- Summa Terra Ventures says the new incarnation of its apartment building on Ogden's 25th Street is nearly complete.
- The building has been the focus of controversy stemming from the faulty construction of the original version, which had to be demolished.
- The building project is the focus of a lawsuit winding its way through the courts after more than two years.
OGDEN — The second incarnation of the apartment building on historic 25th Street in Ogden that's the focus of a 2-year-old lawsuit over allegations the contractor improperly built the original version is almost finished.
At the same time, the developer, Summa Terra Ventures, is claiming "a significant legal" victory in the ongoing court case. The company initially filed suit against Makers Line and other contractors involved in the project in January 2024, and a judge last week denied a Makers Line motion to dismiss new fraud allegations in the civil matter.
The apartment building project, called Union Walk, was the focus of intense attention and debate in late 2023 when Ogden officials ordered a halt to ongoing construction because wood used in the five-story, 55-unit apartment building wasn't sufficiently fire resistant. Ultimately, Summa Terra opted to tear down the incomplete building — located along Ogden's high-profile 25th Street corridor — given the faulty wood and other defects and build anew, selecting a new contractor.
The April 22 ruling out of 2nd District Court in Ogden "is a major step forward," said Michael P. Watson, CEO of Summa Terra Ventures. "We have consistently maintained that the facts would withstand scrutiny, and the court's decision confirms that our claims are both substantial and well-founded. We look forward to full discovery and to continuing to pursue accountability through the legal process."
Reps from Makers Line, the key contractor targeted by Summa Terra in the lawsuit but not the only one, didn't respond to a query Monday seeking comment. In last week's ruling, Judge Reuben Renstrom said Summa Terra had included sufficient detail in its fraud allegations to allow those charges in the civil case to remain, though Makers Line has denied the varied allegations in its court responses.
The court case is hardly over. Next, according to Summa Terra, the defendants will have to provide documents "that may shed further light on the underlying conduct" in building the original, defective version of the 144 25th Street structure. Summa Terra blames Makers Line and others working with the contractor and seeks up to $7 million per cause of action in its lawsuit.
Meanwhile, Summa Terra officials are hoping to start populating the rebuilt 144 25th Street building with tenants. Ogden officials have put an emphasis on trying to lure new residents to historic 25th Street and the city's downtown area in a bid to spur more activity in the area.
"Union Walk is nearly complete and should receive a certificate of occupancy in the coming weeks. Additionally, its wonderful location and great units have resulted in a waiting list of over 20 tenants," Summa Terra said. It's located near Union Station, a key downtown Ogden landmark, and WonderBlock, another development in the works that's meant to bring residents to the city center.
Summa Terra is also suing Makers Line and other contractors in the Hunters Landing apartment building project in the 400 block of West 12th Street in Ogden. That building also suffered from defective construction, though a new contractor was able to salvage the building and remedy the varied problems. City officials have already granted a certificate of occupancy for the structure.
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Tim Vandenack
