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As an unique co-founder of Eagle Mountain in 1996, John Walden‘s title stays linked to the town. He handed away in 2017, seeing the town develop from his imaginative and prescient to one of many fastest-growing cities in Utah.
Eagle Mountain hasn’t slowed; many new folks discover the realm beautiful and habitable. Walden’s willingness to take dangers and push by means of difficult instances isn’t shared. What’s the legacy of John Walden and his function early with Eagle Mountain? He discovered a method to make plans work.
Early Improvement
When the thought of Eagle Mountain first began, John Walden and a pair of physicians named Scott Gettings and Andrew Zorbis didn’t know precisely what they had been getting themselves into. All of them loved the realm and owned properties in Park Metropolis, and so they noticed a possibility to purchase 8000 acres of land within the Cedar Valley within the mid-Nineties.
Choosing it up for simply $2.5 million in a chapter public sale, it was not way more than water rights. Nonetheless, John Walden would later discover its promise to function a thriving neighborhood down the highway.
With a brand new concentrate on growth, there was the difficulty of turning a comparatively distant location into a real neighborhood. Walden and his staff talked to Cedar Go Ranch and Harvest Haven residents to mix and assist construct what’s now referred to as Eagle Mountain.
Quickly after all the pieces began to come back collectively, Walden helped rent a grasp planner to place collectively the city. The quantity of area in Cedar Valley offered excellent progress potential with few limitations. They constructed out the infrastructure, offered consumers on the long-term imaginative and prescient of the realm, and Eagle Mountain took off.
By the 2010 census, Eagle Mountain had over 21,000 residents. Wanting the town to be greater than only a place for folks to sleep after work, the main target began to go on bringing in or constructing new companies inside metropolis limits. As a substitute of feeling like one other suburb serving larger cities in Utah, Walden at all times believed that Eagle Mountain may stand alone.
Dealing with Rising Pains
Optimistic plans for metropolis planning can begin to trigger controversy as time goes on. Ranging from scratch lets folks plan all the pieces, however selections typically work in another way than deliberate.
One specific determination John Walden obtained negativity from got here when he pushed the state to relocate the jail to Eagle Mountain. He noticed it as an incredible place to rehabilitate folks and provides them a second likelihood as soon as out. They’d have a spot to work and contribute to society, and the town may spin it positively. As a substitute, many residents frightened about property worth, the neighborhood’s security with inmates so shut, and numerous different negatives.
There was additionally a stretch of political instability, with ten mayors in 13 years. John Walden considered this as rising pains, as the town handled many firsts in the course of the first few years of existence.
Since then, there’s been much more stability on the political facet. All through historical past, many cities have handled early struggles politically earlier than settling down. Everybody preventing for his or her private preferences typically turns into heated debates.
Maintaining with demand was a battle for John Walden, and the town nonetheless offers with it. He persistently labored with companies to come back in and work with Eagle Mountain. It’s grown quite a bit on the job and business growth facet, giving residents meals and buying choices near their properties.
All through all of the rising pains, John Walden discovered a method to follow the larger image. A frontrunner can’t be universally cherished, however he targeted on doing what he thought was greatest for the town long-term.
Residing on by means of Tiffany Walden
John Walden‘s daughter, Tiffany, discovered the allure of Eagle Mountain shortly after growth began. She’s lived within the space herself for shut to twenty years. An actual property investor and prideful citizen, she pushes for continued progress.
Because the proprietor of Tiffany Properties, Tiffany Walden works to satisfy the wants of present residents and people seeking to relocate. Providing a customized expertise for everybody she works with, she needs to make sure that settling doesn’t must be an possibility. There are alternatives to purchase present properties within the metropolis, even when many nonetheless decide to construct new ones on undeveloped land.
As a resident of Eagle Mountain, she’s pushed for growth to satisfy her dad’s imaginative and prescient of the town being self-sustainable. She helped with the Fb Knowledge Middle. Bringing high-paying jobs and employers to the area provides locals an opportunity to remain within the metropolis they grew up in.
Inside the final yr, a number of eating places, department shops, grocery shops, and banks have opened up or are below building inside Eagle Mountain metropolis limits. The demand for business growth is at an all-time excessive to cut back journey time for residents. Tiffany Walden has served on committees and brought the initiative to entice builders to see Eagle Mountain’s potential because it grows.
What’s Subsequent for Eagle Mountain?
In simply over 25 years, Eagle Mountain has grown to a metropolis with over 50,000 residents. They’ve a strong authorities, an in depth checklist of regional and native parks, a devoted college system for residents, and a transportation infrastructure able to deal with future progress.
Enterprise and business growth regularly convey optimism to present residents. Huge employers discover the placement inexpensive and straightforward to begin with open, undeveloped land.
Individuals like Tiffany Walden are a part of what made Eagle Mountain what it’s now and what it may be. Enjoying a task in serving to the town meet her father’s expectations motivates her. It hasn’t at all times been simple, however folks proceed to seek out the allure of Eagle Mountain as John Walden’s legacy tied to the town lives on.
