RDA and council approve Adams CRA budget increase and tax‑increment participation changes; RDA backs 20‑Sixth apartment project with TIF support

The Ogden Redevelopment Agency (RDA) and City Council moved forward May 13 with a major amendment to the Adams Community Reinvestment Area (CRA) and authorized TIF support for a new market‑rate apartment project near the Utah Power & Light building.

Sarah (city redevelopment staff) presented the RDA proposal to increase the Adams CRA budget cap from $10,800,000 to $28,500,000, while keeping the existing project term unchanged (expiration in 2044). Staff said the increased cap reflects a stronger project pipeline and higher projected private investment in the CRA: the original plan estimated roughly $95 million of private investment, and current projections put that figure at about $133 million.

As part of negotiated interlocal changes with Weber County and the Ogden School District, the taxing entities agreed to continue their participation percentages for the first ten years of the CRA and then reduce their participation to 75% thereafter so the county and school district begin to see a larger share of new revenue sooner; the city's participation would remain at 90% through the end of the term. Staff said the change will let taxing entities begin receiving pass‑through revenue after year 10 (around 2027).

The RDA also considered a participation and incentive agreement for a proposed market‑rate multifamily project (the Alpha/"Malachite" project) at 20 Sixth Street and Adams Avenue. Staff described the project as roughly $35 million in private investment, with about 100+ units ranging from studios to three‑bedrooms, 65 structured parking stalls, public plazas and high‑quality exterior finishes meant to complement the adjacent historic Utah Power & Light building. Staff identified project elements eligible for TIF support that otherwise make the project infeasible: structured parking (estimated $3,250,000), plaza/public‑space improvements (about $1,000,000) and enhanced exterior finishes (about $1,500,000). Staff estimated the project would generate about $4,700,000 in tax increment over the remaining CRA term by 2044.

Developers and supporters, including Thane Fisher of Fisher Reagan Enterprises, urged the boards to approve the amendment, saying that historic renovations and catalytic projects in the Adams CRA often rely on a toolkit that combines historic tax credits, new markets tax credits and TIF to bridge financing gaps. Public commenters praised preservation goals but urged caution about neighborhood impacts such as rising property taxes for long‑term residents and building scale next to established homes.

Board and council action: the RDA adopted the participation/incentive agreement for the apartment project (Proposed Resolution 2025‑6) on a roll call vote and approved the CRA budget amendment and interlocal agreement amendments (Proposed Resolutions 2025‑7, 2025‑8, 2025‑9 and city Proposed Resolution 2025‑10) permitting the increased cap and adjusted participation terms. The City Council later adopted the interlocal amendment and budget amendment on a roll call vote.

Why it matters: The amendments increase the RDA's ability to subsidize infrastructure, structured parking and public spaces that staff say are necessary to catalyze private restoration of historic buildings and new housing development in the Adams area. The changes also alter when county and school district taxing entities begin to see pass‑through revenue from new growth.

What's next: Staff will proceed with the RDA participation agreement implementation steps for the Alpha/Malachite project and continue outreach on design and permitting; the city and RDA will track potential displacement/affordability impacts as development in the corridor advances.