leebuddy has posted some great pics on the previous page dealing with this project,
Deseret News,
By Sara Israelsen
Deseret Morning News
OREM — Neighborhood reactions to a mixed-use development with living-and-shopping options shooting skyward on Orem's State Street are just that — mixed.
Midtown Village — with three wings, each eight stories high — is touted by developers as a project much like Salt Lake's Gateway that will bring more shopping, downtown living and entertainment to the city.
David Runnells, a part owner, says he thinks most neighbors are "excited about not only the project bringing business" but also a new look on State Street.
And, he says, the value of property will increase as a result of the project.
Construction of Midtown Village hasn't been without a few bumps — such as financing delays that left gaping holes on State Street for almost two years, as well as noisy construction equipment during the early morning hours. While all that will pass, some business owners are also worried about future impacts the project will have on the area.
"We're a little concerned about the traffic, especially on Orem Boulevard because that is a narrow street," said Pamela Harrison, who, with her husband Rex, owns Gunnies Sporting Goods and Western Wear and the Gunnies Plaza, 396 S. State. "I haven't heard any plans to address that."
Before the project began, the city required a traffic study to look at Midtown's potential impact to State Street and Orem Boulevard, said Stanford Sainsbury, director of Orem City Development Services. The city denied two of the proposed exits then gave the project the go-ahead.
Based on a traffic study comparing the current levels of service with the completed project and projections for 2010, the "grades" assigned to the roads remain about the same.
Currently, the delay at the traffic light at the 400 South and State Street intersection is 16.5 seconds per vehicle at the noon peak hour and 48.2 seconds during rush hour. With the Midtown traffic added, delays would only increase by one second at noon and three seconds at rush hour. Future time increase projections are almost identical.
Construction on the Midtown Village project in Orem is expected to be complete by January 2008.
Keith Johnson, Deseret Morning News
Noise has also been a bit of a concern, with large construction equipment banging and clanking early in the morning, but Runnells said they have tried to keep all the neighbors posted with what's going on and at what time.
The Harrisons have heard the noise and dealt with a few power outages they think might have been caused by the construction. While not anti-Midtown, they're just a bit frustrated with how the project began.
"There's just a lot of misrepresentation of what they owned and what their plans were and when they were going to complete the project," Harrison said. "It's way behind schedule."
And, originally, the Harrisons said they were told the project would go all the way to 400 S. State — to their property.
That won't happen because contract talks fell through and the western-wear store on the property decided to stay put.
Some people are confused by the nearby construction, however.
"People think we're moving," Pamela Harrison said. "(Midtown hasn't) bought us. We like our location. We plan on being here."
Nearby, Kim Boun, office manager of CLP Skill Trade Solutions, a construction-staffing business, said she is excited about the new addition to the city. Midtown Village is scheduled for completion by January 2008.
"(People) will be visually seeing CLP when they're stopping by (Midtown). It's kind of like a Wal-Mart effect — a lot of stores will place themselves next to Wal-Mart just for free advertising."
"I can't imagine it not being positive for us," said Joey Leyba, senior technician and manager of the Orem Tunex, 184 S. State. "People can go there and shop, drop their car off here."
Many Tunex customers drop off their cars then walk to nearby stores, Leyba said. With a destination spot so close, it may bring more cars to the shop.
So until 2008, cranes will continue to frame the Orem skyline as they piece together the steel addition to State Street.
"It seems like they're taking an awfully long time," said Dean Phelps, manager of Napa Auto Parts at 110 E. 400 South. "I'd like to see it done. It might be a good thing for us, draw more traffic to us.