Ogden: the Junction City mega thread

[delts145]

Ogden development plans around FrontRunner stop, Union Station inching forward

By Tim Vandenack - | Sep 28, 2021 - The Ogden Standard Examiner -
https://www.standard.net/news/local/...ching-forward/

Ogden Station, the Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner stop in Ogden, photographed on Sept. 22, 2021 by Tim Vandenack for the Standard Examiner

By Tim Vandenack - | Sep 28, 2021 - The Ogden Standard Examiner -
https://www.standard.net/news/local/...ching-forward/

OGDEN — Progress takes time, but the proposed redevelopment of the area around Union Station and the Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner station in Ogden is inching forward.

UTA officials expect the agency to seek formal proposals to overhaul the area from developers in the fourth quarter of the year, between October and December. After that, specifics would come into focus for the zone, dubbed Ogden Station by UTA officials, though the planning process could take 12 to 18 months with actual construction stretching out 10 years.

“A fair amount of interest has been expressed by the development community, both at local and national scales,” Jordan Swain, UTA’s transit-oriented development project manager, said in a message to the Standard-Examiner. The area in question sits on the west side of Wall Avenue between 22nd and 27th streets, roughly, encompassing Union Station and the FrontRunner stop.

Aside from the FrontRunner, the area will serve as the terminus for the Ogden bus rapid transit system now taking shape, Swain noted, and it sits near the many businesses on and around 25th Street just to the east. “Because of this context, Ogden Station is one of the most exciting opportunities for transit-oriented development along the Wasatch Front,” he said.

Transit-oriented developments are development schemes meant to cluster residential and commercial offerings around a transit hub, like the FrontRunner station and looming BRT stop. TOD plans are moving forward around the Clearfield FrontRunner station, while Roy officials are weighing creation of a development strategy around the FrontRunner station there.

Ogden Station, the Utah Transit Authority FrontRunner stop in Ogden, photographed on Sept. 22, 2021.

Redevelopment of the area to the north and south of Union Station in Ogden is contemplated in Make Ogden, the city-crafted master plan that charts long-range future development around the city’s downtown area. Tom Christopulos, Ogden’s community and economic development director, said the plans in the Ogden Station area are among the key prongs of the plan.

A developer’s vision of redevelopment in the commercial core of Ogden, contemplated in the city’s Make Ogden planning document. Utah Transit Authority officials plan
to seek proposals to redevelop the area around the FrontRunner stop in Ogden between October and December 2021. (Image supplied, City of Ogden/Make Ogden plan)

“It is the most significant part of the Make Ogden plan,” Christopulos said. Another key element is development of the so-called Wonder Block along 26th Street between Lincoln and Grant avenues, where a Wonder Bread factory once sat before its demolition in 2018 to make way for mixed-use development.

Christopulos foresees development in phases, lasting up to 10 years. “So it won’t all happen at once,” he said.

Apart from the 16.9 acres of UTA land, including the parking lot east of the FrontRunner platform and the land north of that, another 6.9 acres is to be included in the Ogden Station development area, according to Swain, part of it owned by the city and the Union Station Foundation. The city-owned land that’s included sits on the west side of Wall Avenue between 27th and Binford streets, according to Christopulos.

Union Pacific Railroad owns Union Station, but the city leases the property, and Christopulos says that facility would possibly be remodeled or repurposed as part of the development plans.

When complete, Swain foresees a mix of residential, office and retail space in the focus area as well as public open space. There would be an “innovation center” housing office and incubation space and a transit plaza, primarily a residential area with some commercial, he said.

“All uses described in the station area plan are preliminary and intended to help establish a general vision. Entitled land uses will be defined after a development partner has been identified/selected within a master development agreement,” Swain said.

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[NBABUCKS1]

seems like a lot of the parking gets axed in that plan?

We need another not private ski resort to support all these new residents.

[Schmoe]

I love Ogden's potential. I think it has more promise in many respects than Provo. Just lacks the job base that Utah Valley has.

[Atlas]

O-town vibes

[J-Squad]

Originally Posted by Schmoe

I love Ogden's potential. I think it has more promise in many respects than Provo. Just lacks the job base that Utah Valley has.

Agreed!!

[UTAZLoVer]

Ogden’s Historic 25th Street getting five-story apartment building

https://www.standard.net/news/local/...ment-building/



OGDEN — Dirt is moving ahead of construction of a new five-story apartment building in a vacant lot along Historic 25th Street that’ll bring new tenants to the busy commercial corridor.

The structure, a project of Springville-based Summa Terra Ventures, represents a big step forward in bringing housing to Ogden’s downtown core.

“Downtown living at its best,” said Mike Watson, the Summa Terra chief executive officer.

