"We feel it's a pitiful shame our city puts us as a low priority," Miller says. "This town has made the same mistake many times. They don't treat businesses with respect here and do what it takes to attract and keep new merchants. And that has almost been the death of us."

City leaders recognize Pleasant Grove's quaint downtown as an asset but say it has proven difficult to lure developers to an area that would require expensive renovations and offers little parking.

"The importance of the downtown area to the community has been diminished," says Blanchard, the town's economic development director. "We have lost stores that haven't been replaced, and if they have been replaced, it's been to other cities."

But Blanchard doesn't think the new interchange will be the death of Pleasant Grove's downtown. He hopes the new boulevard will become a regional draw that will lead people to Main Street.

And as Mills, the city manager, points out, most Pleasant Grove residents won't be able to get on the new interchange without passing through downtown first.

"I think we can have the best of both worlds," says Boyd, the councilwoman. "We can provide every business opportunity in the gateway area and still retain the quaint downtown."

---

E-mail: jhyde@desnews.com