Artist rendering of Main Street Façade of the Emporium. The changes are proposed by downtown business owners as part of an effort to re-develop Center Block.
LOGAN – The fate of the Emporium, along with three separate proposals for redeveloping Center Block, are up for discussion Tuesday evening during Logan City’s Council meeting.
Residents are invited to give feedback on the plans during a public hearing scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. in the Municipal Council Chambers.
Logan Mayor Holly Daines has been working with a developer for more than a year on a plan that includes demolishing the Emporium and adjacent structures to make room for a public plaza, stage, apartment building and parking structure.
A number of downtown business and property owners oppose the Mayor’s idea and submitted alternate plans to city council members two weeks ago.
Eugene Needham III offered to buy the Emporium with plans to re-purpose it and bring back retail.
Needham’s plan outlines 10 possible projects for the downtown, including a 50-unit apartment and eight retail store complex proposed for 100 South Street, from the VI site to Logan’s Heroes.
The third option is being proposed by several downtown business owners, including George Daines, CEO of Cache Valley Bank.
The group likes the idea of a public plaza, but prefers it be located on Center Street.
Their plan includes a parking terrace behind the plaza, relocating U & I Furniture to the Emporium, Al’s Trophies and Frames would move to the old Poco Loco building and Plaza 45 would become a food hall.
The Main Street façade of the Emporium would be completely changed – this concept is a period recreation of glass facades used in the early 1900s.
All three options are available on the city’s website and can be viewed here.