best protection against costly, possibly life-threatening natural disasters may be staying away from the most dangerous places in the first place. Building in geologically unstable areas "can be done safely, but sometimes it can be expensive," Christenson said. "Sometimes it may not be worth it." -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
270 new jobs for Ogden
Fresenius Medical Care plans to expand its Utah dialysis facility
By Joseph M. Dougherty Deseret Morning News OGDEN — By this time next year, Fresenius Medical Care, the world's largest maker of dialysis equipment, will have added 270 jobs and 300,000 square feet of assembly and storage space to its Ogden plant. The Ogden plant, which is the company's largest, will increase production from 27 million dialyzers — a type of blood filter — to 33 million. Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr. and company executives lauded the expansion, made possible by a $675,000 incentive from Ogden's Community and Economic Development. Fresenius will invest about $83 million to expand production at its plant, and the $675,000 is a small portion of the property taxes the company will pay once the expansion is complete, said Richard McConkie, Ogden's deputy director of Community and Economic Development. Additional incentives from the state could kick in if more expansion happens, said Michael Sullivan, spokesman for the Governor's Office of Economic Development. "We are happy to be here in Utah," said Rice Powell, chief executive officer for Fresenius North America. The company currently has 1,150 full-time employees and about 100 temporary employees in Ogden. Worldwide, 80,000 people in 40 countries work for Fresenius, which is based in Frankfurt, Germany. Ogden Mayor Matthew Godfrey said it's near ecstasy for him when a company is willing to not only stay in town but also expand. "It's good for the economy and it's good for Ogden," he said. "They could go anywhere," Huntsman said during a groundbreaking ceremony Wednesday. "These aren't just jobs, they are high-paying jobs, which is what the state wants." Troy McGhee, general manager of the Ogden plant, said the annual salary will be above the Weber County average of $21,500 per year. "This is about more than expanding square footage," Huntsman said. "This is about building lives." McConkie called the expansion a win-win situation for Ogden because the company keeps a low profile, is clean and pays higher wages. Fresenius began life in Germany in 1452 as a pharmacy, Powell said. Over centuries and through mergers, the company has survived. In its latest incarnation, as a producer of dialysis equipment, the company purchased dialysis clinics. The company came to Ogden in September 1996 when it bought a factory from an intravenous fluid company. "It's nice to see it grow," Powell said, adding that his company makes it possible for people with kidney failure to live longer. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
Layton being 'picky' with downtown renovation plans
By Brandy A. Lee Deseret Morning News LAYTON — As Layton's downtown began to shift north with new development, the buildings along its old main streets started to resemble those of a forgotten rural small town. Deseret Morning News graphic High volumes of traffic from west Layton on south Main Street and Gentile Street, however, have prompted the city to look at rerouting traffic and building an interchange onto I-15. City officials realized the interchange would provide access to the old downtown area, so they assigned a city redevelopment agency to take advantage of the potential for increased retail growth. In June 2002, Layton created a 15-20 year redevelopment agency plan for revamping buildings, improving walkways and lighting, and creating a place where people can go and relax. The planning area extends from the southernmost end of Main Street to Fort Lane. In the four years since the planning process began, however, few retailers have signed on, in part because of delays over road plans. "We would like to see a mixed use of office, retail and housing," said Seth Butterfield, Layton economic development administrator. The aim is that when the housing is built, "people can just walk to the stores," he added. So far, Gold's Gym has moved into space once occupied by an old Albertsons store on the northwest corner of Fort Lane and Gentile Street, and Destination Homes is building a corporate office on south Main Street. But Layton has also turned down some potential retailers whose proposals didn't fit with the city's plan. "There are a few that came through who had their own personal vision that didn't fit with our vision," said Scott Carter, the city's community and economic development director. "We want to be a little bit picky, so that we get what we want." Butterfield said the redevelopment agency plan calls for everything within the area to have a uniform look. While current business owners in the area won't be required to renovate their buildings, the city is considering creating incentives for them to do so, he said. Carter said all design changes in the area will have to be approved through a design committee. The city already plans to put in place many outside design features such as plazas, harmonized lighting and clock towers. City officials also are working with the Utah Transit Authority so that a planned stop for the Front Runner commuter rail line coordinates with the city's redevelopment area design. "We want it all to blend and look nice," Matson said. Remaining development may depend on the proposed I-15 interchange that would be built in south Layton. Both the city and the Utah Department of Transportation hope it will help ease traffic on roads like Gentile Street, which is heavily affected by growth in the western part of the city. An interchange in this area would reroute traffic west to Fort Lane and east to Flint Street. While construction could have started as early as this year, it has been delayed until March 2008, Butterfield said. A proposed Western Access Road would eventually go from the I-15 interchange to a possible Legacy Highway extension to the west. But some residents were not satisfied with an environmental assessment for the road, done by the city in 2004. The residents hired a lawyer, Jeffrey Appel, to voice their concerns in a November 2004 letter to the Federal Highway Administration in Salt Lake City. They threatened to sue, and their concerns, as well as the threat of legal action, prompted the federal agency to decide in late 2005 that a full environmental impact study was needed. The