Costco opening in Syracuse looms, bodes for even more commercial growth, mayor says

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Costco will open a new store in Syracuse next Wednesday, culminating years of planning.
Mayor Dave Maughan expects the new store will be a magnet for even more commercial development in the growing area.
Development of the nearby West Davis Corridor, a major north-south roadway, figured in Costco's interest in locating in Syracuse.

SYRACUSE — As the population surges in northwestern Davis County, a major new retailer, Costco, will open its doors in Syracuse next week, boding for even more commercial growth.

"I'm going to say that almost everybody that I've talked to is excited for Costco, in the city and outside of the city," said Syracuse Mayor Dave Maughan. "It has been the most talked about excitement."

Talk of Costco's coming and planning for the development dates back four years. The efforts culminate next Wednesday when the new store at 3151 W. 1700 South opens its doors at 10 a.m. following a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

But that will hardly be the last word on development in the area. Costco owns eights pads around the main store, one of them occupied by a Costco gas station. What's more, around 169 acres in all — including the 28 acres of Costco land and more to the north and south — are part of a special zone earmarked for future commercial and residential development, the Syracuse West Davis Corridor Gateway Community Reinvestment Area.

"This will become a major commercial center for the city," Maughan said. Market studies show that Costco stores are "the most desirable businesses" to locate near for other businesses, he said, and "interest is overwhelming" among other entities to develop near the new Costco.

Syracuse and other adjacent cities in northwestern Davis County and southwestern Weber County just to the north have experienced fast growth given the availability of space for new housing development. But Maughan said the main draw to Syracuse for Costco was the opening of the West Davis Corridor, also known as state Route 177, the major north-south roadway that opened in early 2024, more directly connecting the area to Salt Lake City.

The Costco site sits just west of a West Davis Corridor exit onto 1700 South, also called Antelope Drive. The roadway will eventually be extended further north into adjacent Weber County.

Costco officials didn't immediately response to a KSL query about the new Syracuse store. But its website identifies the new Utah store as one of 11 to open around the country between May and August. Another 15 Costcos are already operating in Utah, including stores in South Ogden and Bountiful, the nearest sites to the Syracuse location.

While Costco generates a lot of attention, Maughan said its coming to Syracuse has generated heavy interest among other commercial entities, which he wouldn't identify. Costco, however, typically waits several months to develop pads adjoining its new stores.

In anticipation of Costco's coming, Syracuse officials approved creation of the West Davis Corridor Gateway Community Reinvestment Area in 2024 as a means of tapping tax-increment financing to help cover the cost of infrastructure development. The plans allow for capture of up to $25.8 million in property tax funds over 25 years generated by new development.

"We're paying back a mile of stormwater and sewer drains that were never in place for this area because it wasn't even in the city," Maughan said. The infrastructure development also includes construction of two new roads.

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