Ogden city may use eminent domain for Dee Elementary

The city council has approved a resolution that authorizes the city to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Ogden School District for the property acquisition and development of a new Dee Elementary School, which would be built on

5 acres west of Liberty Park, on the west side of the 2100 block of Madison Avenue.

As part of the agreement, the school district would transfer the existing Dee School site, at 550 22nd St., to the city Jan. 1, 2016. The city would then develop new inner-city housing at the site.

The city says the new school will improve the private investment in the area, expand the community’s economic base and generate additional tax revenue that will help fund needed service in the area.

Ward Ogden, the city’s deputy community development director, said the area near the Dee School has an owner-occupancy of 16 percent, with the rest of the area’s residents being renters. About 46 percent of the residents are below the poverty line.

With the city acting as acquisition agent for the school district, several properties at the site of the new school will have to be acquired, using eminent domain if necessary. Several Ogden residents would be displaced as a result.

Amy Wicks was the lone dissenting vote among the seven council members.