Davis Costco construction to start

WEST BOUNTIFUL -- Watch for the dirt to start flying soon in South Davis County when construction begins on the first phase of the West Bountiful Commons project of which Costco is the anchor tenant.

The three-phase project will be located on most of the property between 1-15 and 500 West and 400 North and 200 South.

"We hope to begin construction sometime this month," said Armand Johansen, a partner in the Salt Lake firm Johansen-Thackeray, the project's developer. "We're actually doing some asbestos remediation in some of the (soon-to-be-demolished) buildings now."

That's good news for south Davis County warehouse club aficionados, who have to head north to Layton or south to Salt Lake to shop at one of the discounters.

Not everyone is happy with the project's progress, however. Artoosh Hasratian, owner of the El Matador Restaurant, is one of approximately 30 business owners forced to vacate to make way for the new project. With a little more than six years left on his lease, Hasratian has been offered a settlement by the developer, but, he says it is not nearly enough to allow him to relocate.

Hasratian, whose restaurant has been at its current location for almost 30 years, says he's upset that the redevelopment project has made it possible for so many business owners to be displaced.

"I single-handedly have put West Bountiful on the map. When I came over here, this place was like the Sahara Desert," he stated. " I have customers who come in here 15 to 20 times a month." The El Matador serves between 3,000 and 4,000 customers a week and has many employees who have worked there almost since the restaurant opened its doors. Hasratian, an Armenian-born immigrant, who has been in Utah since 1960, feels obligated to stay in business to provide for his employees and customers.

"I think RDAs in America are legally terrorizing the public. If it were legitimate and used for what it was meant for, I'd be the first to move over. If they need to do a road, build a hospital or a school, that's fine. But, my goodness, not for big business to get bigger and to make money while all the rest of us suffer."

Johansen noted that although Hasratian has yet to sign the agreement, the project will go on as scheduled.

"We've given him a proposal, and we're waiting for him to respond," Johansen noted, saying the developer will "carve him out and let him stay a little longer."

Hasratian said he was given the option to relocate within the new development, but the rent would have been more than four times what he currently is paying. Instead, he will build a new restaurant on Main Street near 600 South in Bountiful. But, he will have to go into debt to do that, because his settlement will not come close to paying the projected $1.5 million it will cost for the land, the restaurant and the equipment.

"I am very angry about what they got away with. They never would have been able to get away with doing this to someone who had money to fight it," Hasratian said.

Wendell Wild, city administrator of West Bountiful, says the city and developer have tried to be fair with all the business owners affected by the West Bountiful Commons project.

"West Bountiful and the developer have tried to bend over backwards to make sure no one is hurt by this."

Costco could be open as early as October, Johansen said, although Wild gave a more conservative completion date of November. Either way, the store will most likely be open for the 2005 holiday season.

The Costco Warehouse will be located just north of the existing Shopko store in the southwest corner of the development. Costco will back up to the freeway, with access to the store off 500 West, south of 400 North. Also in phase 1 will be three other pads with the possibility that at least one or two will be restaurants, Wild said.

The project will dramatically change the look of the area. Most of the current businesses will be demolished, with the exception of the Chevron gas station on the corner of 500 West and 400 North, Walton's Brake & Tire at 523 W. 400 N. and Carr Printing, 580 W. 100 N.

The changes will be positive, according to Wild, who says West Bountiful Commons will be a boon to the area. "It's exciting. That commercial corridor is something that we've worked on and put the infrastructure in knowing it would come. It's really exciting for the whole area."

He's certain that residents will be pleased with the businesses that locate in the new development.

"The variety of restaurants and stores and shops will be the caliber that a lot of us have either gone to Layton or Salt Lake for. It will be nice to have those here for south Davis County residents."

According to Johansen, a number of prospective tenants have expressed interest in locating in the new development, but nothing has been nailed down as of yet. He expects to seal some deals in the new few weeks.

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