It was suggested to me that I recap what has been happening downtown and that I talk a little about the plans for the next four years. With that in mind, I would like to thank the community for giving me the opportunity to stay around another four years and finish the projects we’ve started. I’m grateful for your confidence and look forward to the exciting days ahead.
In the past four years we have completed a new hotel in the old Eccles Building on 24th Street and Washington Boulevard; finished the new amphitheater; started a new Business Information Center (BIC); rehabilitated the old Lyceum Theater; finished the first and second phases of the IRS, restoring two historic buildings and bringing thousands of jobs downtown; constructed Union Square on 25th Street; and participated in many other projects.
We currently have underway the new mall, the River Project, Ogden Blue, EXO Building on 25th and Lincoln, and a few others. In addition to these projects, there are several others we expect to launch through 2004. For now I would like to give an update on the projects in process.Mall
We are finalizing a development agreement and will begin construction on the new project in March, depending on weather. We will start with the parking garage rehabilitation and will then move to the new streets, curb/gutter/sidewalk, utilities, etc. Then the new buildings will be built. The first phase should be in by 2005 and will involve movie theaters, restaurants, Treehouse Children’s Museum, housing, retail, etc.River Project
This project is underway. We will be buying up properties for the first phase, along Washington Boulevard, this coming year. When the properties are assembled and businesses and residents have been assisted to new locations, the site will be cleared for the new development. It will be commercial along Washington Boulevard and residential on the inner-blocks with condominiums, townhouses, loft apartments, etc. The project also includes trail improvements and green space.Ogden Blue and EXO
Ogden Blue and EXO Properties are projects on the south side of 25th Street, west of Lincoln Avenue. Both projects have been approved and are finalizing the development process. They should be under construction in the next few months, depending on weather. Ogden Blue will be expanding the offerings in their current store at their new location with space for artists in the upper floors. The EXO building will have space for restaurants, offices and retail in a threestory building. Both buildings will match the street’s architecture and should have a huge positive impact on the surrounding businesses. There is a lot of excitement and momentum right now for downtown. It’s fun to be a part of this amazing transformation. There is much more yet to come. Stay tuned.Mayor Matthew Godfrey is Ogden’s youngest mayor, father of four, and beginning his second term in office. He can be reached at: mayor@ogdencity.com
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