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OGDEN — A partnership between government entities and private business has transformed part of an Ogden neighborhood. With grant money, volunteer help and donated materials, a dumpy downtown fourplex is ready for one family to call home.
"I didn't like it when it was apartments. But if we get a good neighbor family over here, I think it would be nice," said Christian Madsen, a 14-year-old downtown Ogden resident.
Christian is a fan of the newly renovated house next door to his. He hopes the project that turned the grungy, noisy fourplex into a beautiful single-family home will help clean up his Ogden neighborhood, creating a better environment. "This place was kind of horrible," he said.
Just 10 weeks after work began, the house at 2117 Adams Avenue in Ogden has seen a complete transformation. Workers gutted the interior to get rid of the four separate apartments. There's a brand new kitchen, updated plumbing and wiring, a two-car garage, and a stunning fireplace.
"We come in, cleaned it all out, and we've put it all back together; and it's turned out really nice," said project contractor Tom Halliday.
The renovation was paid for by a number of sources, starting with Home Depot. The home improvement store donated $15,000 to the project, along with building supplies and 500 hours of volunteer labor.
The paid crew came from Utah Workforce Services, the government agency arranging for a group of unemployed construction workers to get back on the job.
"Good workers," Halliday said. "They're honest, (they'll) give you an eight-hour day for eight-hour pay."
The renovation is just the first of many planned by the city of Ogden to improve living conditions around the community. The next project is already under way on a house two doors down the block.
"It's making the neighborhoods great, giving a new life to the old part of the city," Halliday said.
The newly renovated, 3,600-square-foot Ogden home is now on the market for $169,000. Any money made in the sale will be used to buy the next fixer-upper.
Written by KSL News producer Kelly Just with contributions from Lori Prichard.
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