WEST BOUNTIFUL -- While the Commons at West Bountiful seems to be growing bigger and bigger, exactly how much it grows appears to be largely dependent on one person -- Utah's Larry H. Miller. With a Lowe's store slated to be constructed just north of Petco and Carr Printing, some potential tenants that expected to build where Lowe's is going now don't seem to have a home in the Commons.

To remedy this, the Commons developer Johansen-Thackery is hoping to buy land north of 400 North.

One of the problems, however, is that much of the property is currently owned by Larry H. Miller.

Armand Johansen told members of the Bountiful Rotary Club last week that his company still does not know if Larry H. Miller will be willing to sell the property that he owns there.

Johansen said Johansen-Thackery hopes to be able to buy land from 400 North to the Sahara Building in order to house the tenants that are being displaced by Lowe's.

If Johansen-Thackery is successful at purchasing the property from Miller, Johansen said not all of the businesses in the area will be removed.

The Eldredge Manor is one of those businesses that is expected to stay put.

"They may all be staying," Johansen said. "We haven't got a deal yet."

On the south side of 400 North, work is progressing.

The Walton's Brake and Tire building at 523 West 400 North was purchased by Johansen-Thackery and has already been demolished.

The developers plan to build a large building there with regular shop tenants, Johansen said.

In order to make way for Lowe's, several other businesses in the area will have to be destroyed.

Among the buildings that will be razed are the HK engineering building, Charlie Fuller's Appliance and the South Davis Metro Fire Agency Station 85.

The developers hope to be able to start work on the Lowe's building by April 1.

cphares@davisclipper.com