Washington Boulevard development booming; new proposal edging ahead
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- The Ogden Pioneer Days office in the 1800 block of Washington Boulevard in Ogden, photographed, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The structure would be razed to make way for the proposed Parkway Apartments development in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Washington Boulevard.
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- Plans showing the proposed Parkway Apartments development in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Washington Boulevard in Ogden.
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- Site of the proposed Parkway Apartments development in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Washington Boulevard, photographed Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The old Roy’s Auto and Washington Heights Baptist Church structures have been razed to clear the space.
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- Site of the proposed Parkway Apartments development in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of Washington Boulevard, photographed Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022. The old Roy’s Auto and Washington Heights Baptist Church structures have been razed to clear the space.
OGDEN — Development along Washington Boulevard in Ogden is plugging along.
New plans are emerging for more housing along the busy thoroughfare — in the 1700 and 1800 blocks of the roadway, stretching from the Ogden River Parkway and the Ogden Pioneer Days office building north to 17th Street. Several structures have already been razed as the plans move forward, and the small Pioneer Days building would also potentially be put on the chopping block to accommodate the development.
The 100 or so proposed apartments in the 2.5-acre plot on the east side of Washington would complement townhomes quickly rising across the street to the west near the old Slackwater restaurant site in the burgeoning Riverbend neighborhood. North of the location of the Parkway Project, as it’s dubbed, in the 1400 block of Washington, another development consisting of townhomes, apartments and more is underway.
The Ogden Planning Commission earlier this month recommended approval of the rezone sought by the developers, the Parkway Group, and the proposal will eventually go to the Ogden City Council for formal consideration. To accommodate their development plans, the Parkway Group also wants a section of River Drive in the area vacated and wants to acquire the city-owned land where the Pioneer Days building sits.
“We’re working with Pioneer Days to get them a new office, probably closer to the rodeo grounds,” said Ogden Planning Manager Barton Brierley, alluding to Pioneer Stadium to the east along 17th Street. The old Roy’s Auto and Washington Heights Baptist Church structures to the north have already been demolished as the plans advance.
The partners in the Parkway Group are a brother and sister team, Johanna and Paul Droubay, who have family roots in Weber County. Their plans call for up to 109 apartments in two five-story buildings and around 3,900-square-feet of commercial space. A cafe could take shape adjacent to the Ogden River Parkway to cater to the cyclists, joggers and others who use the path.
“This is an incredible spot, bound by the bike trail and Ogden River to the south and Washington Boulevard to the west, with spectacular mountain views and easy acess to the city center, not to mention the rodeo grounds and Lorin Farr pool and skate park directly east,” the Droubays write in their proposal to city officials. “We feel a strong sense of responsibility to create a development that is worthy of this unique location.”
Brierley lauded the proposal.
“It’s a good revitalization,” he said, noting the “underutilized commercial buildings” in the area. He senses strong backing for the plans and said the development would bring “a lot of energy and vitality” to the area.
The housing units would be market-rate apartments, Brierley said, and city officials are in talks with the developers about potential financial incentives.
The Parkway Project site would be divided by the property at 1738 Washington Blvd., not included in the proposal. A smoke shop sits there.
As for the other nearby development initiatives, Salt Lake City-based Lotus Co. is building 70-72 townhomes across the street along the Ogden River off the west side of Washington. Thirty are taking shape on the south side of the river west of Ogden River Brewery while 40-42 more are to be built north of the river on the land west of Washington Boulevard.
Further north on the 5.2-acre parcel in the 1400 block of Washington Boulevard, Heritage Land Holdings is planning 68 new townhomes as well as commercial space and apartments.