The building will contain 55 apartments, he said, and it’ll be one of the tallest buildings in the area. It’s taking shape at 144 25th St., a long-vacant lot on the north side of 25th Street between Wall and Lincoln avenues. A hotel, demolished in 1996, and restaurant, torn down in 2008, previously occupied the land.

There are a few scattered apartments along Historic 25th Street, according to Amber Corbridge, a planner for the City of Ogden. But the Summa Terra project represents a deeper foray into introduction of housing on the street.

[delts145]

I like it. I think it mixes nicely with the historic nature of the street that's already there.

[delts145]

Layton Apartments by Rockworth Companies

https://rockworthco.com/real-estate-development/ - Layton, UT
Mixed Use, Multifamily, and Retail

223 units with 16,000 SF Retail
210,500 SF
Pending Start Date

Layton Apartments is an urban mixed-use project (retail and residential). In total there will be 223 residential units and 16,000 SF of retail. Layton Apartments will be located adjacent to the new Intermountain Layton Hospital, just off I-15. The project offers excellent proximity to Hill Air-force Base, Downtown SLC, Layton, Ogden, and more. The residential community will provide class A amenities including clubhouse with game-room, fitness center, pickle ball courts, fire pits, community gathering areas, and other site amenities.

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[delts145]

The New Intermountain Layton Hospital

HKS Architecture - The Challenge
To design a future-proof comprehensive health center that co-exists with the surrounding community.


The Design Solution
The Intermountain Layton Hospital and Parkway Clinic is a 43-bed hospital with an attached medical office building. The campus is master-planned within a residential neighborhood, with the capacity to expand in place. Clinic areas are standardized and modular for flexibility and easy expansion. The building’s orientation and giant curtain wall on the east face provide stunning views of the Wasatch Mountains for patients in the public and waiting areas. A glass, grand staircase is filled with natural light at each of the main entrances. This feature is meant to encourage visitors and staff to take the stairs instead of elevators, promoting healthy movement and lifestyle choices. Places for respite and meditation are incorporated alongside landscape features and vegetation. A walking path around the perimeter is available to patients, their families and the public. The layout of the clinic and inpatient spaces allows patients to enter, register, room and discharge from their visit in the elegant front of house spaces, without having to circulate through the clinical back of house areas. The hospital’s emergency department is located near Layton Parkway by design to provide quick wayfinding and easy access.


The Design Impact
Each component and element of the design was thoughtfully selected and implemented to support Intermountain Healthcare’s motto of “Helping People Live the Healthiest Lives Possible.” The hospital will serve the 60 percent of Davis County residents who previously had to leave the county for hospital services, and the campus is set up to include a future specialty ambulatory center. The project is designed to achieve LEED Silver certification.

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[UTAZLoVer]

Ogden’s Skyline Gets New Look with Cache Valley Bank sign

https://www.standard.net/news/busine...ley-bank-sign/



There’s a new look in downtown Ogden’s skyline.

The old First Security Bank building at the southeast corner of 24th Street and Washington Boulevard now has a new sign atop it, reflecting the new owner. Gone is the giant “Wells Fargo” signage and in its place is signage reading “Cache Valley Bank.”

The 12-story building, vacant since around 2006, is one of the tallest in the city and Cache Valley Bank officials ordered the change in part to get word out about the Logan-based bank’s presence here. The bank, which acquired the building in 2018, currently has offices across the street in the Weber Center but plans to overhaul the First Security Bank building and eventually move in.

“We’ve still got big plans for the building. It’ll take a little bit of time to put together,” said Mike Lemon, the Cache Valley Bank chief financial officer.

The new signage, meantime, installed on Wednesday and Thursday, is meant as a marketing tool. George Daines, the bank’s chief executive officer, also hopes it gussies up the area.

There are actually two Cache Valley Bank signs, one facing north, one facing south, and he said the color of the lighting on each will be changeable. Around Christmas, for instance, the lighting can change to red and green, typical holiday colors. “It will add to the flavor of downtown Ogden,” he said.





As for the more substantive upgrades to the building interior, those are in the works. Lemon said engineering efforts to determine the sort of upgrades needed are nearing completion. Then proposals for the actual upgrades will be sought, he said.

“It’s not going to be real quick. It’s going to be steady,” Daines said. The work will be done, though, and the building will eventually be occupied.

Cache Valley Bank also owns the smaller building on the south side of the taller structure and plans to move in there by the end of 2022. Later, it will move into the big building as improvements there materialize, though bank officials didn’t offer a specific timeline for the work. Leased office space is envisioned in the upper floors once they’re renovated.

The building was built in 1927, according to City of Ogden records, and first housed the First Security Corp., which is how it got its name. The Ogden City Council placed the building on the Ogden City Register of Historic Places in 2018.

