Ogden is booming. While trying to preserve the past and move forward into the future several development projects are planned and are underway.

There are three major development projects coming to Ogden: Wonder Block, Encircle House, and Dumke Arts Plaza.

Wonder Block 

The Wonder Block, just south of Historic 25th Street on 26th and Grant, is a five-acre redevelopment plan that will be the first of many projects in the new MAKE Ogden Master Plan, to be completed in phases. Phase 1 is currently underway, with a target date of Q4 2021, for commencement with the others to follow thereafter.

 Phase 1

September/October 

•     Road improvements: The street improvements, currently underway, will make a complete street with bike lanes and sidewalks.
•     New parking structure: 753 parking stall structure south of the courts building. This needs to be in place for the State to transfer the property south of 25th Street to the development. 100 of the parking stalls will be provided to the court during the day plus parking for apartments, retail development, and the general public. 

Phase 2

TBD

•     Approximately 300 three-story apartment units above retail space.
•     111,000 sq. ft., five-story office space on Lincoln.
•     67,000 sq. ft. of retail on ground levels on Lincoln, Grant, and a portion of 26th Street.
•     Second 390 stall parking structure to the west.

 Phase 3

•     99 room hotel on 25th Street. 
•     24,300 sq. ft. of outdoor and indoor amenity space.

 There is also a four-story apartment building planned for 26th Street.

Encircle House

Encircle, a Utah-based nonprofit that offers love and support for LGBTQ+ youth, is currently building the upcoming urban-style brick brownstone right in the heart of downtown Ogden on Washington and 25th Street that will support 260,213 people in Weber County with mental health therapy and programs for LGBTQ+ youth and their families. This is the first of eight new homes Encircle is currently set to build in four states. Encircle has existing homes in Salt Lake, St. George, and Provo.

The builder is Nilson Homes. Jed Nilson, President of Nilson Homes, was inspired by a childhood friend to help Encircle build the Ogden location. He didn’t find out until years later that his friend had kept his gay sexuality a secret and had struggled with thoughts of suicide. 

•     Cafe/kitchen and dining room on the first floor.
•     Art and “friendship circle” rooms on the second floor.
•     Three therapy rooms on the third floor.
•     Covered patio and outdoor plaza in back and a small plaza in front.

Dumke Arts Plaza

The groundbreaking was held in February for the new Dumke Arts Plaza that will be located on the southwest corner of 25th Street and Ogden Avenue. The Plaza, set to open in October, was part of the City’s Master Plan for the Nine Rails Creative District; it will be home to arts events that are always public, from intimate concerts and live performances to film screenings and art installations, and will bring Weber State University downtown to the Creative District, something that was important to the Dr. Ezekiel R. and Edna Wattis Dumke Foundation, which is contributing $1 million for plaza construction and an additional $2 million for arts programming at the plaza through an endowment to Weber State University. 

•     “Flexible open space” to accommodate large-scale public art installations and events. 
•       A large LED screen for multimedia art displays and sculpture extending over 25th Street
•       Elevated platform with a ramp to serve as an area for additional arts programming

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