The Wasatch Front has been growing out rather than up for years. Sprawl is now threatening Utah’s most successful family farms. Over eighty percent of Utah residents say they want more farms, open space, and locally produced food, but it appears that city, state and local leaders haven’t received the memo. As with most things political, it’s all about the money. Thayne Tagge … [Read more...]
Biking West Valley — The difficulty of cycling the suburbs
West Valley is Utah's second largest city, there is a home building boom. But it's becoming congested and full of cars. Much of the expansion of Wasatch front is occurring in the suburbs in single-family homes, but they are adding bike lanes and bike paths. So how is it to bike to get around? See what I found out. https://youtu.be/V3hWWMQrg7o … [Read more...]
Babs In the City
Utah’s economy is hot hot hot, and vacancy rates for apartments, office and retail space are as rare as the steak tartare at the Paris Bistro. Here’s the news, take it as good or bad, happy or sad, about what’s happening in our city. After all, closures encourage new beginnings, right? The gourmet hot dog shop next to Juniors Tavern will soon be a Greek souvlaki joint. After … [Read more...]
A History of Violence: Ogden’s 25th Street
Ogden’s reputation is colored by who you ask. Outside of Utah, Ogden has a great reputation and the city continues to grow its visitor base and business recruits. It has received notable national press, especially over the last two years. Ogden has been designated by Forbes Magazine as one of the best places to raise a family, and one of the best places for business and c … [Read more...]
Megaplex Theater to Open at Long-Vacant Former Cottonwood Mall Development
Residents of Holladay no longer have to look at a vacant lot that was once home to the first indoor shopping mall in Utah. Since the Cottonwood Mall's demolition in 2008, the area has been stuck in "development hell." Recently, The Howard Hughes Corporation, an entity of General Growth Properties, has finally announced that Larry H. Miller Megaplex Theatres has signed on as a … [Read more...]
Ogden LDS Temple Open House Starts Aug. 1
From August 1st through September 6th, Downtown Ogden will welcome nearly half a million visitors for the Ogden LDS Temple Open House. Given the number of visitors and money spent, this will be one of the largest events in Ogden’s history. The temple is one of the largest private re-development investments in the state, just a bit smaller than the City Creek complex in Salt L … [Read more...]
Mulligan’s Golf Course Faces Possible Closure
Salt Lake Valley’s rapid expansion over the last decade has left little room for nature preserves. Another part of the remaining “green space” may soon become part of the concrete jungle. Mulligans Golf and Games is roughly 67 acres of open space that surrounds the Jordan River just off 10600 South in South Jordan. Purchased over 20 years ago from a private owner, the city … [Read more...]
Sugar House Gardeners Seek Room to Grow
With the disappearance of the Sugar House Community Garden at 9th East, residents are asking if and where another garden might be started, and whether it will be ready for this growing season. The garden that began as an experiment on the abandoned tennis courts at Fairmont Park was dismantled last month. In expectation of redevelopment around the new Sugar House streetcar … [Read more...]
Peaches or Patios: Suburbs Pressure American Fork Land
Population growth and housing development are strong, brotherly winds that Utah farmers have leaned into for years. They’re as relentless as the passage of time. “You can fight it, but you can only fight it for so long,” said Randall Ercanbrack, a fifth-generation farmer in Orem. “When you get surrounded, the pressure is too great. There are too many obstacl … [Read more...]
Cash or Crops?
The foothills in Perry, Utah, are flourishing with fully loaded green peach and apricot orchards. Looking west are lake views of Willard Bay, the Great Salt Lake and a few large homes. To the east are small canyons and a gravel pit. Thayne Tagge is taking me on a tour in his nearly bumperless Toyota Prius on a narrow dirt road,.“This is way cool. You have got to see this,” he … [Read more...]