Mixed-use townhome development could displace longtime Ogden resident
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- The property at 1450 Washington Blvd., facing southwest, is pictured Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The property is in the midst of development for the mixed-use Midtown Village project.
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- Ogden resident Kevin Fredrickson stands in the doorway of his home on Tuesday, June 7, 2022. Fredrickson may lose his home of 15 years as the property owner considers selling the site to Heritage Land Holdings LLC for creation of the Midtown Village housing development.
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- The property at 1450 Washington Blvd., facing southwest, is pictured Tuesday, June 7, 2022. The property is in the midst of development for the mixed-use Midtown Village project.
OGDEN — Another mixed-use housing development is underway. Land once home to Harman Cafe/Kentucky Fried Chicken in 1961 will soon be the site of townhomes, apartments and commercial storefronts.
Heritage Land Holdings LLC first approached the city in early 2021 about the development on approximately 5.2 acres at 1450 Washington Blvd. Having obtained a final site plan review approval on Feb. 10, the developer is currently completing a subdivision plan allowing the 68 townhome units to be individually owned.
HLH Project Manager Marshae Stokes said there is a great demand for townhomes. “They’re affordable to people,” Stokes said of the land not zoned for single-family homes.
Ogden City Senior Planner Joseph Simpson said he believes townhome developments equate to an automatic reduction in building and material costs for developers.
“With current rising costs of single-family homes, townhomes provide an affordable option for families looking to own rather than rent,” Simpson said.
However, there will be 12 apartment units available for rent in the development dubbed Midtown Village.
Of the two commercial buildings to be built on the property, the larger three-story structure on the south side will have apartments on the upper levels with commercial units on the main level facing Washington Boulevard.
Simpson said potential businesses to lease commercial units will come at a later date as they are still initiating steps to move forward with phase one of development.
According to Simpson, HLH has yet to apply for a building permit, but they will need to obtain one by Nov. 4, before the group-dwelling/site plan review approval expires.
While there is no timeline for when the development is expected to be completed, Kevin Fredrickson, who lives near the future townhome site, said he was informed by his landlord on Monday that he may need to vacate his home of 15 years.
The owner of two properties on Washington Boulevard is reportedly looking to sell to the developer.
“It sucks, I don’t dig it,” Fredrickson said of new housing developments, which he described as lacking in character.
Stokes, however, said that as developers, they think the project will be great for the community, bringing life back to Washington Boulevard. “It’s been an eyesore for a while,” Stokes said.
Being retired and on a fixed income, Fredrickson said he does not know where he is going to go. The home Fredrickson resides in is adjacent to the parcel of land on the south side of the development where apartments are to be built for rent.
According to Fredrickson, with rents averaging $1,200 a month, there is no place to rent within his budget. Housing is becoming less obtainable, he said.