Old Kaysville City Hall and Library

44 N. Main Street, Kaysville, UT 84037

Endangered

2026

Photo Credit

Nathan Miller

County

Davis

Year Built

1941–1944

Architect

Ashton and Evans

National Register?

Yes; listed 2019; the only nonresidential building on the National Register in Kaysville

Status

Endangered

Status Explanation

Since 2017, when structural and mold problems were found during a remodel, the Old Kaysville City Hall and Library has faced ongoing debates about its future. The city, which owns the building, has often considered tearing it down to make room for a parking lot. However, strong community opposition, including a petition signed by more than 800 people, has delayed any final decision. In October 2022, the city asked for restoration proposals and gave preservation supporters 18 months to come up with a plan. That deadline passed in early 2024 without a funded plan or a public decision. As of May 2026, the building is still mostly empty and its fate is undecided. The push for demolition could return at any time, especially during budget talks or downtown planning, since there is still no long-term plan or funding to save the building.

About the Threat

Demolition by city decision. Kaysville City owns the building and has debated its fate since structural and mold issues were discovered during a 2017 remodel attempt. The site has been identified as a potential parking location. Previous mayors have proposed demolishing the building to create a parking lot and gathering space. The city has repeatedly postponed a final decision amid community opposition, but no long-term preservation plan has been funded or adopted. Rehabilitation cost estimates range from $1.2 million to over $3 million. The building is currently largely vacant and unused, and its fate remains officially undecided.

Access

No. The building is largely vacant and has been unsuitable for occupation since mold and structural issues were discovered in 2017.

History

In November 1940, 25-year-old Kaysville Mayor Thornley K. Swan announced the construction of a $55,000 city hall building. In 1941, a bond election was held. Federal funds through the Works Project Administration (WPA), part of the New Deal, covered $20,000 of the project cost. The building was designed by Ashton and Evans, architects from Salt Lake City. Construction began on October 1, 1941. The one-story structure was built of concrete and finished with native stones of gray, rose, and purple hues sourced from Weber Canyon and nearby areas. The building included city offices, a library, a kitchen, an assembly hall, and a vault for records. After the bombing of Pearl Harbor in December 1941, work was halted to support the war effort. Construction resumed in 1943, focusing on a health center. The building was completed and in use by 1944.

The building's origins trace back to the Great Depression. Henry Hooper Blood, a Kaysville native and former governor of Utah, helped secure funding for the project through the Works Progress Administration. Since its opening, the building has served as the city hall, the Davis County Health Department, the Selective Service, and, beginning in 1962, the city library. It remained a library until 2015 and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019, making it the only nonresidential building on the National Register in Kaysville. At the turn of the 20th century, the Kaysville-Fruit Heights area was recognized as a progressive community, being the first city in Davis County to be incorporated and the first to establish a public library. The building physically represents this civic ambition.

What can be done? What was learned?

Community members are encouraged to engage directly with the Kaysville City Council to advocate for a funded preservation and adaptive reuse plan for the building. City council meetings are held regularly at Kaysville City Hall. Agendas, minutes, and contact information are available at kaysville.gov. The Kaysville Historic Preservation Commission has previously launched a petition and taken public positions in favor of saving the building. Residents should contact the commission directly to inquire about the building's current status and opportunities for involvement.

The Kaysville-Fruit Heights Museum of History and Art has been the most active preservation advocate for the building and has proposed its use as a museum. Community members interested in supporting this initiative should contact the museum directly at kfhmuseum.org.

Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, federal and state historic tax credits are available as financial tools for any income-producing rehabilitation project. These incentives significantly strengthen the investment case for developers, nonprofits, or public-private partnerships willing to undertake the project.

What is the timeline?

No active demolition permit has been identified. The situation has remained unresolved since the city issued a request for proposals (RFP) for restoration in October 2022, granting preservation advocates an 18-month window to develop a plan. This period expired in early 2023, and no public decision has been announced since. The city's website confirms that all options remain under consideration. Although community advocacy has repeatedly delayed demolition, the absence of a funded preservation plan means demolition pressure could resume at any time, especially during budget cycles or downtown development discussions.

What has been the public discussion?

Extensive discussion has spanned nearly a decade. Demolition was proposed and postponed in 2021 following a petition with over 800 signatures and community opposition at a city council meeting. Preservation advocates were given an 18-month window to develop a plan, and a request for restoration proposals was issued in October 2022. No funded plan has emerged, and no public decision has been made since. The building's fate remains officially undecided as of 2026.