[IFBoiseJunky]

I don't understand the opposition to nuclear. Very clean energy. Great safety record (despite hysteria). Sure, you would want the plants built in an area that wouldn't destroy the scenery (as you would with any kind of building/plant). I don't mind windmills myself but I think there is a limit to where they make the landscape look awful too (just like too much of anything unnatural in a natural setting does). I like the windmills here near I.F.

[Sawtooth]

Sawtooth, have you ever considered starting a blog for your pictures? It'd be really nice to have a repository to go up and visit whenever one wants to.

I have thought about it and might get around to doing it this winter. I do have albums at Photobucket but they are all private because I need to shuffle and perfect some of my collections of photos.

[CaliforniaKid]

No keep'em here sawtooth..

[BoiseAirport]

I don't understand the opposition to nuclear. Very clean energy. Great safety record (despite hysteria). Sure, you would want the plants built in an area that wouldn't destroy the scenery (as you would with any kind of building/plant). I don't mind windmills myself but I think there is a limit to where they make the landscape look awful too (just like too much of anything unnatural in a natural setting does). I like the windmills here near I.F.

Agreed. And despite the incredible perception that the opposite is true, a great proportion of scientists, as well as anybody who has extensively studied environmental science would agree that when ALL factors are considered, Nuclear power is the most environmentally friendly form of electricity in existence, due to its incredible output and efficiency that will do a TREMENDOUSLY better job at shutting down dirty coal plants than wind and solar could EVER hope to do. I would call myself a 'tree-hugger' environmentalist and I'm not afraid to say this. It's a misconception that any bit of honest research would tell you is completely wrong, and I hate that so many 'environmentalists' are so quick to say that Nuclear power is bad. It's just plain wrong.

[Boiseguy]

Agreed. And despite the incredible perception that the opposite is true, a great proportion of scientists, as well as anybody who has extensively studied environmental science would agree that when ALL factors are considered, Nuclear power is the most environmentally friendly form of electricity in existence, due to its incredible output and efficiency that will do a TREMENDOUSLY better job at shutting down dirty coal plants than wind and solar could EVER hope to do. I would call myself a 'tree-hugger' environmentalist and I'm not afraid to say this. It's a misconception that any bit of honest research would tell you is completely wrong, and I hate that so many 'environmentalists' are so quick to say that Nuclear power is bad. It's just plain wrong.

I am not totally opposed to nuclear power, having those kinds of facilities in and around boise would be a lot of high paying jobs. I think the biggest concern is the waste associated with it. It has to go somewhere..and monitored for thousands of years..and we really can't comprehend where society and this country, let alone the planet will be in 1000's of years... I really hope that fusion power can become a reality in this century...

[City Of Trees]

I am not totally opposed to nuclear power, having those kinds of facilities in and around boise would be a lot of high paying jobs. I think the biggest concern is the waste associated with it. It has to go somewhere..and monitored for thousands of years..and we really can't comprehend where society and this country, let alone the planet will be in 1000's of years... I really hope that fusion power can become a reality in this century...I'd take buried nuclear waste any day over the soot and mercury kicked into the air from a coal plant--not to mention all the horrendous mining of it that takes place in places like West Virginia.

[bronco(bsu) Student]

I am not totally opposed to nuclear power, having those kinds of facilities in and around boise would be a lot of high paying jobs. I think the biggest concern is the waste associated with it. It has to go somewhere..and monitored for thousands of years..and we really can't comprehend where society and this country, let alone the planet will be in 1000's of years... I really hope that fusion power can become a reality in this century...

If we'd open up Yucca Mountain for nuclear waste disposal, we'd be fine. Besides, someone would eventually come up with a way to recycle spent nuclear fuel, that technology would be worth billions.

I'd like to see nuclear power facilities built around Boise. We could use the jobs.

[Boysee Boi]

I'd like to see nuclear power facilities built around Boise. We could use the jobs.


We could also use the power, which would also bring jobs. From what I understand, we've lost out on a few opportunities to bring in major manufacturing businesses due to our lack of available power generation. I know that the new gas fired power plant about to break ground will help, but a nuke plant would ensure we weren't passed up for power issues again.

[el conquistador]

We could also use the power, which would also bring jobs. From what I understand, we've lost out on a few opportunities to bring in major manufacturing businesses due to our lack of available power generation. I know that the new gas fired power plant about to break ground will help, but a nuke plant would ensure we weren't passed up for power issues again.

+1. My only hang-up about nuclear is the waste storage. But, think about this: What's going to happen when all the batteries on hybrid or electric cars need to be replaced? They are larger in size and volume and are considered hazardous materials as well. Plus, where's all the electricity to charge them up coming from? Anyway, sorry for the tangent... :crazy:

But, I have been banging the same drum as Boysee Boi, the Treasure Valley has lost out on too many opportunities due to lack of power infrastructure. But, any time Idaho Power tries to bring in more transmission or generation, the public influences the PUC to the point where they are forced to back down. In light of the current economy, the area can't afford to screw around with this anymore. We need jobs, and good jobs, to keep moving forward.

[BoiseAirport]

Woop woop! Southwest to start new nonstop service between Boise and Denver (1 daily flight) as well as an additional daily flight to Reno come March.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/10/southwest-will-add-denver-flig.html

I'm actually much more a personal fan of Alaska/Horizon, but any growth is better than the many many cutbacks we've been seeing at the airport recently. It'll be interesting to see how Frontier and United will respond. I believe this will be the first time in quite a while that a route out of Boise has 3 carriers competing all at the same time. The only other time I can think of is when United Express, Horizon, and Southwest all flew Boise-Seattle. (I do not count Horizon and Alaska as being seperate airlines just as I don't count United and United Express as being seperate airlines)

[Sawtooth]

If we'd open up Yucca Mountain for nuclear waste disposal, we'd be fine. Besides, someone would eventually come up with a way to recycle spent nuclear fuel, that technology would be worth billions.

I'd like to see nuclear power facilities built around Boise. We could use the jobs.

+1. My only hang-up about nuclear is the waste storage. But, think about this: What's going to happen when all the batteries on hybrid or electric cars need to be replaced? They are larger in size and volume and are considered hazardous materials as well. Plus, where's all the electricity to charge them up coming from? Anyway, sorry for the tangent... :crazy:

But, I have been banging the same drum as Boysee Boi, the Treasure Valley has lost out on too many opportunities due to lack of power infrastructure. But, any time Idaho Power tries to bring in more transmission or generation, the public influences the PUC to the point where they are forced to back down. In light of the current economy, the area can't afford to screw around with this anymore. We need jobs, and good jobs, to keep moving forward.

If nuclear power comes to the Boise area I am sure we could work something out to send the waste to the states of Utah or Nevada because they have the facilities. It is my understanding that Utah collects a fair amount of nuclear waste to store in that state and that they are or might be accepting nuclear waste from Italy. Maybe that state gets a kick back of money for storing so much waste, but we don't want any more nuclear waste in Idaho because there are too many precious natural resources here that could be affected as has happened with the Idaho National Lab near Arco. Southern Idaho has the Snake River aquifer which is one of the largest and most productive in the world and the Boise aquifer is one of the Wests largest and they need to be kept safe from contamination.

I agree we do need alternate sources for energy but I am not convinced of nuclear power. I've got to do some more studying on the issue.

[Evo5Boise]

Seems I'm the only one against it. It's not necessarily the fact that I am afraid of a major catastrophe, however, it is the waste that concerns me. And being around Boise means that even more waste could see transportation through Boise. And with the little green thumb that has grown on me throughout the years, it sucks to see more junk being put into the Earth.

I also understand a comment made earlier about the, well, tackiness if you will, of wind turbines (wind mills are a much different thing by the way). But with the vast amount of desert in the State of Idaho, I see no reason not to look at the possibility. Its clean, creates no waste, and uses the world's energy to create energy. The lack of jobs is an argument though. They would supply a few jobs, but after construction, there really isn't that many leftover to keep the maintenance up on a wind farm. A few, but nothing to create a huge economic impact.