highway administration allowed Layton to do the environmental study, which is costing $2 million, said Gary Crane, Layton city attorney. "If we'd had to litigate the issue, the cost would have been higher," Crane said. The study, scheduled to be complete in 2008, is examining the social and economic impacts of the road, as well as the physical geography. The earlier environmental assessment done in 2004 was less detailed "If the city and UDOT would have provided us with alternatives, then we would not have been concerned," said David Lindmeir, one of the residents who had called for the more comprehensive study. The proposed Western Access Road would come within about 200 yards of his home. The road would be two lanes with a median, with another two lanes for parking on each side of the road. One of the residents' biggest concerns was traffic on the road as children walk to a nearby elementary school. While the city awaits the results of the study, Alex Jensen, Layton's city manager, said the city was optimistic about the road changes and redevelopment plans. "There's a lot of exciting things down there," he said. -------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
New winter sports event set for Ogden area
:cool:
By Mike Gorrell The Salt Lake Tribune Article Last Updated:10/30/2006 03:33:40 PM MST :cool: For three months early in 2008, nearly 300 competitors are expected to assemble in the mountains above Ogden for a newly created sports event - the XTERRA Winter World Championship. The competition is patterned after the summer XTERRA USA Championship Series, which features more than 50 events such as open-water swimming, mountain biking and trail running. Several of these events were staged in Utah the past two summers, said Jeff Robbins, president and chief executive of the Utah Sports Commission, which helped bring the winter version to Utah. Professional and amateur athletes will be eligible to compete in the Winter World Championship, in both single-stage races (Nordic skiing, snow biking and snow running) and triathlon-style, multidisciplinary races. Organizers also are considering including ice climbing, bobsledding, snowboarding, skating and downhill skiing as demonstration events, Robbins said. TEAM Unlimited, which is organizing the competition, will produce two television feature shows about the competition and Utah's winter sports activities, and expects the programs to be aired by the major networks. "The XTERRA Winter Championship is another example of how we are using sports to help build the state's image and economy," Robbins said. |
8-Story Mixed-Use "Tower" Proposed for Clearfield
This looks to be a carbon copy of the Midtown development in Orem. It would easily be the tallest building in Davis County, and is convenient to Hill Air Force Base and the Weber State - Davis campus. I just wish it were about a mile west -- closer to FrontRunner.
Clearfield plans center http://www.standard.net/inc/images/p...6595a27e8fd459 Wednesday, November 1, 2006 By Antone Clark Standard-Examiner correspondent CLEARFIELD -- An Orem development group wants to build an eight-story, "lifestyle" center with a projected price tag of more than $100 million. The Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. today in the Municipal Building, 55 S. State St., to discuss Midtown Village's plan. Changing the city's general plan is a key legal step to the mixed-use project. The planned location for the development is only zoned for commercial uses, not mixed-use. The change of zoning would impact 11 acres, owned by Wayne Bellaeu and located at the intersection of State Route 193 and University Park Boulevard on the city's eastern border. Once the Planning Commission reviews the general plan, the City Council can consider a potential amendment to it. City Manager Chris Hillman said this project is the first of its kind in Davis County. The complex has a 2007 construction timetable, and it would include residential, office, recreation, entertainment and retail components. It would be patterned after a similar development under way in Orem, Hillman said. The facility would feature more than 1 million square feet and include the largest, state-of-the-art theater in Davis County, as well as hotel space via a timeshare component with concierge services. The project would be roughly half the size of the Gateway in Salt Lake City. Mayor Don Wood said it would significantly impact the region. "This development will be a major destination for both Davis and Weber counties where people can live, work, shop, dine and be entertained all in one complex," Wood said. Wood and other city leaders began courting Midtown this summer. Since August, Hillman said, city officials have spent a lot of time doing site visits and negotiating the partnership. All City Council members, except Councilman Doyle Sprague, have also been to Utah County to see the Midtown project in Orem. Still, there are some financial wrinkles and issues facing the city that need to be worked out. Hillman said city officials have discussed creating a special improvement district for the area, which would allow Clearfield to bond for at least $7 million to make site improvements. "This means development dollars will be used to pay for development," Hillman said. "The burden will not be placed on Clearfield residents." There is also the issue of 15 acres of park space, owned by the city and adjacent to the proposed development site. Though nothing has been decided, there is talk of swapping that land or developing it in some way. With the project, Wood said, the city will get improved park space as well as more property taxes and sales tax to help pay for improved city services. Wood said final details on the public/private partnership are expected before the year's end. Midtown Village already has a Davis County presence. The developer is currently leasing space in the Layton Hills Mall to promote the project and take reservations, beginning Nov. 10. "Midtown Village is excited about bringing this project to Clearfield and Davis County," said Rob Storey, Midtown's marketing manager. The project is located just east of where the city's largest retail project is expected to open in weeks. Tai-Pan Trading International is expected to hold a ribbon cutting for its new 100,000-square-foot retail facility in early November. |
Utaaah,
Thanks for the great update. I had no idea!! |
way to go clearfield. That's great news for that area. Seem like we are hearing more now about other cities getting a mid-rise mix-use buildings. This once again shows that utah is building up!
