[BoiseAirport]

I don't know if anyone noticed, but Men's Health debuted a list of the Top 100 most socially networked cities. I was expecting Boise to be somewhere in the mid-70s or 80s, but shockingly we were ranked #20! This was based on numerous objective factors like number of facebook, linkedin, twitter, and other blogging accounts per capita, and the amount of total relative activity on said accounts. Boise beat out Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Phoenix, putting us in the same league as Portland, Sacramento, Charlotte, San Jose...

http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/social-networking-cities?cm_mmc=MagURL-_-Apr2011-_-metrogrades-_-socialcities

Pretty neat stuff. :)

[NYC Rick]

I wish I knew the full criteria of how they judged and what made them choose the cities and their order of rank.

I grew up in SLC and left when I was 23 I love Salt Lake City. It is really growing and it is way different from when I grew up there. SLC being ranked number 10 seems way over the top and it makes me wonder who made these rankings and Boise being 20 also seems pretty unrealistic. .

I love NYC. Hey, you can hate it but no city is like it. 100% adrenalin and though most ignore it, you can get out of the city, depending on the time, in 20 to 35 minutes. I live in Tappan NY and right across the street is George Washington's head quarters for the Battle of West Point. The best of both worlds. De Windt House.

SLC and Boise have made huge strides. I often think about moving back to SLC.

Someone explain how these cities were all ranked.

Additionally, I know that I have been a major jerk on your site. For that, I sincerely and deeply apologize. It will not happen again.

[Sawtooth]

I don't know if anyone noticed, but Men's Health debuted a list of the Top 100 most socially networked cities. I was expecting Boise to be somewhere in the mid-70s or 80s, but shockingly we were ranked #20! This was based on numerous objective factors like number of facebook, linkedin, twitter, and other blogging accounts per capita, and the amount of total relative activity on said accounts. Boise beat out Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Phoenix, putting us in the same league as Portland, Sacramento, Charlotte, San Jose...

http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/social-networking-cities?cm_mmc=MagURL-_-Apr2011-_-metrogrades-_-socialcities

Pretty neat stuff. :)

I wish I knew the full criteria of how they judged and what made them choose the cities and their order of rank.

SLC being ranked number 10 seems way over the top and it makes me wonder who made these rankings and Boise being 20 also seems pretty unrealistic. .


Someone explain how these cities were all ranked.


Per Capita is the reason SLC and Boise scored high but both cities are high tech so it is not a surprise to me. People here in Boise Tweet when they are riding their bikes or floating the Boise River and blog about the elk they just saw along the greenbelt or the goose, duck, or squirrel that just stopped traffic to cross a major street.

[boi2socal]

Per Capita is the reason SLC and Boise scored high but both cities are high tech so it is not a surprise to me. People here in Boise Tweet when they are riding their bikes or floating the Boise River and blog about the elk they just saw along the greenbelt or the goose, duck, or squirrel that just stopped traffic to cross a major street.

To me this list is kind of like who has the worst traffic. lol

[Cottonwood]

Boise started this progressive initiative 10 years ago and I know of some cities that are just beginning to do this and realize the positive impact this has on a city.
The news link has a list of the art projects funded by this.




http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/21/1574325/10-years-16-million-50-works-of.html

10 years, $1.6 million, 50 works of public art funded by Boise's Percent-for-Art program
BY CYNTHIA SEWELL - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com
Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman
Published: 03/21/11


In March 2001, the Boise City Council created a Percent-for-Art program requiring city construction projects to set aside 1 percent of the construction cost for public art.

The majority of artworks commissioned in the past 10 years are not ensconced within City Hall or public offices. They are found in neighborhood parks, along streets, in libraries and at the airport.

“To me that is the most important impact,” said Boise Public Arts Manager Karen Bubb. “Putting art where citizens live makes it more accessible.”


And the majority of artworks are not hang-on-the-wall paintings. Some are functional, like benches and bike-racks. Some provide historical information. Others reflect their setting, like “trees” at the city’s environmental education center made from salvaged plumbing pipes and parts.

“It is not art for art’s sake,” Bubb said. “It is art that creates greater meaning in our environment and therefore people connect to it and connect to our public space.”