Also, there are some more wind farms already in the works around Idaho. So be prepared to see some. ;)

[Boiseguy]

Seems I'm the only one against it. It's not necessarily the fact that I am afraid of a major catastrophe, however, it is the waste that concerns me. And being around Boise means that even more waste could see transportation through Boise. And with the little green thumb that has grown on me throughout the years, it sucks to see more junk being put into the Earth.

I also understand a comment made earlier about the, well, tackiness if you will, of wind turbines (wind mills are a much different thing by the way). But with the vast amount of desert in the State of Idaho, I see no reason not to look at the possibility. Its clean, creates no waste, and uses the world's energy to create energy. The lack of jobs is an argument though. They would supply a few jobs, but after construction, there really isn't that many leftover to keep the maintenance up on a wind farm. A few, but nothing to create a huge economic impact.

Also, there are some more wind farms already in the works around Idaho. So be prepared to see some. ;)

I like the wind farms, but I just don't think its the only thing we can do..
I am with u on the waste.. we're not talking about monitoring waste for a few years or a decade.. we're talking thousands of years...
I love the jobs it would bring, and the energy resources it would bring to the area, but Idaho is not the only beautiful place in the world, and even if it's not being dumped here, it's being dumped somewhere... it just doesn't sit well with me... I really wish it did though!!! lol

[Sawtooth]

A few more Fall photos. The ultimate Autumn city photography thread is almost ready:D I just need some time to pull it all together.







http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/042-3.jpg






http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/045-5.jpg

[boi2socal]

Alaska/Horizon won't be doing much in Boise anytime soon. In fact they axed a LAX-BOI flight. Soon it will be once a day, there will be an additional direct through Sun Valley, which sucks big ones.

If I recall correctly, Boise-Denver actually was served by three carriers at once (Horizon, United and Frontier). I'm quite sure Frontier was around at the time.

Woop woop! Southwest to start new nonstop service between Boise and Denver (1 daily flight) as well as an additional daily flight to Reno come March.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/10/southwest-will-add-denver-flig.html

I'm actually much more a personal fan of Alaska/Horizon, but any growth is better than the many many cutbacks we've been seeing at the airport recently. It'll be interesting to see how Frontier and United will respond. I believe this will be the first time in quite a while that a route out of Boise has 3 carriers competing all at the same time. The only other time I can think of is when United Express, Horizon, and Southwest all flew Boise-Seattle. (I do not count Horizon and Alaska as being seperate airlines just as I don't count United and United Express as being seperate airlines)

[Cottonwood]

Seems I'm the only one against it. It's not necessarily the fact that I am afraid of a major catastrophe, however, it is the waste that concerns me. And being around Boise means that even more waste could see transportation through Boise. And with the little green thumb that has grown on me throughout the years, it sucks to see more junk being put into the Earth.

I also understand a comment made earlier about the, well, tackiness if you will, of wind turbines (wind mills are a much different thing by the way). But with the vast amount of desert in the State of Idaho, I see no reason not to look at the possibility. Its clean, creates no waste, and uses the world's energy to create energy. The lack of jobs is an argument though. They would supply a few jobs, but after construction, there really isn't that many leftover to keep the maintenance up on a wind farm. A few, but nothing to create a huge economic impact.

Also, there are some more wind farms already in the works around Idaho. So be prepared to see some. ;)


I think there is enough wind in the Twin Falls area to power the entire West.

[Boiseguy]

anyone know more about boise state's student housing expansion? I was told about 225 units are to be built behind the new nursing building on Beacon st.
Also, it seems that there is a push for creating a coined "U-district" in that area

[el conquistador]

Looks like that Solar manufacturing operation from Germany chose Denver over Nampa. Sucks (but good for Denver). The Treasure Valley needs some good news regarding jobs right now. KTVB has the story.

[Cottonwood]

Looks like that Solar manufacturing operation from Germany chose Denver over Nampa. Sucks (but good for Denver). The Treasure Valley needs some good news regarding jobs right now. KTVB has the story.

This is too bad. According to the articles in the news today, Boise/Nampa and Denver were the two final areas the company was deciding between because both cities have a highly skilled and educated workforce. To me it makes more sense to have a solar company here in the Northwest.
But, Denver did bend over and offer 1 million dollars to the company to expand there. http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/10/26/daily2.html
It would be interesting to find out how much money the Boise Valley Economic Partnership or the City of Nampa offered.
If I remember correctly, it seems like earlier this year the BVEP said that there were a few solar companies looking at the Boise Metro for expansion.

[el conquistador]

This is too bad. According to the articles in the news today, Boise/Nampa and Denver were the two final areas the company was deciding between because both cities have a highly skilled and educated workforce. To me it makes more sense to have a solar company here in the Northwest.
But, Denver did bend over and offer 1 million dollars to the company to expand there. http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/10/26/daily2.html
It would be interesting to find out how much money the Boise Valley Economic Partnership or the City of Nampa offered.
If I remember correctly, it seems like earlier this year the BVEP said that there were a few solar companies looking at the Boise Metro for expansion.

That's a good point and I have heard the same thing. Wind energy as well. Green is the big business mantra right now, it would be a good time to cash in.

[Carpenter]

anyone know more about boise state's student housing expansion? I was told about 225 units are to be built behind the new nursing building on Beacon st.
Also, it seems that there is a push for creating a coined "U-district" in that area

They are talking about building on the block bounded by Belmont, Lincoln, Beacon, and Michigan. They are also looking at the block bounded by Belmont, Oakland, Beacon, and Lincoln.
It will be a lease purchase agreement between BSU and a large national developer (whose name escapes me at the moment) that specializes in this type of construction. I heard that they were talking about starting construction this spring.
I will see if I can get some more definite information and let you know.

[Boiseguy]

They are talking about building on the block bounded by Belmont, Lincoln, Beacon, and Michigan. They are also looking at the block bounded by Belmont, Potter, Beacon, and Lincoln.
It will be a lease purchase agreement between BSU and a large national developer (whose name escapes me at the moment) that specializes in this type of construction. I heard that they were talking about starting construction this spring.
I will see if I can get some more definite information and let you know.

225 units on that block would make it quite a dense little student housing block...

[Cottonwood]

http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/952597.html

Jackson's Food Stores owner gives $500,000 for Boise State business school



http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2009/10/28/12/1028_biz_college.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg

The money from John D. Jackson will help pay for a new College of Business and Economics building.

Jackson announced his donation today during the annual Boise State University Foundation board meeting on campus. Jackson, who studied accounting at Boise State, serves on the board.

“He is one of Boise State’s and Idaho’s success stories, and we thank him for giving back in support of a high quality learning environment for future students,” said Boise State President Bob Kustra.

The Micron Technology Foundation committed to a $12.5 million lead gift for the business building in 2007, with $5 million of it contingent on Boise State raising $5 million in matching funds by the end of 2009. With the Meet the Match deadline quickly approaching, Jackson's donation puts the university within $1.5 million of the goal, the university said.

The building is part of Kustra's campaign to transform Boise State into a metropolitan research university. The university said it has raised nearly $116 million of its $175 million target in a fund-raising drive.

Jackson's gift will establish the Jackson Commons, the grand entryway and first impression of the new College of Business and Economics building that will be constructed at the corner of Capitol Boulevard and University Drive, where the former University Inn is located. Boise State hopes to begin construction on the $35 million building next spring.
The Jackson Commons will be the main circulation route through the building and will provide an open, inviting, productive space for students, faculty and leaders from business and government organizations to interact, the university said. This commons will house a café, an open computer lab, community bulletin boards, flexible seating to accommodate small or large working groups and a welcoming hearth.

Jackson, a Chevron/Texaco and Shell marketer based in Meridian, founded Jacksons Food Stores Inc. in 1975 as a single service station and has built it into a chain of about 200 branded convenience stores in four Western states.

