1 / 2

Phase 1 of the Lotus Riverwalk workforce housing project, pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2023. It's expected to open to residents some time this summer.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

2 / 2

Phase 2 of the Lotus Riverwalk workforce housing project, pictured Tuesday, May 16, 2023. These residences will be ready to occupy sometime in 2024.

Rob Nielsen, Standard-Examiner

❮ ❯

OGDEN — Two sets of workforce housing projects are coming together along the Ogden River.

On Tuesday, Community & Economic Development Director Brandon Cooper told the Standard-Examiner that the first phase of the Lotus Riverwalk housing units off of 20th Street and Wall Avenue could be taking in residents very soon.

“Just west of Walmart, that is almost complete, and the one to the northeast of Walmart, that one is still in the framing stage,” he said. “It’s a net-zero EnergyStar-rated community — essentially a rental community. … The first phase is much further along than the second phase, of course. I believe that they’ll be targeting an early summer to mid-summer opening on the first phase.”

He said that there are nearly 268 units between apartments and townhouses at the site.

Cooper said some restrictions apply to the new property.

“It is attainable housing so there are some income restrictions on the property,” he said. “It is a property where you have to qualify based on income.”

He expects Phase 2 will likely be open sometime next year.

Cooper said the project hasn’t always been smooth sailing on its way to the finish line.

“It’s been challenging over the last couple of years with the supply chain issues that COVID presented,” he said. “It seems like they have worked through those challenges.”

He added that the project’s proximity to the Ogden River also presented some initial concern as it became apparent area rivers would be swelling and even topping their banks. However, the project has fared well.

“They designed the project properly in the first place,” Cooper said. “It is close to the river. That gave us a little bit of concern initially when they submitted for their plan review. But I think between the city and (the contractors), they were able to make a design that was pretty resilient. When the river started to rise, we were kind of concerned about it. We’ve been watching it and preparing for it. As of now, I don’t think there’s been any flooding occurring there.”

Cooper said the new units will be a huge boost to the city when they open.

“It will be a significant boost for our housing stock,” he said. “Ogden City actually has a surplus of affordable housing when it comes to the standards from HUD (U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development). We have a significant surplus, more than anyone in the county. What we’re looking to do is the really modern, quality units that are still in the affordable category.”

He added that this also falls perfectly into the city’s overall housing goals.

“Our philosophy is that we want to facilitate a broad range of housing types across the spectrum of affordability,” he said. “In doing so, we think the Riverwalk location meets the needs of that strategy.”