Development plan options for former Rite Aid site feature grocery store or townhomes
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- An empty lot that was the site of the former Rite Aid building at 24th Street and Monroe Boulevard in Ogden is pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
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- The Capitol Square master plan site between 24th and 25th streets from Monroe Boulevard to Quincy Avenue in Ogden, once home to IGA and Rite Aid, is pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
Deborah Wilber, Standard-Examiner
An empty lot that was the site of the former Rite Aid building at 24th Street and Monroe Boulevard in Ogden is pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
OGDEN — Rezoning the site of the former Rite Aid building is necessary for the Ogden City Redevelopment Agency to build the planned Capitol Square project on the 10-acre lot between 24th and 25th streets from Monroe Boulevard to Quincy Avenue.
The RDA owns the property, currently zoned for neighborhood commercial usage. Rezoning it for mixed use would allow for a variety of uses within the same zone, such as townhomes, apartments, single-family residences, commercial, entertainment and offices.
Planners envision a walkable neighborhood commercial center complementary to the surrounding historic district, according to the Planning Commission.
Architectural standards provided by the commission include Prairie School, Arts and Crafts and Victorian Eclectic as well as modern interpretations of them.
Greg Montgomery, city planning manager, presented two concept plans to the Ogden City Council on Tuesday, one including a much-needed grocery store in the east-central neighborhood.
Deborah Wilber, Standard-Examiner
The Capitol Square master plan site between 24th and 25th streets from Monroe Boulevard to Quincy Avenue in Ogden, once home to IGA and Rite Aid, is pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2021.
“I don’t want to say it would be a deal breaker, but it would be,” Councilman Richard Hyer said in reference to approving a master plan without a grocery store.
According to Deputy Director of Community and Economic Development Brandon Cooper, there are a few grocery stores interested in taking on the proposed location on 24th Street. Cooper said he feels confident in sealing a deal with one of them, though the city is not ready to disclose what stores are involved.
If they are unable to contract with a grocery store for the property, the master plan will not automatically default to the second concept plan presented. The master plan will return to the Planning Commission for consideration before proceeding with any other concept or plan.
The Planning Commission acknowledges concept one with a grocery store is of higher priority than concept two, which includes mansion townhomes in place of a grocery store.
Montgomery said the only holdup from moving forward with concept one would be not finding a grocery store willing to rent the space.
According to Hyer, a lot of money has been invested in the area over the last 10 years and it is important, he said, for the city administration to understand there needs to be a grocery store in the community.