Amy Westover’s “Grove Street Illuminated and Boise Canal” was one of the first projects funded by the percent-for-art program. The outdoor sculpture near 9th and Grove streets features three 10-foot-tall metal and glass circles arching from the pavement. Historic photographs and text tell the history of Grove Street.

Westover, a Boise native, was fresh out of college when she received the first of her several city commissions. She said the program both infuses the community with public art and encourages and supports artists. It “has essentially made my career,” Westover said.

Artists are benefiting, but the public benefits more, Westover said. She credits the City Council for making the long-term commitment.

“The public art program is making things happen that ultimately benefit every single person in the community,” said Westover. “What a richness it can give to their lives.”



Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/21/1574325/10-years-16-million-50-works-of.html#ixzz1HGW0ZQ6L

[Visualize]

The city on Monday afternoon amended Tuesday's Boise city council agenda to include a 45-year lease proposal for its library property at 705 S. 8th Street to Biomark, a biotech company that manufactures electronic monitoring devices for fish and wildlife.

If approved, the city would enter into a long-term lease with 9th & River LLC, which includes principals for Boise-based Rocky Mountain Management & Development Company and Biomark, Inc. The terms of the agreement call for the city to retain a portion of the building for the first two years of the lease while receiving a total of $48,000 during that 24-month period. The annual rent increases to $36,815.76 in year three when the tenant takes over the entire building. In subsequent years, an annual rent increase of 1.5 percent will be in effect over the life of the 45-year lease, which is renewable for three additional five-year terms. Biomark would be obligated to locate its headquarters at the site for a minimum of seven years.


Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/21/1575322/boise-city-council-to-consider.html#ixzz1HIMMtGnS


Good god, 45 years!? This is twice as long as I was expecting. By then they'll be able to put a space station for trips to Mars on that property. Imagine what Boise will look like in 45 years... several million people, a large bustling downtown, and one of the best properties right along the river sitting as a warehouse so that we can employ 30 people today. Crazy.

[Boisekid]

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/21/1575322/boise-city-council-to-consider.html#ixzz1HIMMtGnS


Good god, 45 years!? This is twice as long as I was expecting. By then they'll be able to put a space station for trips to Mars on that property. Imagine what Boise will look like in 45 years... several million people, a large bustling downtown, and one of the best properties right along the river sitting as a warehouse so that we can employ 30 people today. Crazy.

I'd be fine with the warehouse still being there, i'm just keeping my fingers crossed the Boise hole will be filled by then...

[Visualize]

I really don't get why people have such an issue with "the hole". Sure it would be nice to see something built there, but as it sits now, surrounded by panels that change periodically with different art, it is much better than when it was just a dirt lot, and it has the potential to be developed at any time.

I don't mind that the warehouse is there, because it is what it is, but solidifying it for such a long period of time is what is troubling to me. A new library will surely be built by then, there are already plans for several residential buildings immediately north of the property, and it will probably be along the route of any future downtown streetcar. Then again....at least the city still has control over it, because this is an absolute gem.

http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/warehouse.png

[boisechev]

thought some of you might like this picture of the future north/south freeway along McDermitt.

Not sure on the time frame if somebody could help out on that, much appreciated.

http://www.idahopress.com/news/article_271d0a1c-1963-11e0-9d01-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=image#3

[City Of Trees]

thought some of you might like this picture of the future north/south freeway along McDermitt.

Not sure on the time frame if somebody could help out on that, much appreciated.

http://www.idahopress.com/news/article_271d0a1c-1963-11e0-9d01-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=image#3Yeah, that's been in the plans for a while:

http://www.compassidaho.org/documents/prodserv/func/2035%20FunClass%20Planning%20Map.pdf

Personally, I wish they'd build the road halfway in between Black Cat and McDermott. If they build a brand new road hopefully it would be easier to avoid the same mistake they made on Eagle Road, which was not making it a controlled access freeway.

[boisecynic]

I really don't get why people have such an issue with "the hole"...