“The building has neighborhood significance in that it is one of the most prominent and visually identifiable buildings in downtown Ogden. Its unique Prairie Style architecture contributes to its iconic nature and makes it a true landmark for the city,” reads the resolution placing it on the register.

The bank previously housed Wells Fargo operations, hence the prior signage atop the building. Daines said he reached out to Wells Fargo reps to see if they wanted the old signage taken down, to no avail. As such, there are a few oversized letters available.

“I’ve got some 8-foot-high letters to sell,” Daines said.

[Atlas]

Good to see the First Security building put to good use! Downtown Ogden is making a comeback.

[UTAZLoVer]

Lotus, Ogden Leaders Break Ground on ‘Workforce Housing’ Development
https://www.standard.net/news/local/...g-development/




OGDEN — Work on a large new development off 20th Street west of Wall Avenue, dubbed Lotus Riverwalk, has started.

The initial plans — focus of a groundbreaking ceremony Tuesday featuring Mayor Mike Caldwell and representatives from the developer, Lotus Co. — call for 110 units, including 101 apartments and nine town homes. That first phase of development will be on a parcel of undeveloped land abutting the Ogden River, immediately west of the Walmart at the location.

But that’s only the beginning.

Next, Lotus — based in Salt Lake City and involved in many projects around Weber County — plans to develop 161 more units upstream toward Wall Avenue, between the Ogden River and the Walmart parking lot. Longer term, the firm, teaming with the City of Ogden, envisions a development of perhaps 350 housing units on 10 acres of largely undeveloped land on the opposite side of the Ogden River, building a bridge west of Walmart to connect the two sides of the waterway.

“An amazingly dramatic change,” Caldwell said.

Joe Torman, president of construction and development for Lotus, said phase one of the Lotus Riverwalk plans, the first 110 units, should take around 16 months to complete, finishing sometime in the middle of 2023.

The rental housing, he said, is designed to be “workforce housing,” offered at below-market rates to individuals and families with more moderate incomes. Lotus is tapping into the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program, which allows it to access tax credits to aid with project development and offer rents at about 20% to 25% below prevailing market rates.

“It’s primarily family housing and affordable housing,” he said. Utah, like many parts of the West, lacks affordable housing and the project is meant to help counter that.

It’ll be a net-zero development, Torman said, with solar arrays to be installed as part of the project to generate enough energy to meet the development’s power needs. The panels will be built atop the development’s apartments, town homes and carports.

Lotus Riverwalk will also feature a park and common area to foster a sense of community.

Torman expects groundbreaking on phase two, the 161-unit development, sometime in the third quarter of 2022, by late summer or early fall. Design work on that part of the plans is still underway.

The timeline for the subsequent project phases across the Ogden River is more tenuous, in part because of the complications involved with building a bridge. Building a bridge “is a feat of epic proportions,” Torman said, requiring involvement of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The planned bridge would connect roadways meandering through the new development on both sides of the river, leading to 20th Street to the south and Gibson Avenue to the north.

Broadly, Torman said the plans on the north side of the Ogden River call for an array of housing types — single family homes, apartments and town homes. “It’s all mixed income,” he said, with different housing types catering to consumers of different income levels.

Caldwell lauded Lotus’ efforts in the city. “They are a visionary group,” he said.

Lotus is also building a cluster of town homes in the Riverbend area, just west of Washington Boulevard and south of the Ogden River. Leasing of the first units should begin by April.

Lotus is also planning to build 41 town homes on an undeveloped parcel across from that on the north side of the Ogden River, with groundbreaking expected within a month or so.

[Atlas]

Here's a page I hadn't seen before showcasing the forthcoming "Wonder Block" development in Ogden, which has been inching forward toward construction over the last few years. Exciting to see Ogden regaining some of its urban fabric!

Unprecedented growth along Utah’s Wasatch Front in recent years has positioned the City of Ogden to take full advantage of exciting opportunities to redevelop itself to meet the community’s evolving needs. Situated between the breathtaking northern Wasatch Range and Great Salt Lake, Ogden is a popular destination for hikers, skiers, mountain bikers, adventure seekers, and outdoor enthusiasts of all kinds. It’s an increasingly desirable place to visit, live, work, and play year-round.

When Ogden began seeking a more intentional and responsive plan for it’s ongoing growth, city leadership engaged the expertise of Design Workshop to develop and implement a new Downtown Master Plan that would build upon previous planning visions by embracing the city’s historic charm and assets while methodically addressing opportunities for sustainable improvement.

