DECADES-OLD STRIP CENTER became history earlier this week, as interchange progresses.
That’s how Layton Mayor Steve Curtis describes what’s poised to happen in the south end of his city – spurred largely by the new South Layton Interchange that is moving ahead toward a December completion.
“Already businesses have inquired on acquiring land. There’s a lot of interest on the Fort Lane side,” he said.
The interchange will impact not only Main Street but for blocks to the east and west, including Fort Lane, which until the 1970s and early 1980s was a bustling commercial area.
Opening of the Layton Hills Mall in 1980 seemed to signal a move northward of the city’s commercial area, with old anchor Safeway moving close to the mall, shortly after that, for example.
Now, the Fort Lane Shopping Center sits empty, awaiting demolition. Several weeks ago, small stores vacated an old strip mall to the west of that, and demolition crews were razing the last remains of it Monday afternoon.
A new Winco is slated to build there, possibly next year, says Peter Matson, community and economic development deputy director.
“Winco will be a great anchor,” said Economic Development Specialist Ben Hart. The Boise, Idaho-based chain has been gradually opening mega-stores from Orem to Ogden, including one in Roy that sits within shouting distance of Clinton, in northwest Davis County.
“It’s more of a big box experience with Winco, maybe like a Sam’s Club or Costco,” he said. “I think you will see people coming from as far as North Salt Lake, Centerville, etc.
“It’ll be more of a destination than for neighborhood grocers,” Hart said, adding, “Hopefully we can keep everybody healthy,” speaking of other, local grocers.
“We have a high concentration of grocery stores in the area,” with Dick’s and Smith’s within less than a mile of the Winco site.
A new Zions Bank will be built in the Fort Lane area, with restaurants and other new shops envisioned.
“The reason Intermountain Healthcare and Winco are coming is the interchange,” Hart said.
“City staff, elected officials are working diligently” to make it a quality development, he said.
“There are not a lot of areas (in the state or nation) getting such attention. You used to never hear about Layton, now there’s a lot about it” at conventions Hart attends, he said.
Like City Creek in Salt Lake City, Layton’s nearly $100 million interchange-related development, and what will follow, is a rarity in today’s economic crunch.
“I think we will see a lot of national retailers” come in, he said. “Historically Layton has been a great bet for national retailers because there is such a diverse clientele.”
For example, the thousands of residents tied to Hill AFB have often lived around the nation and world, have become accustomed to a wide range of retailers and services.
Redevelopment efforts are a big part of this effort and include such projects as demolition of the old Fraternal Order of Eagles (FOE) building a couple blocks west of Main Street, near Gentile.
That building has been demolished and the city has purchased a third home adjacent to that site, also with the intention of tearing it down, cleaning up a blighted area.
“This will benefit the neighborhood” and include creation of a small open space.
tbusselberg@davisclipper.com
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