Ogden parking structure sought?

OGDEN -- Weber County commissioners met with Ogden business development officials Tuesday to discuss the feasibility of building a parking structure in the block between 23rd and 24th streets and Washington Boulevard and Adams Avenue.

The reason for the structure is to solve a significant parking issue in the area, said Steve Fishburn, business development manager for the city.

"There's an issue not just with one of those buildings, or two of those buildings, but the entire block," he said. "There are some real parking issues."

Brandon Cooper, construction project coordinator, showed conceptual drawings of a three-level structure connecting to the current parking structure behind Weber Center.

The new facility would add 235 parking stalls to the area. Vehicle entry would be off Washington Boulevard, but pedestrian access would be open on all four sides of the structure.

Cooper said the structure would be located so many businesses on the block can benefit.

"Instead of just dropping in a three-story structure and calling it good, we wanted to make this one harmonious parking lot," he said. "It provides access to Washington (Boulevard) and to 23rd (Street), so if parking does become cramped and you want to go to the Junction, you have access to a crosswalk across Washington."

Current plans call for free public parking at the new facility, but that may change.

Developers said the structure, which would be built on land owned by the city and some donated by Weber County, would be funded and built by Ogden. There is no price estimate yet, because the project is still in the beginning stages.

If approved and funded, construction could start as early as the end of this year.

Commissioners Jan Zogmaister and Ken Bischoff supported the initial ideas of the structure.

"I think we are all in favor of improving parking in downtown Ogden," Bischoff said.

Related link: This article is a topic of discussion at Weber County Forum.

Updated 11:49 p.m.

OGDEN — Weber County Commissioners met with Ogden business developers this afternoon to discuss the feasibility of building a parking structure in the block between 23rd and 24th Street and Washington Boulevard and Adams Avenue.

The structure would have three levels and would connect to the current parking structure behind the Weber Center. It would add an additional 235 parking stalls to the area. Access to the parking structure would be available off Washington Boulevard, but pedestrian access would be open for all four sides of the structure to allow better access to businesses in the area.

Currently, developers plan that the parking structure would be free to the public but that may change.

Developers said the structure, which would be build on land owned by the city and some donated by Weber County, would be funded and built by Ogden. There was no price estimate on the structure yet because the project is still in the beginning stages.
If approved and funded, construction could start as early as the end of this year.