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OGDEN — The site of the old Dee Elementary School in Ogden, located at 550 E 22nd Street, is set to become the area’s newest development, yet another piece of a long-term plan to redevelop downtown.
As a child, Jessie Lundell said she tried to avoid downtown Ogden. Now, she wants to live there. She was one of about 30 people gathered at a groundbreaking ceremony for a brand new development Friday morning.
“We’ve been looking at it for a few months and watching the floor plans come up,” Lundell said. “We’re really excited about a new home, but staying in Ogden.”
As Community Development Manager for Ogden, Ward Ogden pointed out the city is, for the most part, built out. Despite that, the city has built about 150 new homes over the past ten years, renovating another 200.
“We did that with a specific purpose in mind,” Ogden said. “That is to create some momentum for revitalization of the existing neighborhoods.
While Dee Elementary was torn down just one year ago, Ward says Ogden City has been working to obtain the land just north of Adams Avenue and 22nd Street for several years. As part of the process, Ogden says the city helped the Ogden City School District acquire land just a couple of blocks away to build the New Bridge School.
Jeremy Hall, a nearby neighbor to the former Dee School site, also came to check out Friday’s groundbreaking and saw some of the community plans.
“It looks like a fantastic neighborhood,” said Hall, who bought one of the city’s newly rebuilt homes six years ago. “We love the neighborhood. What the city has done has improved the outlook of Ogden from the outside of Ogden so much.”
Builder SEI is overseeing the development of Stone Hill Homes, with plans to start construction on Monday. Homes are expected to cost starting around the mid to high $200,000.
Lundell said she’s looking forward to the chance to pick out a new home plan. It’s something she would have never imagined doing in this area some time ago.
“Growing up, Ogden was like, ‘oh, don’t go into downtown Ogden.’ It was kind of sketchy,” she said. “But we’ve lived in Ogden for the last ten years, fifteen years, and we love it. I can’t imagine living anywhere else.”
