Reviews mixed on Orem project

OREM — Neighborhood reactions to a mixed-use development with living-and-shopping options shooting skyward on Orem's State Street are just that — mixed.

Midtown Village — with three wings, each eight stories high — is touted by developers as a project much like Salt Lake's Gateway that will bring more shopping, downtown living and entertainment to the city.

David Runnells, a part owner, says he thinks most neighbors are "excited about not only the project bringing business" but also a new look on State Street.

And, he says, the value of property will increase as a result of the project.

Construction of Midtown Village hasn't been without a few bumps — such as financing delays that left gaping holes on State Street for almost two years, as well as noisy construction equipment during the early morning hours. While all that will pass, some business owners are also worried about future impacts the project will have on the area.

"We're a little concerned about the traffic, especially on Orem Boulevard because that is a narrow street," said Pamela Harrison, who, with her husband Rex, owns Gunnies Sporting Goods and Western Wear and the Gunnies Plaza, 396 S. State. "I haven't heard any plans to address that."

Before the project began, the city required a traffic study to look at Midtown's potential impact to State Street and Orem Boulevard, said Stanford Sainsbury, director of Orem City Development Services. The city denied two of the proposed exits then gave the project the go-ahead.

Based on a traffic study comparing the current levels of service with the completed project and projections for 2010, the "grades" assigned to the roads remain about the same.

Currently, the delay at the traffic light at the 400 South and State Street intersection is 16.5 seconds per vehicle at the noon peak hour and 48.2 seconds during rush hour. With the Midtown traffic added, delays would only increase by one second at noon and three seconds at rush hour. Future time increase projections are almost identical.

Noise has also been a bit of a concern, with large construction equipment banging and clanking early in the morning, but Runnells said they have tried to keep all the neighbors posted with what's going on and at what time.

The Harrisons have heard the noise and dealt with a few power outages they think might have been caused by the construction. While not anti-Midtown, they're just a bit frustrated with how the project began.

"There's just a lot of misrepresentation of what they owned and what their plans were and when they were going to complete the project," Harrison said. "It's way behind schedule."