Ogden, UT – Ogden city leaders are taking steps to acquire a historic art deco building at 507 25th Street, with plans to convert part of it into affordable housing for artists. The Ogden Redevelopment Agency Board, composed of City Council members, voted last week to move forward with a purchase agreement for the building, which was completed in 1934 and most recently housed the U.S. Forest Service. The city will pay $3.6 million for the property, with an additional $600,000 allocated for earnest money and building maintenance as the deal moves toward finalization.
The four-story building, which has become an important symbol of Ogden’s architectural history, is located in the Nine Rails Creative District, a neighborhood the city is developing as an arts and cultural hub. The Giv Group, a Salt Lake City-based development firm, has proposed a redevelopment plan that aligns with the city’s vision for the district. If the deal goes through, the building would be transformed into a mixed-use space, featuring affordable housing for artists alongside studio and performance areas.
The housing component of the plan would consist of 40 to 50 units on the upper floors, designed for individuals or families earning between 45% and 85% of the area’s median income. A key feature of the proposal is the creation of a “perpetual housing fund,” which would allow tenants to build wealth through proceeds generated by future development on the property. The main level and basement would provide studio and performance spaces, making the building a hub for artistic and cultural activities.
Despite strong support for the project, the acquisition has not been without controversy. The proposal passed the Ogden Redevelopment Agency Board in a 5-2 vote, with Board member Bart Blair casting one of the dissenting votes. Blair expressed concerns that the project might be driven more by desire than necessity, questioning the allocation of city resources for the initiative.
However, Ogden Mayor Ben Nadolski voiced strong support for the acquisition, emphasizing the importance of preserving the historic integrity of the building. “For me, it was the historic element and nature of the building that I just couldn’t put at risk,” Nadolski said. The building is regarded as a key example of the art deco style, with architects Leslie Hodgson and Myrl McClenahan having played a central role in its design. It joins other prominent structures in the city, such as Ogden High School and the Ogden Municipal Building, as important works of local architectural history.
The city’s involvement is seen as crucial to safeguarding the building’s future. Without the city’s acquisition, the building could have been sold to private interests with no guarantee of preserving its historic features.
While the acquisition plan moves forward, Janene Eller-Smith, who manages the Ogden City Council office, noted that the redevelopment project could take several years to come to fruition. The Giv Group’s proposal will need time to secure financing, potentially through federal tax credits designed to promote affordable housing development. The city will likely issue up to $4.5 million in bonds to cover the acquisition costs, and will recoup a portion of the funds through tax-increment financing (TIF), using property tax revenues generated by the building once it’s renovated.
In addition to the acquisition costs, city estimates suggest that the building will require significant investment—between $13.3 million and $22.5 million—for renovations, seismic upgrades, and the development of a parking lot.
The timeline for finalizing the sale could take three to four months, as the U.S. General Services Administration must approve the transaction, with Congress also needing to sign off. Once completed, the redevelopment project could serve as a key element in Ogden’s broader vision to position the Nine Rails Creative District as a vibrant arts destination.