Just south of Historic 25th Street in the heart of the city is the former site of a once-sprawling Wonder Bread factory that has since been leveled to make room for future development. Immediately this site attracted the interest of local developers and city leaders alike because of its location, scale, and glaring potential. With the new Downtown Master Plan in effect, the developers and city sought the expertise of SAR+ to design an urban mixed-use destination for 300+ new residential units, 6 stories of offices, as well as street-level space for restaurants, retail, and groceries--all centered around a pedestrian-oriented urban alleyway concept extending off the already bustling 25th Street. The site boasts more than 1,000 new parking spaces and aims to serve and integrate itself with the existing fabric of Downtown Ogden.

A sampling of the renderings/plans:

[UTAZLoVer]

‘Ogden’ Arch over Washington Blvd. getting update, new LED lights

https://www.standard.net/news/local/...ew-led-lights/



OGDEN — The distinctive signage arching over Washington Boulevard near the Ogden River that serves as a symbol of Ogden is getting a facelift.

Crews this week started taking down the words spelling “Ogden” on either side of the steel truss arch and other signage so it can be replaced. The old neon lighting will be replaced with more energy-efficient LED lighting, though the overall look will stay the same.

“It’s been getting increasingly hard to get people to do repairs on that light,” said Jay Lowder, Ogden’s public services director. “We’re changing it to technology we can support.”

The look will be the same, he said. Wording on either side of “Ogden” on the north side of the arch reads, “Home of Weber State University” and “Pioneer Days Week July 24th.” On the south side, the wording on either side of “Ogden” reads, “It pays to live in” and “Home of Weber State University.” That won’t change.

The new lights, though, might be brighter, Lowder said. Moreover, the color of the new lighting will be changeable. Around July 4 (Independence Day) and July 24 (Pioneer Day), for instance, the lighting on the sign might be red, white and blue, he said.

The work, with a price tag of around $120,000, started this week and should be done by late next week.

According to data on the Library of Congress website, the arch dates to 1936.

“The sign was conceived and built as the result of the efforts of Ogden’s prominent and colorful mayor, Harmon W. Peery. It was designed and constructed in 1936 by the Young Electric Sign Company,” reads an online Library of Congress account. “The sign is also a rather rare structure, in that only five road spanning signs are known to have been constructed in Utah.”

Lowder called the arch an iconic part of the city, noting that images of it frequently accompany articles and other material about Ogden. He said he thinks the update will be the first major overhaul of the sign since it was put in place.

The steel truss arch holding the signage, in good condition, will stay in place.

[Paniolo Man]

Some info on the Ogden Union Station plans from UTA's upcoming Board Of Trustees meeting.

[delts145]

Is there anyone on this forum who lives in the Ogden area? There are a ton of projects going around Ogden right now, but no one to update photos on them.

Northern Metro - Hunters Landing - Ogden - 154 Units

Developed By Summa Terra Ventures, LLC. - https://summaterraventures.com/















Northern Metro - The Hart - Clearfield - 105 Units

Developed By Summa Terra Ventures, LLC. - https://summaterraventures.com/

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[delts145]

Northen Metro - Downtown Ogden - Union Walk Apartments

Developed By Summa Terra Ventures, LLC. - https://summaterraventures.com/

Originally Posted by UTAZLoVer

Ogden’s Historic 25th Street getting five-story apartment building

https://www.standard.net/news/local/...ment-building/

OGDEN — Dirt is moving ahead of construction of a new five-story apartment building in a vacant lot along Historic 25th Street that’ll bring new tenants to the busy commercial corridor.

The structure, a project of Springville-based Summa Terra Ventures, represents a big step forward in bringing housing to Ogden’s downtown core.

“Downtown living at its best,” said Mike Watson, the Summa Terra chief executive officer.

The building will contain 55 apartments, he said, and it’ll be one of the tallest buildings in the area. It’s taking shape at 144 25th St., a long-vacant lot on the north side of 25th Street between Wall and Lincoln avenues. A hotel, demolished in 1996, and restaurant, torn down in 2008, previously occupied the land.

There are a few scattered apartments along Historic 25th Street, according to Amber Corbridge, a planner for the City of Ogden. But the Summa Terra project represents a deeper foray into introduction of housing on the street.

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[EPdesign]

I’m not complaining. I am happy to see all these projects as I actually kinda always cheered Ogden on over Utah valley cities. My bias. But I am waiting for the day where there is a new 18 story or higher tower announcement for downtown Ogden. That would just make me giddy with excitement and joy.

[Atlas]

I'd also love to see a new tallest in Ogden, although I have to say that I'm very excited for the shorter infill too. Ogden has great patches of remnant pre-war urbanism but they feel disconnected because of the empty lots and parking, much like SLC.

I remember seeing this proposal for Bozeman and thinking that it would be a good fit for Ogden:

[Jbash]

Originally Posted by delts145

Northen Metro - Downtown Ogden - Union Walk Apartments

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This is a cool project and definitely necessary, but I'm dying at the quote in the article "downtown living at its best" like, that's it...