Jackson also owns and operates Jackson Oil and Capitol Distributing. Jackson Oil is a wholesale and transportation company delivering fuel to more than 400 locations in nine western states. Capitol Distributing is a grocery wholesaler that delivers merchandise to more than 400 convenience store locations in five Western states.

More than 3,600 students at Boise State major in business and economics.

[Visualize]

That's great BSU is so close to getting this built. Regardless of my rant it would be sweet to see BSU get this accomplished.

This is just a rant so you've been warned if you don't feel like reading it.

I've heard similar statements to the ones issued below regarding the size and presence the COBE will have on Captial Blvd and as the entrance to Boise State. If the goal is to really create something powerful there that blends with downtown business....how in the hell does a brown, pitched roof, high school gym of a building accomplish this?

Patrick Shannon, the new dean of the College of Business and Economics, said the new building will offer benefits not only to Boise State students, but to the business community as a whole.

"The location that the building's in will also be a real draw to the business community - we want the business community to be much more tied to our college and vice versa. We want that link to be much more solid," he added.
http://www.allbusiness.com/education-training/education-systems-institutions/11950203-1.html

In September, COBE retained the services of the AC Martin, an architectural company from Los Angeles that specializes in building “programming” to begin the first phase of our New Building Project.

The exterior appearance of the new COBE building will be consistent with it’s prominent location at the west entrance to the campus on the corner of Capitol Blvd. and University Drive. The exterior is expected to have lots of glass and be constructed on materials that are attractive with a design that is lasting in its appeal.
http://cobe.boisestate.edu/blog/2009/04/22/building-update/ That sounds nice but is hardly true in my opinion.

I just typed in 100,000 square foot business building as a google photo search. Within the first several pages this is what came up. They are by no means the gold standard and might not work as an educational building, but are all 100,000 SF and almost undeniably create more of a presence and business atmosphere than the building being proposed.:gaah: Then again maybe it's just me....

http://www.jacksonville.com/images/011404/19901_400.jpg
http://www.dnjournal.com/cover/2008/september.htm

http://www.dnjournal.com/cover/2008/images/turakhia/new-hq.jpg
http://www.dnjournal.com/cover/2008/september.htm

http://www.clermontcountyohio.biz/image.aspx?IID=711&w=490
http://www.clermontcountyohio.biz/0806Sencorp.aspx

and again...what BSU is proposing.
http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2009/10/28/12/1028_biz_college.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg

[Boiseguy]

:previous:

I actually agree with you, and that rendering looks new and not like anything I've seen.
I remember seeing an L shaped building that opened up to the corner of University and Capital.
That looks like another building behind it.. rather than the parking garage that is there.. which makes me wonder if it will be two buildings with this one at street level.

It looks like a typical university building.. but it certainly does not look like any of the other newer buildings that have popped up around campus..
I'm really wondering if it's a mistake by the reporter... or if the design isn't solid yet and that's what they're throwing out there..
I don't really like it either

[Visualize]

I wish it was a mistake by the reporter. That is the rendering posted on the College of Business and Economics BSU webpage.

I really thought they started a trend with a certain style of building as seen in the recent construction but then they throw this thing out. I was expecting something more along the lines of the Interactive Learning Center but twice as big seeing that it is only 54,000 SF.

Interactive Learning Center (It looks much better in reality)
http://www.tbcxinc.com/images/buildings/boise_state_interactive_learning_center_1.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tbcxinc.com/images/buildings/boise_state_interactive_learning_center_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tbcxinc.com/boise_state_interactive_learning_center.php&usg=__09IH125vzQVsUdMrAttCTrgrQW8=&h=415&w=595&sz=58&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=IsZr8JdJag21cM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboise%2Bstate%2Binteractive%2Blearning%2Bcenter%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

While looking for a decent picture of the ILC I found this really cool virtual tour of the BSU campus.

http://itc.boisestate.edu/VirtualTour/index.html

[CaliforniaKid]

I wish BSU would loose that old brick theme... :rolleyes:

That kind of stuff only resides in Oklahoma.

[Cottonwood]

I think the building vaguely has some similarities to the original old buildings which were part of St. Margaret’s before eventually becoming BSU. I was hoping for a more Flash building though because of its prominant corner on Capitol Blvd. Maybe this is just a preliminary drawing lacking details.

[boisecynic]

Let's not forget the big picture either.

Remember about 15 years ago when ACHD proposed an urban interchange at Capitol and University? As I recall the business owners all complained, it would put them out of business, they bellyached. Now they are all out of business except Papa Joe's and Elmers.

Has anyone in City Hall, ACHD or BSU given any renewed thought about what, if anything, should be done with that bottleneck of an intersection?

Regarding the architectural style of the COBE rendering, high school gym made me laugh out loud. It also reminds me of a southern baptist church in the suburban Atlanta.

[Boiseguy]

Let's not forget the big picture either.

Remember about 15 years ago when ACHD proposed an urban interchange at Capitol and University? As I recall the business owners all complained, it would put them out of business, they bellyached. Now they are all out of business except Papa Joe's and Elmers.

Has anyone in City Hall, ACHD or BSU given any renewed thought about what, if anything, should be done with that bottleneck of an intersection?

Regarding the architectural style of the COBE rendering, high school gym made me laugh out loud. It also reminds me of a southern baptist church in the suburban Atlanta.

i totally agree, that intersection is the biggest cluster f*CK and students are walking across there all the time, and I'm always wondering when someone is going to get mowed down. University should flow UNDER capital. Unfortunately I don't see HOW they could make anything like that happen now with the new shops and papa joes being so close to the corner

[Northernlad]

A few more Fall photos. The ultimate Autumn city photography thread is almost ready:D I just need some time to pull it all together.







http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/042-3.jpg








That is a beautiful view and I am looking forward to seeing more.

[City Of Trees]

i totally agree, that intersection is the biggest cluster f*CK and students are walking across there all the time, and I'm always wondering when someone is going to get mowed down. University should flow UNDER capital. Unfortunately I don't see HOW they could make anything like that happen now with the new shops and papa joes being so close to the cornerHere's how they'd have to do it (very rough sketch). Let's just hope that they don't build the new building at the University Inn too close to the street or that intersection's screwed forever.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v27/greenhabit/capitoluniversity.png

[Boiseguy]

:previous:

Interesting.. I'm not really following what the blue is though..
are you just proposing a simple stop light intersection?

I think they need to have another option of coming out of the park and that area to be able to turn left out onto Capital. That entire area is forced onto university to be able to turn left out of there and in the future as that area is developed one option isn't going to be enough. The left turn lane already as it is now gets backed up to the park entrance already.

[City Of Trees]

:previous:

Interesting.. I'm not really following what the blue is though..
are you just proposing a simple stop light intersection?Sorry, the blue is the elevated freeway. The darker blue is the same, except I had to show what was underneath it for the diagram to make any sense. The two surface roads right next to the freeway are are one-way frontage roads.

I think they need to have another option of coming out of the park and that area to be able to turn left out onto Capital. That entire area is forced onto university to be able to turn left out of there and in the future as that area is developed one option isn't going to be enough. The left turn lane already as it is now gets backed up to the park entrance already.If you're talking about Royal Blvd., it's not going to happen. It would be too dangerous of a turn right now as is, and in my plan, the slope of the freeway would start about there, so it wouldn't be able to connect.

What they really need to do is rework the traffic flow within Ann Morrison so that everyone isn't getting spit out onto Royal. I have never even understood why they did that instead of going directly to University.

[Cottonwood]

Does anyone know the status of the Transit Hub to be built on 11th and Idaho? I thought this was a project that was supposed to move forward this year after the debate on where to locate it played out earlier this year.
Is the city or VRT waiting for that special Obama money to be thrown our way to fund it?
Or aren't funds already in place?

[Carpenter]

They are talking about building on the block bounded by Belmont, Lincoln, Beacon, and Michigan. They are also looking at the block bounded by Belmont, Oakland, Beacon, and Lincoln.
It will be a lease purchase agreement between BSU and a large national developer (whose name escapes me at the moment) that specializes in this type of construction. I heard that they were talking about starting construction this spring.
I will see if I can get some more definite information and let you know.
The developer is American Campus Communities. Their web site is here http://www.studenthousing.com/ Some of their properties look pretty high end. I wonder if they develop their projects based on the eventual owners specs or their own?

