Hill chooses builder for West Side Development

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HILL AIR FORCE BASE -- Sunset Ridge Development Partners LLC was chosen by Hill Air Force Base officials as the highest bidder for Phase One of its West Side Development Enhanced Use Lease Project.

The Sunset Ridge Partnership, will now enter into exclusive negotiations with Hill to lease and develop land on Hill's west side. Sunset is a partnership of Salt Lake City-based Woodbury Corp., Hunt ELP Ltd., of El Paso, Texas and Flintridge Partners LLC, of Irvine, Calif.

The company will propose a plan for the first phase of development that covers about 150 acres along the western portion of the base. The project may ultimately encompass the entire 550 acres of the base adjacent to the Interstate 15 corridor.

"We look forward to working with the developer, and we're anxiously waiting to see the concept they have in mind for the land," said Brig. Gen. Kathleen Close, commander of the Ogden Air Logistics Center. "We're excited about establishing positive partnerships to make this project succeed."

The development project is part of the Air Force's Enhanced Use Lease program, authorized by statute, which allows leases of underutilized military land to private entities. While the Air Force will own the land, the developer will own the facilities it builds. These projects allow developers to establish long-term relationships with private-sector and government entities with specific real estate needs who are potential occupants of the space.

Hill and Sunset Ridge will work together to determine how to finance, design, construct and operate a development that could support offices, hotels, restaurants and retail space.

"The Air Force envisions this development will be a mixed-use facility," said Jeff Woodbury, representing Sunset Ridge. "When you have a project of this size, which is many millions of square feet, there is a certain amount of retail that is necessary to support it. The size and scope of the retail will be focused on supporting the project, as opposed to attracting consumers."

According to officials, the security gate and fences around the base will adjust according to where certain facilities are built.

"Government activities will all be behind the fence, within the base," said Bruce Evans, Hill Enhanced Use Lease Program manager. "All the commercial and public activities will be open and accessible to the public outside the perimeter of the security gate and fences."

Hill officials said part of the lease agreement requires Sunset Ridge to replace 1.3 million square feet of office space where about 150 pre-World War II warehouses are currently used as working offices for base personnel.

"This project will take place in phases. Obviously we have to build something before we can replace these old buildings," Woodbury said.

Negotiations, which include a timeline for completion and money Hill stands to make over the life of the 50-year lease, are ongoing.

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