While plans are still in early phases, Jensen hopes to make significant improvements along Main in the next five years, particularly in the area from 200 South to Center Street. Changes may include the demolition and renovation of businesses. City officials envision two-story buildings with variation in architecture, so the area is aesthetically pleasing and engaging to the eye, with shops and restaurants and places for people to sit and talk.

Eventually, the city hopes to have housing above most of the shops and offices along Main Street.

Some changes have already begun to take shape. About two weeks ago, developer John Hepworth purchased the old Davis County Clipper Building, a red-brick building with crumbling walls, from the city. He wants to tear it down and build a two-story structure with housing on top, and retail or office space on bottom.

But some store owners are a little skeptical of the city's plans. Mary Carpenter, manager of the city's downtown merchants association, said that she is "working hard" and still not getting residents to shop in the downtown area. Dennis DeBoer, owner of DeBoer's Running Store on Main, said he questions the city taking charge of revitalization plans. It hasn't worked well in the past, he said.

About 15 years ago, the city bought a Main Street block to try and revitalize the area. Instead of shops and housing, the land was sold to the U.S. Postal Service, which doesn't pay taxes. And unlike other area shops, the post office is a big building, set back from the street.

It doesn't fit with the rest of Main Street, DeBoer said. And it doesn't encourage walkability.

Bountiful City Manager Tom Hardy said "not everything has to be right on the street," and said the post office was set back to allow for green space in front of the building so residents can gather.

For Wortley, who used to head the downtown merchant's association, making plans actually materialize is key. It takes a lot of pushing from merchants to just make little changes, she said.

Hardy agrees. But he's convinced that Bountiful can make big changes. It just takes time for buildings to be renovated, niche markets discovered and stereotypes of the area as "pricey" or run-down to change.

"I don't think that it's just going to automatically happen," Hardy said. "I'm not so naive to believe that. I think that it will take some jump-starting and convincing people like the Wortleys to make a commitment and to try it."

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E-mail: nwarburton@desnews.com