[Cottonwood]

The ultimate Autumn city photography thread is almost ready. I just need some time to pull it all together.

Where are they?? We need something fresh and new to brighten up this mundane mountain west forum! A person can only take so much Pueblo or a 25 floor tower in a neighboring city that is a pipe dream, threads with religion and lifestyle bashing or a football thread that has gone to Hell.....just kidding. But-- Fall pics of Boise would be like a breath of fresh air.

[TonyAnderson]

Where are they?? We need something fresh and new to brighten up this mundane mountain west forum! A person can only take so much Pueblo or a 25 floor tower in a neighboring city that is a pipe dream, threads with religion and lifestyle bashing or a football thread that has gone to Hell.....just kidding. But-- Fall pics of Boise would be like a breath of fresh air.

Why do you have to go and put down South Salt Lake City? (25 story pipe dream tower). We in Salt Lake already spend so much time doing it...

[Cottonwood]

Why do you have to go and put down South Salt Lake City? (25 story pipe dream tower). We in Salt Lake already spend so much time doing it...

Just for fun:laugh:

[Sawtooth]

I wish it was a mistake by the reporter. That is the rendering posted on the College of Business and Economics BSU webpage.

I really thought they started a trend with a certain style of building as seen in the recent construction but then they throw this thing out. I was expecting something more along the lines of the Interactive Learning Center but twice as big seeing that it is only 54,000 SF.

Interactive Learning Center (It looks much better in reality)
http://www.tbcxinc.com/images/buildings/boise_state_interactive_learning_center_1.jpg
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.tbcxinc.com/images/buildings/boise_state_interactive_learning_center_1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.tbcxinc.com/boise_state_interactive_learning_center.php&usg=__09IH125vzQVsUdMrAttCTrgrQW8=&h=415&w=595&sz=58&hl=en&start=1&um=1&tbnid=IsZr8JdJag21cM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dboise%2Bstate%2Binteractive%2Blearning%2Bcenter%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

While looking for a decent picture of the ILC I found this really cool virtual tour of the BSU campus.

http://itc.boisestate.edu/VirtualTour/index.html


I really like the ILC Building and hope the University incorporates that design into more of their new buildings. It seems like lately BSU has been undergoing a building boom that will keep going well into the future.


Where are they?? We need something fresh and new to brighten up this mundane mountain west forum! A person can only take so much Pueblo or a 25 floor tower in a neighboring city that is a pipe dream, threads with religion and lifestyle bashing or a football thread that has gone to Hell.....just kidding. But-- Fall pics of Boise would be like a breath of fresh air.


Soon. I have been busy the past few weeks and have been in Sun Valley for a bit but I should have the time to compile the photos for the thread this week. Here is a pic of the depot I just uploaded from my camera. I took this zoomed pic from a mountain bike trail above the Black Forest.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Autumn2009/020-2.jpg

[Visualize]

Soon. I have been busy the past few weeks and have been in Sun Valley for a bit but I should have the time to compile the photos for the thread this week. Here is a pic of the depot I just uploaded from my camera. I took this zoomed pic from a mountain bike trail above the Black Forest.


http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Autumn2009/020-2.jpg

That pic is sweet with the sage brush in the foreground, hazy mountain silhouette, and white train depot focal point. Nicely done.

[CaliforniaKid]

Sawtooth, sawtooth... Go Sawtooth. :banana:

Hey thanks again for the pictures. I always come back here to see what you are posting.. You've got a good reputation here already in California.

[CaliforniaKid]

I thought this was an interesting video. Did you know that Idaho's falls are higher than Niagra falls? Did you know that Idaho's Hell's canyon is deeper than the Grand Canyon?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8XQtmktg0Q

[Sawtooth]

............................

[Eeyore]

I posted this in the Colorado new economy thread since it has direct implications to Pueblo but since some of you might not read that thread and this also great news for you guys I decided to post it here.

AEHI Seeks More States To Construct Nuclear Power Plants

AEHI expects Idaho nuclear site approval soon and seeks new states to build more plants to address "Global Warming"

- ByApril Murelio -

Alternate Energy Holdinigs Inc. (AEHI) projects at least one of their Idaho nuclear sites will receive local approval early in the first quarter of 2010. The approval will trigger investments predominantly from international sources for the plant site.

In addition to the Colorado site, the company is seeking other states that have indicated interest in an advanced reactor including Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nevada and Utah.

Don Gillispie, AEHI CEO and a 45 year nuclear industry veteran said, “The EPA recently projected 180 new nuclear reactors would be needed to significantly reduce U.S. emissions and meet energy needs by 2050. However, they did not consider that most of the nation’s 104 nuclear reactors would be past their useful life. Therefore, almost 300 new reactors would actually be needed while only 30 or so are planned. If the large regulated utilities are not going to help with this challenge by replacing their coal plants with clean nuclear, we certainly are willing and actively seeking new sites and investors to help address this critical problem. If we build electric cars to reduce emissions, but our utilities continue to build carbon power plants like coal and natural gas we have gained nothing environmentally.”

Alternate Energy Holdings develops and markets innovative clean energy sources. The company is the nation's only publicly traded independent nuclear power plant developer willing to build power plants in non-nuclear states. Other projects include, Energy Neutral which removes energy demands from homes and businesses (www.energyneutralinc.com), Colorado Energy Park (nuclear and solar generation), and International Reactors, which assists developing countries with nuclear reactors for power generation, production of potable water and other suitable applications. Also, AEHI China, headquartered In Beijing, develops joint ventures to produce nuclear plant components and consults on nuclear power.

[Cottonwood]

Nice pics Sawtooth. I am going to have to rake leaves again this week because a huge tree by my front sidewalk is just barely starting to drop its leaves.

and
Thanks for the info Eeyore.

[Boiseguy]

I posted this in the Colorado new economy thread since it has direct implications to Pueblo but since some of you might not read that thread and this also great news for you guys I decided to post it here.

AEHI Seeks More States To Construct Nuclear Power Plants

AEHI expects Idaho nuclear site approval soon and seeks new states to build more plants to address "Global Warming"

- ByApril Murelio -

Alternate Energy Holdinigs Inc. (AEHI) projects at least one of their Idaho nuclear sites will receive local approval early in the first quarter of 2010. The approval will trigger investments predominantly from international sources for the plant site.

In addition to the Colorado site, the company is seeking other states that have indicated interest in an advanced reactor including Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nevada and Utah.

Don Gillispie, AEHI CEO and a 45 year nuclear industry veteran said, “The EPA recently projected 180 new nuclear reactors would be needed to significantly reduce U.S. emissions and meet energy needs by 2050. However, they did not consider that most of the nation’s 104 nuclear reactors would be past their useful life. Therefore, almost 300 new reactors would actually be needed while only 30 or so are planned. If the large regulated utilities are not going to help with this challenge by replacing their coal plants with clean nuclear, we certainly are willing and actively seeking new sites and investors to help address this critical problem. If we build electric cars to reduce emissions, but our utilities continue to build carbon power plants like coal and natural gas we have gained nothing environmentally.”

Alternate Energy Holdings develops and markets innovative clean energy sources. The company is the nation's only publicly traded independent nuclear power plant developer willing to build power plants in non-nuclear states. Other projects include, Energy Neutral which removes energy demands from homes and businesses (www.energyneutralinc.com), Colorado Energy Park (nuclear and solar generation), and International Reactors, which assists developing countries with nuclear reactors for power generation, production of potable water and other suitable applications. Also, AEHI China, headquartered In Beijing, develops joint ventures to produce nuclear plant components and consults on nuclear power.

apparently the idaho nuclear plant that is in the news is the one that will be operated by Idaho Power near Payette which is 45 miles northwest of boise...
I've heard rumours that it's pretty much a go.. since it is being located in a different place than the one previously proposed nearby...
Then there is another Nuclear Power plant that is suppose to be developed by a french company 40 miles south of boise... haven't heard anything about this one...
I can't help but wonder if the purpose is to remove the dams along the snake and columbia rivers..which has been something obama supports
I just don't know how I feel about it yet... we always hear about the salmon, but I can't help but wonder if dams are the biggest problem and it isn't overfishing in the pacific.. besides dams also provide control on spring run-off and flooding.. I would hate to imagine the snake river canyon flooding every season..
Hopefully someone knows more about the intent.. and whether removing the dams really is the focus at all...