Agreed. The Goodman Oil and Bob Rice properties are a thousand times uglier than the 8th and Main property. Where's the outrage over those? The vacant lot that was supposed to be The Riverside Medical Center is now an unpaved parking lot in violation of city code. Nobody cares. Facepalm.
:shrug:

[boisechev]

Yeah, that's been in the plans for a while:

http://www.compassidaho.org/documents/prodserv/func/2035%20FunClass%20Planning%20Map.pdf

Personally, I wish they'd build the road halfway in between Black Cat and McDermott. If they build a brand new road hopefully it would be easier to avoid the same mistake they made on Eagle Road, which was not making it a controlled access freeway.

The way I understand it....

An expressway is the same thing as an interstate freeway? Interchanges and everything else?

The bill that passed yesterday to build a limited access expressway from State to Chinden is essentially a freeway and precursor to a connection to I-84?

If there is a difference between an expressway and freeway (like I-84/184) what are the main differences?

[Boisekid]

The definition of an expressway varies from state to state. Some states will call interstate highways expressways and there is no difference. However, the typical difference is that expressways have partial access control where freeways have full access control. Expressways can have a low number of at-grade intersections, freeways can ONLY have interchanges. However, most expressways have only interchanges, but they are allowed to have at-grade intersections. Basically it's a high-speed, limited access arterial road. They CAN be numbered with the interstate system. So the highway 16 connection COULD become I-284...but most likely not.

It kinda sounds like it's a freeway just with more leeway. ITD can basically do whatever the heck they want by calling it an expressway and not a freeway. There is no definitive difference really. It's just one big gray area.

Don't hold me accountable for any of the info. This is just what it is if i remember correctly.

[Boisekid]

If any of you have been on Highway 20 from Idaho Falls to Rexburg, I imagine it's kinda like that. The majority of crossroads are connected with Interchanges, but there are several at-grade road level intersections (which really suck and are extremely dangerous I might add)

[Sawtooth]

Visualize, I feel the same way about the tower hole. It is hidden from view unless you are above ground, and the footprint is so small that it isn't really that large of a hole, just a small portion of a block, and there is so much of downtown around the hole that I hardly notice it.


If any of you have been on Highway 20 from Idaho Falls to Rexburg, I imagine it's kinda like that. The majority of crossroads are connected with Interchanges, but there are several at-grade road level intersections (which really suck and are extremely dangerous I might add)


That highway is mortal hell, all of those moms in minivans, BYU-I students from an out of state solar system with horrible driving habits, and other people speeding between the temples in Rexburg and I.F. make for a dangerous stretch of highway:D Rigby drivers are the worst, their Jefferson County plates make my hair stand on end.


You have to watch out for those easterners,:haha: they seem sane when not in a vehicle but when they get behind a wheel then all of their frustrations come out and they are frightening drivers.





:runaway:

[Evo5Boise]

T They CAN be numbered with the interstate system. So the highway 16 connection COULD become I-284...but most likely not.



I don't think it would get the I-284 billing. I do believe that east-west highways are assigned even numbers and north-south highways are assigned odd numbers. Also, being that it just drops into highway 16, it would be a spur route. Those usually get odd numbers, i.e. I-184. So, I could see it being I-384. :D

(Sorry, not trying to sound like a smart ass, I promise!)

[City Of Trees]

I don't think it would get the I-284 billing. I do believe that east-west highways are assigned even numbers and north-south highways are assigned odd numbers. Also, being that it just drops into highway 16, it would be a spur route. Those usually get odd numbers, i.e. I-184. So, I could see it being I-384. :D

(Sorry, not trying to sound like a smart ass, I promise!)One of my road geek dreams is to see a brand new I-11 go all the way from Elko to Coeur d'Alene. It always bugged me as a kid seeing that huge space between I-5 and I-15.

But yeah....that's never going to happen. :D

[Boiseguy]

One of my road geek dreams is to see a brand new I-11 go all the way from Elko to Coeur d'Alene. It always bugged me as a kid seeing that huge space between I-5 and I-15.

