Ogden, UT – Ogden city leaders are progressing with plans to purchase a historic Art Deco building on 25th Street, with the intention of converting part of it into affordable housing for artists. The building, located at 507 25th Street, was completed in 1934 and previously housed the U.S. Forest Service until recently.
On December 10, the Ogden Redevelopment Agency Board, composed of City Council members, approved the next steps to finalize a purchase agreement with the U.S. General Services Administration for the property, which is priced at $3.6 million. The city has authorized an initial $360,000 in earnest money for the acquisition and another $240,000 for immediate maintenance needs pending the finalization of the deal.
While the approval is a significant milestone, Janene Eller-Smith, manager of the Ogden City Council office, noted that converting the building into affordable housing could take time. A proposal from Salt Lake City-based Giv Group, the developer chosen to redevelop the property, suggests it could take up to two years to secure the necessary financing, including potential use of federal tax credits designed to support affordable housing projects.
The acquisition was approved in a 5-2 vote by the Ogden Redevelopment Agency Board. While some board members, including Bart Blair, opposed the purchase, arguing that the project was a “want rather than a need,” others, including Mayor Ben Nadolski, emphasized the historical significance of the building. Nadolski voiced concerns that without the city’s involvement, the preservation of the building’s distinctive Art Deco features could be at risk.
“For me, it was the historic element and nature of the building that I just couldn’t put at risk,” Nadolski said, highlighting that the building is one of the key Art Deco landmarks in Ogden, along with the Ogden High School and Ogden Municipal Building. These buildings were designed by renowned Ogden architects Leslie Hodgson and Myrl McClenahan.
The building’s purchase and transformation are part of a broader vision for Ogden’s Nine Rails Creative District, a designated area the city is promoting as an arts and cultural destination. Sara Meess, Ogden’s economic development director, referred to the project as a “unique opportunity” to both preserve the building and repurpose it into an arts hub.
The redevelopment plan proposed by Giv Group includes a mix of studio and performance spaces on the main floor and basement, while the upper floors would be converted into 40 to 50 affordable housing units targeted at artists and other creative individuals. These units would be reserved for households earning between 45% and 85% of the area’s median income.
In addition to the housing units, the developer’s preliminary proposal includes the creation of a “perpetual housing fund.” This fund would allow tenants to receive a share of proceeds from future development, helping them build wealth over time.
To finance the project, Ogden plans to issue up to $4.5 million in bonds to cover the acquisition costs. The city anticipates recouping a portion of this investment through tax-increment financing, a mechanism that allows the city to capture a share of the property tax revenue generated by the building after its redevelopment. Currently, as a federally owned property, the building does not generate property tax revenue for the city.
The transaction still requires approval from Congress, a process expected to take three to four months. Once completed, the redevelopment of this historic Art Deco structure will mark a significant step in Ogden’s efforts to foster the growth of its arts district while also addressing the need for affordable housing for the city’s creative community.