After eight years of planning, property acquisitions and hard work by a development team, the Northgate Village multi-use development is taking shape in northwest Orem.

Piece by piece, developer Paul Washburn of Washburn, Smith and Berlin, along with partners with Carter Construction, have purchased 65 acres between 900 West and 1200 West on 800 North. They snatched up state-owned properties including former Utah Department of Transportation and Division of Motor Vehicle sites and Orem's old public works building.

"The way we purchased all the properties is by buying each of the organizations' new facilities and trading them for the property," Washburn said.

The relocation and demolition of those structures have paved the way for what Washburn and his partners envision as one of the premier multi-use developments in the Beehive State, including retail shops, offices and condominiums in a self-contained community called Northgate Village. Most of the residential units will be on upper floors above boutiques and business offices in a configuration reminiscent of New York City or Europe. The development's condominiums start at $260,000.

Tuscan Village, a 22-acre, 400-unit condominium community within Northgate Village, is already under construction. Fifty units are at or near completion. Several dozen are already occupied by owners, he said.

Bank of Utah is constructing a new branch in the development, an applicant has submitted plans for a 60,000-square-foot combined retail and office building and developers are talking to a handful of motel companies.

When completed in an estimated three to five years, the $250 million to $280 million Northgate Village will be the home to 500- 700 residents and occupy nearly 300,000 square feet of retail space.

"Between all the partners, we've spent close to 150 hours a week since 1999 (on the development)," Washburn said. "We have put in more time than you can believe to make this happen."

Though only 900 acres of undeveloped property remain in the city, Orem city planner Bob Moore said technically Northgate Village is a redevelopment since it's replacing other structures and facilities on the property.

With similar multi-use developments going up at Midtown Village on State Street, the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Provo and now Northgate Village, some wonder what the sudden popularity of the urban village layout is all about.

Moore said the concept has likely been reborn due to the effects of urban sprawl, limited space and higher real estate values along the Wasatch Front.

"The longevity of people wanting to do it remains to be seen," he said.

More than anything else, Washburn said, the driving force behind multi-use developments in Utah is the need for housing along the Wasatch Front.

This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page D1.

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