But yeah....that's never going to happen. :D

actually that would be a good idea, but I would bring it up from winnemucca through eastern oregon where 55 is, and punch it up to cda.. it could merge with 84 through nampa and then continue up where the new 16 would be..
that would make a huge interchange in two places along I-84 but it would be great for connecting the west better, and making boise a HUGE transportation hub

[boisecynic]

From The Statesman: National transportation planner to discuss land use, transportation on Wednesday in Eagle

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/22/1576587/national-transportation-planner.html

Full text:

Gary Toth of the New York-based Project for Public Spaces will give a free presentation on Wednesday. Toth will talk about the integration of land use and transportation and how the two shape each other. A reception starts at 5:30 p.m., the presentation and discussion takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. at Eagle City Hall, 660 E. Civic Lane. Toth's presentation is part of the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho's education series.

Toth also will be speaking at an Idaho Smart Growth workshop on Thursday. The workshop, "Planning and Building Healthy Communities: New Partners for Transportation, Planning, and Health," takes place from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Nampa Civic Center and features several guest speakers. The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required. Contact Deanna Smith, Idaho Smart Growth, deanna@idahosmartgrowth.org or 333-8066.


Transportation on Wednesday in Eagle can be a real bear. Wednesdays are soccer day and soccer moms in giant SUVs are zooming around everywhere.

Seriously though, a little research and I find this site: http://www.pps.org/articles/roberta/ This article really rubs me the wrong way.

[BOI-IDA]

I don't think it would get the I-284 billing. I do believe that east-west highways are assigned even numbers and north-south highways are assigned odd numbers. Also, being that it just drops into highway 16, it would be a spur route. Those usually get odd numbers, i.e. I-184. So, I could see it being I-384. :D

(Sorry, not trying to sound like a smart ass, I promise!)

ITD will probably just name it Hwy 16.

In order to be designated as part of the interstate network, it would have to be built to current interstate standards. Whether that will happen or not depends on how ITD chooses to build it and how much money is available.

If it is to be built and designated as an interstate highway, it would, as you stated, likely be numbered I-384.

You are correct when you say that spurs usually begin with an odd number. Interstate spurs are given a three digit number, with the first digit odd and the next two digits being the same as the parent highway of which it is a spur.

Loops and beltways are designated with the first digit even, such as I-205, or I-215, and are supposed to branch off of their parent highway and eventually re-connect to it. Of course, this is a general rule, not absolute. For example, I-605 in L.A. is numbered with its first digit even, although it only has one connection with I-5 (its southern and northern termini are with I-405 and I-210 respectively).

On the other hand, I-405 is aptly numbered (both the one in L.A. and the one in Seattle) since it is connected to I-5 at both ends. Other good examples include I-285 in Atlanta and I-495 in Washington DC, as these are both complete loops.

If there is ever an I-284 anywhere in Idaho, it would likely be the bypass route proposed for the Kuna/Mora corridor. ( I doubt that I will live long enough to see that ever happen.;) )

[Visualize]

Boise approves library warehouse lease, library will not expand onto adjacent lot

By Cynthia Sewell - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com
Published: 03/22/11

When the Shavers sold the city of Boise land the family owned next to the city's main library in 2002, it was with the intent the land be used for a library expansion.

On Tuesday, the Boise City Council unanimously voted to enter a 45-year lease with a private company to use the site for commercial office and manufacturing space, ending any opportunity for the library to expand onto the adjacent land.

The city said the long-term lease would not affect the library's expansion, which can be accomplished within its existing footprint.

The Shavers sold the 15,000-square-foot warehouse and 1-acre site at 705 S. 8th St. to the city for $1.5 million.

"There was never any restriction as to what the city could do with it, but it was always our intent that it be used eventually for the library," said Dennis Shaver, who owned Shaver's Food & Drug.

"A very high priority for my wife, Kathy, myself and the Shaver family was the library along with our donation of property for the Anne Frank Memorial," he said. In 2000, the Shavers donated to the city the land upon which the Anne Frank Memorial sits.

Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/22/1576478/boise-approves-library-warehouse.html#ixzz1HRO49Vrm

This is just really shady business on account of the city.

[Boisekid]

One of my road geek dreams is to see a brand new I-11 go all the way from Elko to Coeur d'Alene. It always bugged me as a kid seeing that huge space between I-5 and I-15.

