1 / 7

A rendering of the Utah City mixed-use development in Vineyard.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

2 / 7

A rendering showing a sandy beachfront space in Vineyard's Utah City development.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

3 / 7

A rendering of green space and a walking trail in Utah City.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

4 / 7

A rendering of the mixed-use Utah City development in Vineyard.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

5 / 7

A rendering showing a night view of Utah City.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

6 / 7

A rendering showing a potential Utah City marketplace.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

7 / 7

A rendering of a park and lakeside walking path as part of the Utah City development.

Courtesy Woodbury Corp.

❮ ❯

The barren vista looking over Utah Lake that once housed the mighty U.S. Steel Geneva Works has been cleaned and prepared to become the home of Vineyard’s next major development — Utah City.

The Flagship Cos. and Woodbury Corp. on Tuesday announced “Utah City” as the name of the over 700-acre master-planned development focusing on sustainability and walkability in Vineyard.

As a size comparison, this more than 100 acres larger than the touted Point of the Mountain development where the old state prison once stood.

Located on the east shore of Utah Lake, this will be Utah County’s largest sustainable, walkable, transit-oriented, mixed-use community. Utah City is being designed and developed to be the urban core of the county, planners say.

According to Jeff Woodbury, managing partner of Utah City, the project is a “legacy development.”

“This is Utah County’s new downtown,” he said. “We have flown across the world to see what will be best for this community.”

Woodbury said it is a “legacy” because it will always be upgrading with new technologies. Building something this big from the ground up, he added, is a gift that most cities wish they had.

“My grandchildren will be working on this,” Woodbury added. “We feel a real stewardship to Utah County. We will hopefully see the need to make changes always.”

Utah City is being built for everyone, according to Nate Hutchinson of Flagship, another managing partner of Utah City.

Ground was turned last week on 450 units of multi-family dwellings signaling the start of the project. The Huntsman Cancer Institute will break ground early next year.

“There will be homes for billionaires and affordable housing for kids now living in their parents’ basements. It will be a mixed-use environment. All will be welcome, but it may not be for everyone.”

Spanning over hundreds of acres along Utah Lake’s eastern shore, Utah City has been designed by Jeff Speck and town planning firm DPZ.

Utah City will be accessible off Interstate 15 from 1600 North, 800 North and Center Street exits going west, east-west connectors and the Vineyard FrontRunner station.

Vineyard Mayor Julie Fullmer said she is excited to see this development come to fruition. Other city leaders and councils began the discussions several years ago and have been working with the state, Utah Department of Transportation, Utah Transit Authority, Utah Lake Commission, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Alpine School District, Utah Valley University, the Huntsman Cancer Institute and other stakeholders.

“The site will bring community connection, increased recreation, a diverse economy and add access to universities, increasing our talent pipeline,” Fullmer said. “As facilities like the second headquarters of the Huntsman Cancer Institute develops, the housing types, open spaces and planned boardwalk along the lakeshore will create places and homes for those working here. Our residents and visitors will be able to access this area that connects into region trails, Utah Lake and multi-modal and jurisdictional networks that brings them quickly into Vineyard’s downtown, up into the mountains, around the lake and to nearby international airports, bringing vitality to our incredible city.”

The anticipated growth of the state and county, along with the overall scope of the project, plays into the all-encompassing project name. Currently, there are 3.3 million residents in Utah, a number that is expected to grow to 5.2 million by 2060, and 30% of this growth is expected in Utah County.

Anchors of the project already include Vineyard Station, which opened in August 2022, and a recently announced Huntsman Cancer Institute, a comprehensive research center that will provide over 150 patient beds and is expected to bring thousands of high-paying jobs to the county’s economy.

According to Hutchinson, Utah City’s unique location created an irreplaceable chance to rethink development on the Wasatch Front. “As the county has continued to grow, we recognized the immense potential to create a world-class living experience,” he said. “Building something incredible for our community that enhances the natural beauty of the location, right in our own backyard, that’s the dream.”

Over 17 million square feet of combined mixed-use space, including living, shopping, dining, entertainment and hospitality, is planned. Construction will begin at the end of the year on the first residential units. The new community will also include 50 acres of planned open green space in the form of a 12-acre promenade that will run down the middle of the town center from the Vineyard FrontRunner station to the shores of Utah Lake, as well as a network of parks and paseos throughout the residential units.

“Utah City is a visionary development that we are thrilled to welcome to our city as the largest regional development in Utah County,” Fullmer said. “By partnering with Utah City to take a proactive approach in shaping the future we desire, we can capitalize on the innovative spirit of our community and our strategically connected location to create an unprecedented experience for Utah.”

Newsletter