The historic Kaysville City Hall and Library Building has been named one of Preservation Utah's 2026 Most Endangered Places, placing new attention on the uncertain future of one of the city’s most significant historic landmarks.

The designation highlights historic properties across Utah that face threats from neglect, redevelopment, deferred maintenance, or the lack of long-term preservation plans. This year, Preservation Utah added seven new sites to its statewide watch list, including three considered under imminent threat of loss. While the Kaysville building is not currently classified as facing immediate demolition, preservation advocates say its future remains uncertain.

Built between 1941 and 1944 at a cost of $55,000, the building was designed by Salt Lake City architects Ashton and Evans. Funding for the project was secured during the Great Depression through the Works Progress Administration with assistance from former Utah Gov. Henry H. Blood, a Kaysville native.

Old Kaysville City Hall and Library Building. Courtesy Kaysville City website

 For more than seven decades, the building served multiple civic functions, housing Kaysville City Hall, the Davis County Health Department, the Selective Service, and later the Kaysville Library until 2015. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2019 and remains Kaysville’s only non-residential property listed on the register.

The city’s debate over the building’s future began after structural problems and mold were discovered during a 2017 renovation attempt. Since then, officials have considered several options, including demolition to make way for added downtown parking and public gathering space.

Although earlier city leaders proposed removing the building, public opposition has repeatedly delayed any final action. Kaysville City issued a request for proposals in 2022 seeking preservation and redevelopment ideas, but no long-term plan has been adopted.

Today, the building is largely vacant while city officials continue to evaluate possible uses. Rehabilitation estimates have ranged from approximately $1.2 million to more than $3 million.

According to Preservation Utah, the absence of a funded preservation plan leaves the building vulnerable to future demolition discussions, particularly as downtown development and budget priorities evolve.

“The building represents an important chapter in Kaysville’s civic history,” Preservation Utah notes in its listing. At the beginning of the 20th century, Kaysville was recognized as one of Davis County’s most progressive communities, becoming both the county’s first incorporated city and the first to establish a public library. The City Hall and Library Building remain a physical reminder of that legacy. The building’s fate remains officially undecided as of 2026.

The Kaysville-Fruit Heights Museum of History and Art has been among the strongest advocates for preserving the building and has proposed converting it into a community museum. “Our position has always been that the commitment from city government has to come first, then restoration could be pursued most effectively over time through entities such as Preservation Utah and other philanthropic institutions,” said Museum Chairman Fawn Morgan. She said they continue to actively pursue a home for a Kaysville history and art museum and value their growing cooperation with both Kaysville and Fruit Heights city governments in sharing local history.

“One question worth researching is my understanding that if the purpose or use of a building does not change, it doesn’t have to be brought up to code in the same expensive manner as if the use changed,” said Morgan. “Keeping it as a community arts center would maintain the use established when it held the active LeConte Stewart Art Gallery,” she said and encouraged research into that concept. 

Preservation supporters are encouraging residents to stay involved by attending Kaysville City Council meetings and advocating for an adaptive reuse plan that preserves the historic structure. Because the building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, federal and state historic rehabilitation tax credits could help offset redevelopment costs for qualified income-producing projects.

Preservation Utah, founded in 1966, is the state’s only nonprofit organization dedicated exclusively to historic preservation. Its annual Most Endangered Places list is intended to raise awareness of threatened historic sites while connecting communities with preservation resources and advocacy efforts.