But yeah....that's never going to happen. :D

I've also dreamed (ok that's kinda lame to say) about a new interstate connecting Boise south to I-80 in Nevada. I think it would make sense. They can run it by Kuna and connect it to Nampa or Meridian. That would be great for the valley, and wouldn't be surprised if in 50 years or so it becomes a reality.

[Cottonwood]

Boise approves library warehouse lease, library will not expand onto adjacent lot

By Cynthia Sewell - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com
Published: 03/22/11



This is just really shady business on account of the city.

At least that ugly warehouse will be renovated considering it's prime location on the river downtown, it has been an eye sore imo. Another high -tech company downtown will be good. The Shaver's are wealthy (or used to be before said scandal), so maybe they should have donated $$ to the city to use that warehouse for library expansion. Does anyone know the current status of the library expansion? The Simplots had considered it to be part of JUMP but there have been no updates until this article stating the city says the expansion can take place on the current lot.

[Cottonwood]

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/archives/2011/03/23/rosauershuckleberrys-join-boise-supermarket-bingo

Rosauers/Huckleberry's Join Boise Supermarket Bingo
Posted by Deanna Darr on Wed, Mar 23, 2011 at 1:57 PM

Competition is coming to the natural foods market in Boise, and no, we're not talking about Whole Foods.

Rosauers Supermarkets, based in Spokane, Wash., announced it would be breaking ground this fall on a new grocery complex at the intersection of Eagle and Ustick roads. We say complex because the development is scheduled to include a Rosauers Food and Drug as well as a Huckleberry’s Natural Market. According to a press release issued by the company, it hopes to be open for business by spring 2012 and hire 120 new employees.

Here's what the parent company has to say about its future offerings in Boise:


The store will carry a broad selection of grocery, specialty and ethnic foods, including a full
assortment of natural and organic items and supplements offered under the Huckleberry’s Natural Market banner. Also featured will be a full service meat and seafood counter, scratch bakery and a large service-deli featuring a seating area with fireplace and a cooking school. The store will offer an extensive wine, beer and beverage department as well as name-brand, private label and unique international products. A full-service, drive-thru Pharmacy and a customer service center are planned as added conveniences.
This will be the third Idaho location for the company, which owns 20 other stores, including one in Lewiston and one in Moscow. Other stores are in Washington, Oregon and Montana.


http://www.rosauers.com/

http://www.huckleberrysnaturalmarket.com/


!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The big question is what is up with Harry's or Henry's or whatever it is or was.
I remember reading the developers of that lot at 16th and Idaho were searching for another all natural store if Harry-nry's really backed out. But there is a for sale sign there, so maybe all plans are on hold.

[Boisekid]

Awesome news! The place sounds cool, now there is really starting to run out of room on Eagle Rd.

And HENRY's Market supposedly backed out and doesn't plan on building there anymore. i'll search for the story

[Boisekid]

More info on the new natural foods market, according to IBR it'll be 60,000 sq ft with the huckleberry's market being 10,000 sq ft. The company is also looking to expand to other valley locations. And according to KTVB, it's location is the massive empty lot between Ustick and Norco headquarters behind the Chile's and McDonalds. Sounds like a cool store

[City Of Trees]

I still want a Trader Joe's here.

[Sawtooth]

Dang, another organic store announcement, there are going to be plenty of choices to go along with the local organic farmers markets.

It's good news , but whoever comes to town will always be subservient to the Boise Co-op.

Huckleberry is fitting since it is our state berry.

[boisecynic]

Regarding Henry's, I thought that was only a rumor. Henry's never had any plans at all to come here. A developer, Persimmon II LLC, had applied for a conditional use permit to build a 25,000 sqft store. They were to lease it to a tenant. KTVB reported Henry's never had any plans to come to Boise. Who knows what the true story is.

http://www.ktvb.com/news/Upscale-grocer-not-coming-to-Boise-111696039.html

Remember when I pointed out that all of Henry's current stores are suburban strip mall type operations and that a CBD pedestrian oriented development would be a first for them? I suspect the developer planted a rumor in order to further negotiations with the real target tenant.

