OGDEN – In the works since 2020, this northern Utah metropolis has joined the ranks of other cities that charge for parking in their downtowns.

In early May, the Ogden City Council voted 5 to 2 in favor of rolling out its managed parking system that some fear will kill off businesses while others see it as a necessary building block toward cultivating a vibrant city center. That same night, they also voted 5 to 2 to adopt a menu of parking fees.

Phase 1 (of three) is live now, charging for on-street parking on Historic 25th Street and on Kiesel Avenue that winds through the nearby downtown Junction, Ogden’s mixed-use entertainment and eatery district. 

The May 5 City Council session spanned several hours with this particular issue dominating the discussion. During the public comment period, small business owners pleaded for their tenuous livelihoods, while developers and planners spoke in favor of the plan.

“We opened in 2012 on 25th Street when a lot of people said that was a bad idea. They said don’t go there, it’s a sketchy area, there’s not a lot of traffic,” Nick VanArsdell, co-owner of Lucky Slice Pizza on 25th Street, said. “We kind of made it our mission, not only as business people but also as community members to change that.”

Just a few decades ago, the stretch of 25th Street westward from Washington Boulevard to Wall Avenue had been considered dangerous, but concerted revitalization efforts transformed the area into a community gathering place.

“I’ve worked with just about every event that happens on 25th Street – Farmers Market, Twilight, the Car Show, Arts Fest, Harvest Moon and more,” VanArsdell said. “We needed a way to differentiate ourselves from Riverdale Road. As business owners, part of that is not putting up barriers to access our businesses on 25th Street. In a way this whole project feels a little like being punished for our success.”

Some business owners who have been on Historic 25th for much longer fear their days on the street might now be numbered.

Sheila Stone, a massage therapist and owner of Touch Stone Healing Arts, described her 25 years on 25th Street as “an incredibly wonderful experience.” However, half her clientele are over the age of 70. 

“They’re not tech-savvy, they’re not ready to download apps or run down the street to put money into a kiosk,” Stone said. “So as you might understand, my business is in jeopardy right now and I’m sure I’m not the only one. There are other places that people can choose to go where they don’t have to pay. So this could be very detrimental to small businesses such as mine.”

Just a year ago, Claudia Cash purchased the Queen Bee gift shop on 25th Street with her business partner, Lauren Brennan. 

“While I’m not completely opposed to paid parking, I do have some concerns about the employee parking permits that we would have to pay,” Cash said, explaining that it would increase annual expenses by $700. “This is a fee we don’t see fit to pass on to our employees who are only working 10 to 20 hours per week and make $11 an hour.”

Roots of Ogden’s paid parking plan date back to 2020 with Make Ogden discussions underway, and the nearby Wonder Block development feeling a bit like fantasy.

In January 2023, the city council voted 5 to 2 to approve $63 million in lease revenue bonds for construction of two parking garages as part of Wonder Block. The larger structure has been completed and is now in use.

In July 2024, Council members approved the paid parking system’s supporting enterprise fund. But later that fall, city administrators paused implementation to allow further discussion and reassessment.

Mitch Vance, development manager for J. Fisher Companies and the Wonder Block development, spoke to the City Council in support of managed parking.

“In every city, parking really matters,” Vance said. “With Wonder Block, we want downtown businesses to succeed – we hope to be part of that downtown … of that vibe that draws people in.” 

Vance expects Wonder Block to come online in the next 18 months, attracting hundreds of residents, employees and visitors. 

“We want it to be active, interesting and vibrant. We share that vision with Ogden City. But with that density … it’s so important that infrastructure [i.e., parking] be managed well,” Vance said.

Ken Richey, now in his second term on the City Council, has consistently voted in favor of managed downtown parking. He described the current phased rollout as both better and worse: 

“It’s better because I think it gives people downtown a choice,” Richey said, referring to free parking areas and alternative modes of transportation. 

But it’s worse, Richey said, because projected numbers indicate that up to $40 million in Business Depot Ogden funds could now be needed to help pay off the parking garage bonds.

What Phase 1 looks like 

• Paid on-street parking Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm
• First 15 minutes free, then $1.50 to $2 per hour
• Employee parking permit $10 per month
• Special events TBD

How does it work?

• Download the Passport app on your mobile phone
• View map

It’s not an easy decision,” Richey said. “There are no easy answers to this.”

Feature Image of Downtown Ogden courtesy of Ogden City Instagram.