[CaliforniaKid]

The Boise State athletic department has created a non-profit corporation — Boise State Broncos Inc. — and will sell shares for $100, athletic director Gene Bleymaier announced Wednesday.

Shareholders receive a certificate and can vote on board members at an annual meeting. They do not receive any dividends and the stock doesn't appreciate. The purchase is tax-deductible.

The money will be used to help Boise State expand facilities, Bleymaier said. The idea came from the Green Bay Packers.

"What we're appealing to, much like the Packers, is the passion — the passion of our supporters," Bleymaier said. "... For us to compete at the level we are now and stay at this level, it's going to take passion on the part of this community."

Boise State Broncos Inc. has 12 board members who are the inner circle of donors, people whom Bleymaier and president Bob Kustra have relied on for advice and financial support in the past. The 12 are: Jon Miller (CEO), Jerry Caven, Jerry Dancer, Allen Dykman, Rich Fedrizzi, Allen Noble, Duane Stueckle, Milford Terrell, David Turnbull, George Wade, Larry Williams and Charles Wilson. They will help sell the stock and continue to advise Boise State on the best uses for the money.

Boise State already has sold more than 1,200 shares, Bleymaier said. Most of those went to board members.

The first money generated by the stock sale will go to three major capital projects — the new locker rooms for the basketball teams (the project is $300,000 short), the new track facility at the old East Junior High and the south end zone addition to Bronco Stadium, a project that will include improvements to the football facilities.

The initial offering is $20 million — 200,000 shares — but more will be made available if those sell out.

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2009/11/11/ccripe/broncos_sell_stock

IT IS ALIVE!!!!

http://i27.tinypic.com/1zoyypi.jpg

[Cottonwood]

Anyone know the status for Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in the Royal Plaza?



http://pdsonline.cityofboise.org/pdsonline/details.aspx?id=BLD08-02463


Permit Information
Permit Number BLD08-02463
Status Ready to Issue
Name CSHQA
Site Address 1112 W MAIN ST
Project Name RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE
Customer Number
Description (RUTH'S CHRIS STEAKHOUSE - 1ST STORY) Fire sprinklers required because this building is a high rise. To construct an 8,236 square foot restaurant and bar tenant space on the 1st story of a new high rise building. Work is to include 2 restrooms accessible to the disabled, grease hoods and ducts, a condensate hood and duct, interior nonbearing walls, suspended acoustical ceilings, gypsum board soffits, suspended gypsum board ceilings, millwork, kitchen equipment, and finishes. In addition, the elevator lobby on the 1st story that provides

[Boiseguy]

anyone going to see Kathy Griffin at the Morrison center?
http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/kathy-griffin-brings-her-d-list-comedy-to-boise/Content?oid=1058877

[GrandTeton]

:previous:
I really want to, but I'm still deciding.

[Boiseguy]

channel 7 has some cool photos of the completed capital building restoration

http://www.ktvb.com/home/Take-a-tour-of-the-newly-renovated-Idaho-Capitol-70404822.html?gallery=y&c=y

[boisecynic]

I can't wait to tour the Capitol. I saw them repaving Jefferson St in front of the Capitol weekend before last, so maybe they'll reopen Jefferson soon too.

And on a side note:

Statesman is reporting construction to begin on the Whitewater park. The article is quite vague, but it does say something about draining the clocktower pond. Can't wait to see what's at the bottom of that.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/978721.html

I drove by there this morning and saw several large bunks of 20' long 10" or so diameter PVC.

[Cottonwood]

Cool Hand Lukes steak house in the Adelman Building has closed and I noticed yesterday that reno work is being done in that space, I saw work going on through the upstairs windows after work when the lights were on. I don't feel bad, they didn't have the best food and besides the local steak restaurants downtown are by far better and Lukes still has their nice location out in Eagle. The question is.....what will the new restaurant be? That is a prime space.

[CaliforniaKid]

Sweet...

Parts of the Boise Greenbelt will be widened in the coming months as part of the first phase of construction.

BOISE RIVER PARK

• The estimated cost will be about $6.7 million.

• About $2.25 million has been raised, including $750,000 from the city of Boise. The volunteer group Friends of the Park is raising an additional $4.5 million. The Harvey Neef family pledged $1 million in memory of their son, Ray Neef.

• Work this winter will concentrate on widening the Boise Greenbelt between Quinn's Pond and the river at the Thurman Mill Canal Diversion, also known as the 36th Street Wave by kayakers.

This stretch of the Greenbelt is too narrow to accommodate rebuilding the diversion for a whitewater play area.

Quinn's Pond will have to be drained to allow work on the Greenbelt.

• Work also will begin this winter on a footbridge across the river in the area.

• Construction of whitewater features will not begin until next winter because it has to be done in low water.

• The river park will be accessible through the future Esther Simplot Park.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/273/story/978721.html

Oops looks like someone already posted..

[boisecynic]

:previous: It's ok, it's a big project and once it gets going the mainstream media will have to jump on the bandwagon. I forgot to mention I saw some survey stakes on the Garden City side where the footbridge will go.

[Sawtooth]

Here is info about another whitewater park planned up in Garden Valley on the mighty Payette River.

http://www.southforklanding.com/whitewater.html

[Viperlord]

Sawtooth,

I like those pics. They really show off the colors and the natural beauty of Boise. Thanks for sharing.:tup:

[Visualize]

Boise's next door neighbor Eagle doubles in land area with M3 annexation.

Eagle doubles in area with M3 annexation

Huge development won't break ground until 2011, but the city will see some revenue from property taxes next year.

BY SANDRA FORESTER - sforester@idahostatesman.com
Published: 11/21/09

After three years of planning, public meetings and negotiating, M3's 6,015-acre planned community in the Foothills north of Eagle cleared another hurdle when the City Council annexed it recently.

Developers said the action lets them proceed on approval of a master traffic study, annexation into the Eagle Sewer District, creation of a name and theme, and other necessary steps.

"It's huge because it's something that allows us to move forward in developing the project," said Bill Brownlee, managing partner of M3, the Arizona developer.

For the city, annexation means some property tax revenue will begin flowing to the city likely by July, Mayor Phil Bandy said.

"It's going to be awhile before we get any substantial tax from that property," Bandy said. But "it shouldn't be a significant impact on the city in terms of staff" because the heavy lifting was done in negotiating a development agreement and other standards before the Nov. 10 annexation.

The development will have up to 7,153 homes, 245 acres for shops, offices and a 500-room hotel, and 1,201 acres of open space with parks, trails, an equestrian center and at least one golf course.

Its master plan also calls for three elementary schools, a middle school and a high school, a public library, two fire stations, one police station - all on land donated by M3. The company is studying the viability of vineyards, wineries and a research and development project on the property as well.

The community is expected to take 20 to 35 years to complete and will create more than 2,000 permanent jobs when it's finished.

The next hurdle for developers is a request for water rights to serve the more than 17,000 future residents. Property owners have argued that there isn't enough water in the area to serve the proposed community and homes already established. But M3 says an aquifer running under its acreage is much larger than previously thought, extending from the Boise River to the Payette River valley.

Developers hope to learn from the Idaho Department of Water Resources in early December whether it will get the water rights requested.

Nearby neighbor Joan Langdon said she believes the development will improve the area for equestrians and stop young people from using the area for drinking, shooting and dumping trash.

