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Show Layflora CDSQQs aDi: AGS iav5s (SemuQif By GARY R. BLODGETT LAYTON Beginning next year, Layton commercial business should "really come alive." THAT'S WHEN the new 80-store 80-store Layton Hills Mall is supposed to open for business. But to look at the proposed site now at the northeast comer of Interstate Highway 15 and Hill Field Road - it is hard to believe that this can be the case. EXCAVATION on the 55-acre 55-acre site was barely started this month. But a spokesman for Homco Investment Company of Salt Lake City, developing the mall, said construction will begin shortly and the mall is expected to develop rapidly. CONSTRUCTION at the site was delayed somewhat this spring by continued inclement weather, making it difficult to get the heavy excavating ex-cavating equipment on the property until a couple of weeks ago. The $20 million mall will be anchored by two large department stores ZCMI and Auerbachs with a third full-line department store expected ex-pected to announce its development at the mall. WHEN completed, the mall will be one of the largest in Utah. The mall is expected to employ about 350 full-time workers by next spring and this employment figure could nearly double when all businesses are in full operation, opera-tion, according to Layton Mayor Lewis G. Shields. "This mall should be a real boom to this community and to Davis County in many ways," he said. "It will keep the business dollar at home, will provide employment for a lot of local residents, and will provide a tax base of up to $350,000 to $400,000 a year." MAYOR SHIELDS, who has been working closely with the developers, also noted that the mall will be only a part of the overall commercial business at the mall site. "Other projects," he said, "will include a $50 million condominium project to be built by Prowswood Corporation Cor-poration and a $12 million sports mall, similar to the one recently completed in Woods Cross." HE SAID that final plans for development of the mall have not yet been presented to the city council, "but I understand un-derstand the appearance and arrangement of the buildings will be unique and very attractive." at-tractive." With the mall located adjacent ad-jacent to 1-15 between Ogden and Salt Lake City, it will be accessible to some 100,000 persons. THE MAYOR noted that movie theatres, a large supermarket, a bank, mortgage mort-gage company and restaurant also have plans for development develop-ment at the perimeter of the mall. "These businesses and the mall shops will complement each other. I can see where Layton is really going to come alive," the mayor said. ALTHOUGH actual construction con-struction has not yet started on the mall buildings, the development is said to be on schedule. More than half of the 80 shops within the mall have been signed and a third large department store should be signed soon, according to the mayor. He said Sears and Castleton's are two of several stores being considered for the third large department store. "WE ARE thrilled over the entire prospects of the new mall," said Mayor Shields. "It's something we are all looking forward to with great anticipation." The mayor also stated that he does not feel the new downtown Ogden mall will have a serious effect on the success of the Layton Hills Mall. "THEY should complement comple-ment each other and both should get the support of the area people. The mall should also eventually help the Layton downtown businesses although they (downtown stores) may be hurt at first by the mall," the mayor said. Mayor Shields said the city will work closely with the developers and even help where possible. HE NOTED that a frontage, road will be built this summer and the city will participate in the development develop-ment and paving of the road. The developers will pay for curbing and gutters. "Also, the city will participate par-ticipate in the removal of an 8-inch water line which runs through the mall property and will pay for the difference of installing a new 12-inch line which will be needed for future fu-ture development of the area," said Mayor Shields. |
