Construction at the Junction
Text 
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 | 
No Comments [ Add Comment ]
No Comments [ Add Comment ]By SCOTT SCHWEBKE
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
Home » News 
» Story View
By SCOTT SCHWEBKE
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
» Story View
By SCOTT SCHWEBKE
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
OGDEN -- Despite frigid temperatures, construction will heat up at The Junction next month when work starts on a trio of long-awaited buildings that will house 29,000 square-feet of retail space and 93 residential units.
The buildings are expected to be finished next year and will compliment The Junction's high adventure Salomon Center and Megaplex 13 cinema, said Richard McConkie, the city's deputy director of community and economic development.
"Entertainment has been a key component at The Junction. That's what has attracted attention," he said. "But to have a residential and retail component is very important as well. It creates a 24-hour presence downtown so you don't have a situation where they roll up the sidewalk at 5 p.m."
Two 9,000-square-foot buildings will be located off Kiesel Avenue and another 11,000-square-foot structure will be built off Washington Boulevard.
The buildings will range in height from two to five stories, with retail space occupying the bottom level and some residential rental units on top.
There will also be some ground level townhomes.
The structures will be clustered to attract shoppers, creating an urban-style village, according to Randy Krum, construction manager for the Boyer Company, which is responsible for developing the buildings.
"We want to make it public friendly to people to get them into the different businesses," he said.
Boyer has not announced retail tenants for the buildings, but the company is negotiating with several small specialty businesses that might include clothing stores and cafes, a print shop and an ice cream parlor, among other establishments, McConkie said.
"They are not looking at any anchor-type department stores," said McConkie, who is optimistic retail traffic at The Junction will spark other businesses downtown.
At the heart of The Junction is the $19.5 million Salomon Center that features bowling, rock climbing and simulated sky diving as well as the $18 million Megaplex 13 cinema.
Both facilities opened in June 2007.
Dave Harmer, the city's community and economic development director, declined to disclose how much money The Salomon Center and Megaplex 13 have earned since opening because both are private enterprises, but said business has exceeded expectations.
In 2007, city officials projected The Junction would generate about $2.8 million in tax revenue during its first year and $4.5 million annually by 2015.
In addition to gearing up for the start of construction on the retail and residential buildings, work on three new restaurants at The Junction is also on schedule, said Krum.
Finishing touches are being applied to the 6,000-square-foot Sonora Grill scheduled to open in early April at 2310 Kiesel Ave., Krum said.
The upscale restaurant will feature regional Mexican fare along with a 50-seat banquet room, private dining area, a full bar and lounge, said Steve Ballard, who owns the establishment.
It will also include a ceviche bar where fresh seafood will be marinated and cooked in citrus juices.
Ballard predicts success for the Sonora Grill due to the mixed-use nature of The Junction.
"It creates excitement," he said.
Another restaurant, Iggy's Sports Grill will operate in a 7,000-square-foot building at 2309 Washington Blvd. scheduled for completion by early June, Krum said.
The restaurant's menu will include gourmet sandwiches, jumbo burgers, pizzas, pastas, steaks, seafood and other items.
Hersh Ipaktchian, president and chief executive officer of Iggy's, said he's excited about the prospect of operating in The Junction.
"We've reviewed possible locations in Ogden for several years, but felt the market wasn't quite ready," he said in a prepared statement.
"The Junction in downtown Ogden has revitalized the city, so we felt it was the right time in the right location."
Iggy's has seven other restaurants in Utah, including one in Layton.
Around the same time that Iggy's opens, MacCool's Public House, an Irish pub-style restaurant will be moving into its new 4,200-square-foot digs at 2325 Washington Blvd., Krum said.
MacCool's also operates in Salt Lake City and Layton.
The three restaurants will share outdoor patio space.
Mayor Matthew Godfrey said the uniqueness of the three restaurants should enhance The Junction.
"We hoped to get restaurants that weren't national chains, so that people would have a unique dining experience downtown," he said.
"We are excited about the eclectic mix and that they are locally grown."
Another 4,000 square-foot building at 2386 Kiesel Ave., slated to open in March, will house a Subway restaurant and two other businesses, Krum said.
In addition to the restaurants, work on the four-story Wells Fargo building within The Junction at the corner of 24th Street and Washington Boulevard has been finished.
Wells Fargo Bank will occupy most of the first two floors of the 64,000 square-foot building, while the law firm of Van Cott Bagley Cornwall & McCarthy will operate on the fourth floor.
Negotiations are also under way with other possible tenants, said Krum.
He declined to identify additional businesses that may move into the building.
There are no comments for this page.
Add Your Comment
| Name: | |
| Comment: | |
| Security Code: |
Type the characters to the left in the box exactly as they appear. |