[boisecynic]

While we're on the Eagle topic, does anyone know what happened to the Velodrome? Did it run out of money?

I found a blog with tons of pics although they're all low res, and it seems the Idaho Cycling Park has become the Idaho BMX Park.

http://idahocyclingpark.blogspot.com/

[Cottonwood]

the money keeps rolling in.


http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/983773.html
BSU gets $500,000 donation toward business school
By Statesman Staff - Idaho Statesman
Published: 11/23/09

[Sawtooth]

Maybe this smiley is more entertaining than discussing the trolley.

:fireworks

[Cottonwood]

Group predicts Idaho will lead nation in job growth :tup:

The links refer to a story in the Salt Lake Tribune today. Hello Idaho Statesman....anyone there?

http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewnewspaged/articleid/3679060/pageid/1

http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_13903603

IHS Global Insight predicted these states will create the most jobs annually through 2015:

1. Idaho -- 2.01 percent (per year)
2. Texas -- 1.83
3. Virginia -- 1.72
4. Florida -- 1.72
5. Arizona -- 1.67
6. Nevada -- 1.66
7. Georgia -- 1.63
7. S. Carolina -- 1.63
9. Utah -- 1.62
10. N. Carolina -- 1.60

[Visualize]

Maybe this smiley is more entertaining than discussing the trolley.

:fireworks


Pretty funny but you should have left the article up, it was a good one.

I agree that the trolley is more for the purpose of economic development than transportation, but when you are using a transit instrument for the purpose of economic development don't you think it should be somewhat viable as a transportation option and actually go somewhere....That is the point and creator of the drive for economic development.

Considering it could be a substantial amount of time before any of the other spurs are built off of this I am curious what the marketing angle would be for development along the downtown loop.

Access to the Greenbelt....NO
Access to the Boise River....NO
Access to two of Boise's best parks....NO
Access to a grocery store....NO
Access to BSU....NO
:tumbleweed

Access to everything that is already easily within walking distance....YES
:dead:

[bronco(bsu) Student]

Pretty funny but you should have left the article up, it was a good one.

I agree that the trolley is more for the purpose of economic development than transportation, but when you are using a transit instrument for the purpose of economic development don't you think it should be somewhat viable as a transportation option and actually go somewhere....That is the point and creator of the drive for economic development.

Considering it could be a substantial amount of time before any of the other spurs are built off of this I am curious what the marketing angle would be for development along the downtown loop.

Access to the Greenbelt....NO
Access to the Boise River....NO
Access to two of Boise's best parks....NO
Access to a grocery store....NO
Access to BSU....NO
:tumbleweed

Access to everything that is already easily within walking distance....YES
:dead:

That is my problem with the streetcar as well. It doesn't go anywhere.

[Boiseguy]

the streetcar should have an inial phase going to the greenbelt through the west end.. it would connect downtown to the new white water park AND spark investment in the west end of downtown.. it would kill two birds with one stone.. then incorporate BSU into the second phase..
go big or go home on this one...
this initial phase is only going to cause havoc on traffic patterns downtown durring construction to provide a system in the end that will not really spark ridership further giving nay sayers a reason to stop funding any future plans...
I can see it already...

[boisecynic]

I'm with you Boiseguy. I thought they should begin with the trolley going all the way to 30th. They could use the city owned lots at the Bogus Basin Park n Ride, 30th and Main as free parking. Of course, that would steal revenue from CCDC owned parking garages.

Better yet, the $20 million or so in trolley matching funds could be used to construct the white water features as originally envisioned by Recreation Engineering and Planning of Boulder. Their plan was to redo Americana, Thurman Mill AND Farmer's Union diversions, therefore making a world class recreational facility. One could float past Ann Morrison and go all the way to Veterans Park.

Have any of you been to Ann Morrison on a hot weekend afternoon? In my opinion it has reached the limits of its capacity. There is a need to spread the floaters out to other parks.

As it is, with only Thurman Mill being (re)constructed, it's a half ass job. Oh well, gotta start somewhere. When the people see what great addition the WW feature is, they'll surely be more fired up to rebuild the other 2 diversions.

[boisecynic]

The New Footbridge about to become reality?

From GC greenbelt looking roughly east to the west end of the Pleasanton St greenbelt spur. Reflections (aka Clocktower Apartements) is in background. The survey stake says "CH2M 36th Street Red Bridge." The rocky area on the opposite bank is where the new pneumatically controlled white water feature diversion will be built. To our non-local readers, this is about 1.5 miles from the downtown Boise CBD and technically, is a part of downtown Boise.

http://imgur.com/HUTqY.jpg

Same spot but looking west at the path already provided for access to the Waterfront District and eventually to Adams Street. ACHD headquarters, Woman of Steel art gallery, Red Lion Riverside, Joe's Crab Shack and other businesses are a few hundred yards from this spot.
http://imgur.com/S3CjI.jpg

And this is from the Boise greenbelt, end of Pleasanton Spur looking west to the GC Waterfront District. Note the DigLine marks, anyone know what that means? Yellow indicates gas line right?
http://imgur.com/ZTLev.jpg

[Visualize]

That is going to be so great when the pedestrian bridge is completed, thanks for the update. Hopefully when the Whitewater Park is completed I can float through without having the fire department called. That diversion dam is no joke. :drowning:

I can really see the potential for 36th Street in Garden City, which is really an extension of Orchard, turning into a higher density Bown Crossing type of district. All the elements are there, run-down property, connections to Chinden, Orchard, Fairview and the Connector. It's also immediately adjacent to some fairly dense new development, the River, Greenbelt, and soon to be Whitewater Park and pedestrian bridge, all within a river rocks throw of the 30th Street area in Boise. Bring in the bulldozers, time for some good ol'fashioned urban renewal of Garden City.

[Cottonwood]

Nice, thanks for the picture update boisecynic. I toured a few open houses at the Waterfront District last year and it is a nice new neighborhood, the condos are spendy though, the unit I liked the most was around $600,000 at the time.

[boi2socal]

Nice, thanks for the picture update boisecynic. I toured a few open houses at the Waterfront District last year and it is a nice new neighborhood, the condos are spendy though, the unit I liked the most was around $600,000 at the time.
These new projects need to lower their prices. Royal Plaza just went bankrupt. Eek. Sure there will be one or two more to follow.

[Cottonwood]

These new projects need to lower their prices. Royal Plaza just went bankrupt. Eek. Sure there will be one or two more to follow.

Note that I said "at the time" meaning last year so I am pretty sure they have lowered their prices. Most likely the Royal Plaza will end up fine once the market rebounds because the bankruptcy is to re-access the prices on the unsold units so it isn't like everyone that is already living there is going to get kicked out of the building or anything:haha:

[alphawolf]

These new projects need to lower their prices. Royal Plaza just went bankrupt. Eek. Sure there will be one or two more to follow.

I wonder if that means they will be cutting back on services from the Owyhee Plaza to the unsold units.

[Cottonwood]

:tup: This is the entire article in case the link breaks after a few days.


http://www.idahostatesman.com/1453/story/1003511.html
Boise is one of the world’s leading geothermal cities
Cynthia Sewell - Idaho Statesman
Published: 12/09/09


This week world leaders gathering in Copenhagen for the United Nations Climate Change Conference are feeling the geothermal heat that is part of the energy solution for Copenhagen and for cities and countries around the world. In fact, Copenhagen could meet 50 percent of its district heating needs by using its geothermal resources.

With Copenhagen in the spotlight this week as an example of geothermal’s potential, the Geothermal Energy Association has identified 10 leading geothermal cities around the globe.

Boise made the list for several reasons: the city’s public works department has the largest direct use geothermal system in the U.S.; the city's geothermal system injects 100 percent of the water back into the aquifer; the Idaho State Capitol is among several buildings in the Capitol Mall area that are heated by the system and Boise built its first geothermal heating system in 1892.

Last week the Boise City Council passed three resolutions furthering its commitment to using geothermal resources — increasing the city’s geothermal pumping limit, tying in with the Warm Springs water district to supplement its geothermal supplies and setting a policy for extending city geothermal lines to private property.