:tup: |
So the developer considered a downtown, transit-friendly site for this project, but deemed it too "risky". Such little faith.
A future 'mini-Gateway' Friday, November 3, 2006 By Antone Clark Standard-Examiner correspondent Developer considered Clearfield rail site, says risk too great CLEARFIELD -- The principal owner of a development group that will build a "mini-Gateway" on the eastern border of Clearfield says he considered property near the city's soon-to-be-built commuter rail site, but decided the risk was simply too great. Larry Myler of Midtown Village of Orem said he did look at building a $100-million "lifestyle" center that combines residential, commercial, retail and entertainment options on property adjacent to the uncompleted rail stop at 1250 S. State St. However, at a public hearing during a recent Planning Commission meeting, Myler said he simply couldn't take the risk and had to consider other options. Now Myler has proposed building Midtown Village of Legend Hills on 11 acres at State Route 193, also known as 700 South, and University Park Boulevard. The project would be an eight-story "mini-Gateway" on property owned by Wayne Belleau. "This seems to be a better spot," Myler said. The Utah Transit Authority owns about 73 acres on the southern end of town. Only 10 of those acres will be needed for the rail stop, so potential development of the rest of the acreage has been an ongoing topic for several years. Myler said the risk was simply too great to move that direction. "I can't take a $100 million chance." He said no one has a handle on how popular the rail line will be, so transit-oriented development around the rail stop is still an unknown. The Legend Hills project must clear a number of legal issues before it can be started, but developers hope to break ground in spring and expect the project to take two to 21/2 years to complete. The project is being modeled after a similar structure under construction in Orem. |
More on Clearfield's Midtown
Mammoth project planned for Clearfield
Tom Busselberg 02.NOV.06 Center will be bigger than Layton Hills Mall CLEARFIELD — Planning commission officials were due to announce a mammoth development Wednesday night as the Clipper went to press. Midtown Village, an Orem-based development group, was due to announce the building of a $100 million, high-end, mixed-used “lifestyle center” for Clearfield. It would be built on an 11-acre parcel at the intersection of State Road 193 and University Park Blvd., in the Legend Hills area. Clearfield officials said they hope the entertainment component will include what would be Davis County’s largest theater with more than 500 seats. Hotel space would also be included via a timeshare component complete with concierge services. It would be one of the largest and tallest developments in the entire county, featuring eight stories and more than 1 million square feet. By comparison, the Layton Hills Mall includes about 700,000 square feet. It would be roughly half the size of Salt Lake City’s Gateway. Clearfield’s general plan will have to be amended to allow a mixed-use development in an area currently zoned commercial. City officials have been meeting with the Orem developers since August. The city council visited their project in Orem and have since held many discussions. “This development will be a major destination for both Davis and Weber counties where people can live, work, shop, dine and be entertained, all in one complex,” says Mayor Don Wood. “Tools we are using at using are creating a special improvement district to bond for the site’s public improvements, as well as using increment money from an already established economic development agency/area,” says City Manager Chris Hillman. In addition, 15 acres of park space owned by the city next to the new development could be developed, as well. “This will be a win-win situation for residents and developers,” said Wood. “We’ll get improved park space as well as more property and sales tax revenue to help pay for improved city services.” Midtown Village developers have leased space in the Layton Hills Mall to promote the development and take reservations beginning Nov. 10. This will be by far the largest commercial development ever in this city of nearly 30,000 residents. [email protected] |
Quote:
The Clearfield Frontrunner station would have been a much better location for a project of this scope. What I didn't realize until just recently is that the area in question is even part of Clearfield proper. The portion of Clearfield located east of I-15 seems much more like a part of Layton. The only way to access the rest of Clearfield from this site is by crossing I-15 via Hwy. 193. The rest of the area is cut off from Clearfield by the freeway. Basically my fear is that this new project will only further over-burden Layton's already inadequate transit infrastructure while Clearfield enjoys all of the tax revenue that it generates. http://www.standard.net/inc/images/p...6595a27e8fd459 |
^ I agree. What was the developer afraid of? No one would want to live/work/shop on the "west side"? Was it the tracks themselves, which carry 30 UP trains/day in addition to FrontRunner? Was is downtown Clearfield's trashy image? I think the city has done a lot to clean itself up in recent years. This could have provided a needed boost to the city core.
|
| All times are GMT. The time now is 6:08 PM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Prev