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OGDEN, Utah — Construction crews began tearing down the old Courtyard Inn Motel as part of a redevelopment plan for downtown Ogden.
The site of the motel will eventually become an arts plaza to compliment The Monarch, an artist-collective and events center, which sits just across the street in the center of Ogden’s Nine Rails Creative District.
Several artists, who were preparing for The Monarch’s grand opening, said they were excited to see The Courtyard Inn come down.
“It’s been quite an eyesore,” said Gene Chambers of Studio 66 Hot Rod Art. “It should be a really nice, nice addition to the area. This is a brand-new building that’s been renovated here, and with that addition, I think it will make a really nice area.”
Just down the hall from Chambers, Jada Hughey of ClearLight Glass Co. said she was also excited about the change.
“From what I understand, it’s going to be an amazing space,” Hughey said. “It’s really going to be a community space, where there’s also events and activities.”
It could still be several years before the plaza takes shape. In the meantime, more than 20 artists, along with business owners inside The Monarch, are setting up their shops and workspaces as they await the grand opening there on November 1.
Artists, like Chambers, said the studio spaces offer something that for many artists hasn’t been widely available.
“I think this art district is going to be phenomenal,” Chambers said. “It’s really a great place for all these artists to work and get together. (It) gives us opportunities to have open studio nights where we can sell our paintings, our artwork.”