These agreements represent an “opportunity to maximize a resource that is about as good as it gets when it comes to climate change. Lowering our carbon footprint and being responsible with resources to the benefit of our citizens,” Mayor Dave Bieter said during the Dec. 1 council meeting.

In addition to Boise, other cities the international geothermal association recognized as examples of world leaders in geothermal municipal development include:

• Copenhagen, Denmark: Having set a target of zero carbon emissions by 2025, Copenhagen is a leader in clean energy alternatives and could meet 50 percent of its district heating needs by using its geothermal resources.

• Reykjavik, Iceland: With a high level of geothermal activity and insightful developments by the Icelanders over the years, 87 percent of Iceland's buildings are heated geothermally.

• Reno, Nevada: City and business leaders have been encouraged by the success and remarkable potential of the energy source and are marketing Reno as a geothermal center for industry activities, corporate offices and research facilities.

• Perth, Australia: Perth has declared its intention to enter the geothermal community with a new twist — as the very first geothermally cooled city with commercial geothermal-powered heating and air-conditioning units.

• Xianyang, China: Recently deemed “China’s Official Geothermal City,” in the largest emissions-producing nation in the world, Xianyang is helping China achieve the goal they set of 16 percent renewables by 2020 — up from 7 percent in 2005. Also of note, Beijing famously used geothermal pumps to power the 2008 Olympics.

• Madrid, Spain: Madrid’s regional government is on board with six renewable energy projects, one of which is a 8-megawatt geothermal district heating project.

• Masdar City, Abu Dhabi: The city’s goal is to function 100 percent on renewable energy; a shining example to the rest of the world. The city plans to obtain half of its power from geothermal resources.

• Klamath Falls, Oregon: Geothermal has been used for space heating since the turn of the century and for a variety of uses including heating homes, schools, businesses, swimming pools, and for snow melt systems for sidewalks and highway. In addition, geothermal provides Oregon Institute of Technology’s 11-building campus all of its heating needs.

[City Of Trees]

Good article in the Statesman providing a counterargument by Mark Rivers, and some expert advice describing why crossing the river is far more difficult. I continue to understand both sides of the debate here--why the city is choosing the route they are, and why other routes may be better.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/1006622.html

[Visualize]

It's good to see that we have someone on our side in Rivers who the City tends to listen to.

Crossing the river, though, could be a costly or logistical obstacle for the streetcar. Either one lane on each bridge must be dedicated to the streetcar, or the bridges would need extensive modifications to embed the streetcar rails, Ada County Highway District spokesman Craig Quintana said.

Embedding the rails in the road so both the streetcar and cars could share the lane would require building up the bridge deck.

"It's not so much the weight of the streetcar, which is slight compared to heavy rail, but the modifications to the deck and whether the bridge support structure can hold the extra weight, whatever that might be. At this point, we simply don't have an educated guess," Quintana said.

Why don't they use the train bridge that is already there and is only being used for pedestrian purposes. The Anne Frank Memorial is facing the wrong direction anyway and could stand to be redesigned a bit. I also think this would be a good chance to make 8th Street blocked off from all vehicle traffic and just used for the streetcar route and as a pedestrian corridor from the river through downtown.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/bridge.jpg?t=1260650152

They could also put a really nice stop in the mini-park between 9th and Capital. There is access east and west with tunnels along the Greenbelt. This would be a very safe and efficient way to access the parks, BSU and the Greenbelt itself.

[GrandTeton]

Going down 9th and up Capitol would be MUCH better than just Idaho and Main. Eventually, the city could expand the rail to the airport.

[City Of Trees]

Why don't they use the train bridge that is already there and is only being used for pedestrian purposes. The Anne Frank Memorial is facing the wrong direction anyway and could stand to be redesigned a bit. I also think this would be a good chance to make 8th Street blocked off from all vehicle traffic and just used for the streetcar route and as a pedestrian corridor from the river through downtown.That bridge is definitely too skinny, and probably not structurally sound to hold a modern streetcar/light rail. It fits perfectly as a ped/bike Greenbelt connection.

I illustrated it in a post earlier in this huge thread, but I think the best way to go across the river is to build an entirely new bridge leading to Lusk Street on the south side (seen in the far left of your screenshot), connecting to the depot and the UP line that would be prime for a more serious light rail system. I don't think that any existing bridge will get the job done.

Going down 9th and up Capitol would be MUCH better than just Idaho and Main. Eventually, the city could expand the rail to the airport.Actually, the rail almost entirely exists right now. The UP line runs down next to Federal Way, and there's a spur at the Broadway interchange that curves westward straight towards the airport. You can see it on Google Maps.

[Visualize]

That bridge is definitely too skinny, and probably not structurally sound to hold a modern streetcar/light rail. It fits perfectly as a ped/bike Greenbelt connection.

Unless you are implying travel in both directions on different tracks I definitely disagree with you. Modern streetcars are narrower than freight trains by a foot or two and this was a freight train bridge. If structural elements are of concern I'm sure it would be cheaper to retrofit this bridge than build an entirely new one.

I'm suspect but they might even be able to squeeze two tracks on there since as stated in this article and picture streetcars are stable, thus they are able to run very close together or along walls.

http://www.hawthornestreetcar.org/apm/article.php?id=21

[Sawtooth]

Originally Posted by City Of Trees
That bridge is definitely too skinny, and probably not structurally sound to hold a modern streetcar/light rail. It fits perfectly as a ped/bike Greenbelt connection.


Unless you are implying travel in both directions on different tracks I definitely disagree with you. Modern streetcars are narrower than freight trains by a foot or two and this was a freight train bridge. If structural elements are of concern I'm sure it would be cheaper to retrofit this bridge than build an entirely new one.

I'm suspect but they might even be able to squeeze two tracks on there since as stated in this article and picture streetcars are stable, thus they are able to run very close together or along walls.

http://www.hawthornestreetcar.org/apm/article.php?id=21



It seems like a good idea to use the greenbelt rail bridge for a trolley but I think it would cause an outrage from greenbelt users if the bridge was turned into a rail bridge, myself included. If the bridge remained multi use for both the trolley and greenbelt users then there could maybe be a compromise:cool:

Boise could try and obtain more of the magic play money mr obama likes to throw around and build a new rail bridge over the river to connect the line to the business district and the university campus.

[BoiseAirport]

Well if that bridge were used...where exactly would it go? If I remember right, the pedestrian bridge literally leads right to the Anne Frank memorial, and I can't envision there being enough room for a trolley to effectively swerve around the memorial without being a nuisance to the memorial-goers and greenbelt users (such as myself).

[Visualize]

Well if that bridge were used...where exactly would it go? If I remember right, the pedestrian bridge literally leads right to the Anne Frank memorial, and I can't envision there being enough room for a trolley to effectively swerve around the memorial without being a nuisance to the memorial-goers and greenbelt users (such as myself).

You mean this wonderful river enhancing cultural amenity?:rolleyes:
http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2009/068.jpgCredit: Sawtooth http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?p=4191685#post4191685

I suggest they push that log cabin on Capital into the river turning it into drift wood which would free up space to build the memorial properly. Once again...it's still cheaper than building a new bridge. That area is already clustered with bridges anyway, the last thing it needs is another one in my opinion.

My original comment of using the bridge was merely a suggestion of a possible way to bridge the river since the article mentioned it was a large obstacle. Of course there are going to be problems with any action taken, it's the nature of the beast.

[Cottonwood]

http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2009/12/16/Boise-makes-list-of-top-businessoriented-cities

Boise makes list of top business-oriented cities
POSTED: 12:25 MST Wednesday, December 16, 2009

by IBR Staff


Boise was ranked ahead of Denver, Salt Lake City and Dallas-Ft. Worth as one of the top 10 best cities for business based on results, or by looking at how many companies actually are located in a particular metro region.

This latest listing, made by MarketWatch, an Internet arm of the Wall Street Journal, added more categories – and more cities – to its judging this year than in previous years.



http://www.marketwatch.com/story/tortoise-wins-race-for-best-us-city-for-business-2009-12-16?pagenumber=1

Rank Metro area Score ... Rank Metro area Score
1 Des Moines, Iowa 851
2 Washington, D.C. 796
3 Omaha, Neb. 788
4 Minneapolis-St. Paul 746
5 Boston 739
6 Boise, Idaho 728
7 Denver 726
8 Salt Lake City 723
9 Dallas-Ft. Worth 713
10 Bridgeport, Conn. 709

[gzimmerm]

I talked to Mike Hall and a couple other CCDC guys and they were selling pretty dang hard. A couple things bother me:

They are rushing the current loop which is worthless because of Stimulus dollars already tied to that plan.

They claim its a transportation project -- at first -- but when asked Mike Hall says: "Its really not a transportation project its an economic development project". SO, now I find myself looking for whether they are violating stimulus money rules

Said riders wouldn't ride a bus so they have to make a Streetcar. So we have to pay for this whole streecar mess because you and I emotionally would ride a trolley but a bus that, say, looks like a trolley.

Showed a picture of loop to BSU, but what they really need is airport to downtown. That would rock for so many reasons.

Mike said it would be impossible to ever solve a true valley east-west transportation project. BUt yet another booth in the open house was openly discussing options for that.

I definitely do not trust CCDC's role in this.

We live within three blocks and were explicitly not allowed to join any of the working groups.

ARGGHHHHHH!

[CaliforniaKid]

I would expand it to the Boise Town Square too..

That mall area is full of traffic...

[Sawtooth]

I've been sorting through my photo albums and found some left over pics I have taken this past year, so here are a few of them.



http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/014-4.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/238.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/155.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/123.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/075.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/007-3.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/006-3.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/005-3.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/005-4.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/063.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/The%20hood/085.jpg

[boisecynic]

Winter Solstice 2009

I'm rarely a middle of the road kind of guy, but Christmas morning makes it easy.

http://imgur.com/105gm.jpg

http://imgur.com/hqjy2.jpg

http://imgur.com/IrNLn.jpg

http://imgur.com/pgUNL.jpg

http://imgur.com/kVjCN.jpg

http://imgur.com/IywzF.jpg

[Sawtooth]

:previous: I bet pointing your camera straight into the sun left a spot or two in your eyes for a few minutes. I've had that happen to myself before taking sunset pics.

Nice photos.

[boisecynic]

:previous: I bet pointing your camera straight into the sun left a spot or two in your eyes for a few minutes. I've had that happen to myself before taking sunset pics.

Nice photos.

Just driving down those streets at around 8:32 was insanely painful. In fact it's dangerous, I saw two different drivers, blinded by the sun, run through red lights. I'm not at all comfortable standing in the middle of the street while drivers are blinded. That's why these pics are only really possible on Sunday, Xmas or New Year's mornings and of course clear skies are less than a 50/50 thing this time of year.

On a side note, too bad my skills and my camera, yeah I blame my camera, don't match yours. I thought the shadow pic was really cool but when I got home I found out how over exposed it was.

Oh well, I was just going for the concept of the downtown grid aligning with the solstice. Maybe some day I can polish the effect. In a few weeks, the sun will be in a position to reflect off the Wells Fargo building and on Main Street there will appear to be 2 suns. I saw it for the first time last year but couldn't get a pic due to traffic. It's actually quite impressive.

[Cottonwood]

This is in the current issue of the Boise Weekly. I like the idea of Meridian investing in its downtown for more of an identity because it gets a bad rap of being classifed as a suburb of Boise but it has always been its own little stand alone city.

The link has the entire article.
http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/defining-meridian/Content?oid=1391958
Defining Meridian
City looks to redefine itself with downtown master plan
by Deanna Darr


Early drawings of a possible downtown Meridian include tree-lined streets, shops, public areas and a possible location for the Boise Hawks baseball team.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/imager/b/magnum/1391958/8d01/news_feature1-1.jpg





http://www.destination-downtown.org/







Two decades ago, Meridian was a sleepy farm town. Downtown was dominated by a granary and a feed store, the iconic watertower marked the outskirts of town and miles of fields separated it from Boise.

Now, it's the center of a valleywide population boom, the fields have been covered by massive tract-housing developments and the city has been left with an identity crisis.

While the term "bedroom community" riles many city leaders, it's hard to deny it as thousands of commuters to Boise pack the roads each day. It's a status even Shaun Wardle, head of the fledgling Meridian Development Corporation, will admit.

A lifelong Meridian resident and former city council member, Wardle is now one of the chief players in Meridian's effort to re-create itself by adopting a personality for the 21st century and building a self-sustaining city.

"This was a small dairy town," Wardle said, pointing to the city's massive growth, which the U.S. Census Bureau estimates increased 66.4 percent between 2000 and 2006.

[Evo5Boise]

You know, for some reason, I think it would be kind of cool to have the Boise Hawks play in downtown Meridian. I hate to take anything away from Boise, but it seems like a neat little idea. Just IMO though.

[Visualize]

I agree. The Hawks in Meridian sounds like a good idea. They aren't really big enough in my opinion to warrant a high profile location in Boise, and the other location previously suggested for Nampa by the Idaho Center seems very lacking and impersonal. Having it in Meridian would help create a sense of place and has the potential to add a little excitement to the burbs. I hope the rest of the plan comes to fruition as well. I think that by having central cores in all of the valley's major cities will help in creating more efficient transit options.

[alphawolf]

You know, for some reason, I think it would be kind of cool to have the Boise Hawks play in downtown Meridian. I hate to take anything away from Boise, but it seems like a neat little idea. Just IMO though.

They technically play in Garden City anyways, but it would be cool to have a legitimate looking stadium.

[Evo5Boise]

They technically play in Garden City anyways, but it would be cool to have a legitimate looking stadium.

Very true. :haha:

[boisecynic]

Jefferson reopened!

For the first time in 2 1/2 years Jefferson Street in front of the Capitol is open to traffic.

[City Of Trees]

Jefferson reopened!

For the first time in 2 1/2 years Jefferson Street in front of the Capitol is open to traffic.If I still drove through the East End regularly, this would be a serious cause for celebration. It was nice to coast through downtown westbound rather quickly.

I really wish they had gone through with the plan to turn State/Jefferson into a one-way couplet back in the early 1980s. Sigh.

[boisecynic]

Agreed, it's sooooooo much nicer now that it's open. I'm a big fan of NOT closing CBD streets. Look at the success of Bodo. In case readers may have forgotten or never knew, Bodo opened street access which had previously not existed to its block. And I know this will ruffle some feathers, but Boise should reopen The Grove Plaza to limited traffic.

[Boiseguy]

Agreed, it's sooooooo much nicer now that it's open. I'm a big fan of NOT closing CBD streets. Look at the success of Bodo. In case readers may have forgotten or never knew, Bodo opened street access which had previously not existed to its block. And I know this will ruffle some feathers, but Boise should reopen The Grove Plaza to limited traffic.

I don't like the idea of the grove opening for car traffic.. but certainly having the streetcar pass through there would be fantastic.. having the grove plaza actually be a place it stops

[City Of Trees]

It depends on the circumstances. I don't like opening up the Grove Center either because of all the work done on it (like the brickwork sidewalks), and more importantly, the new streets wouldn't really improve traffic flow, as 8th and Grove don't really connect to anywhere at that spot. Honestly, the same holds true for the 8th Street Marketplace, though the current car access is OK.

On the other hand, I foresee two real cluster____s that could happen in the future if they don't open up more streets. It would be refusing to extend 4th and 12th Streets across Front and Myrtle to complete the one way couplets with 3rd and 11th. The 12th Street one will never happen if the convention center is built as planned. JUMP also ruins the only foreseeable path (along 10th) that I can see to connect some sort of rail from the Depot to downtown. The good news is that from what I'm hearing, JUMP should have at least pretty good pedestrian access.

[Sawtooth]

dp