My post from 11-4-10:

http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showpost.php?p=5042589&postcount=5038

[Boisekid]

Thanks for the info Boisecynic


Boise’s transit center: ‘Critical step to developing a robust transportation’


by Jennifer Gonzalez
Published: March 21,2011
Time posted: 4:43 pm
Tags: City of Boise, Transportation, Valley Regional Transit


Kelli Fairless, shown above at a Boise bus stop, is Valley Regional Transit’s executive director. The VRT is planning a transit hub downtown. (Photos by Glenn Landberg)
Valley Regional Transit is moving ahead with plans to build an $11.9 million transit hub in downtown Boise, with the hope of beginning construction next year.

“Right now, we are focused on the federally required environmental process,” said VRT Executive Director Kelli Fairless. “When the findings are available to us, then we can talk to the property owners.”

VRT must provide the Federal Transit Administration with an environmental assessment of two potential sites it along with the City of Boise have identified for development, one near 11th and Idaho and another a block away at 12th and Idaho. The agency could approve or deny those plans, said VRT Project Manager Rhonda Jalbert. If approved, VRT’s board would select one of the sites and begin negotiations with the property owner about its acquisition and development. Design review and permitting would begin immediately after.

“If everything stays on schedule, the entitlement process could begin in January with construction starting in fall 2012,” Jalbert said.

Plans for the multi-modal center include a staging area for 12 buses, taxi area, parking garage, sales office, lobby, restrooms, bicycle racks and retail space. After the project goes out to bid, a one-year construction timeline is anticipated. Besides $9.5 million in federal funding, it will be paid for by a local match of $2.4 million from the City of Boise and Boise’s urban renewal agency, the Capital City Development Corporation.

“We have always been supportive of this,” said CCDC Executive Director Phil Kushlan. “We are looking at how we can accommodate bus service not just in 10 years but to 2030 and beyond.”

Boise Planner Kathleen Lacey said VRT’s bus staging areas on both Idaho and Main streets no longer meet transit demands in the downtown core. They opened in 1989.

“The area has changed so much since it opened,” Lacey said. “There is more of a conflict between the transit and sidewalk in that area.”

Fairless said discussion about building a multi-modal center started in 2003 when the Downtown Boise Mobility Study was created to help determine what transit options might increase public transportation use and walkability, and decrease reliance on vehicles as part of a 30-year outlook plan.

“We have visited a lot of cities similar to Boise and determined what we didn’t want,” Fairless said. “We want the multi-modal center to be an integrated part of downtown.”

Mayor’s Office Spokesman Adam Park said the project is a critical step to developing a good transportation system not just in Boise, but valley-wide.

“This is something we can do now and once the pieces fall into place it will not only build momentum but lead to bigger things with our commuter system.”

[boisecynic]

More West Downtown news; The 300 Building:

300 S 23rd, Inovus Solar and Trout Architects out and Terry Reilly Health Services remodeling and moving in.

Permit: http://pdsonline.cityofboise.org/pdsonline/details.aspx?id=BLD11-00037

IBR:http://idahobusinessreview.com/2010/11/09/terry-reilly-health-services-expands-to-downtown/

Text in case IBR link doesn't work:

Terry Reilly Health Services expands to downtown

by Brad Carlson
Published: November 9,2010
Time posted: 12:05 pm
Tags: City of Boise, Idaho Associated General Contractors, Inovus Solar, Terry Reilly Health Services, Trout Architects

Terry Reilly Health Services plans a nearly 9,000-square-foot medical clinic at 300 S. 23rd St. in downtown Boise.

The nonprofit community health center operator will move staff from a 3,200-square-foot clinic at 848 La Cassia St. and add personnel, Executive Director Tim Brown said. Terry Reilly Health Services paid about $900,000 for the building on South 23rd and plans a $1 million build-out, funded with federal economic-stimulus money.

“It’s an opportunity to expand service and hire at least two additional medical providers,” Brown said.

Construction is expected to start in January and finish by June 1, he said. JGT Architecture of Nampa is working on the project, for and a request for proposals should be this month.

Terry Reilly Health Serviceshasn’t decided if the smaller building at LaCassia will close, Brown said. The organization opened the clinic in that building, which a medical practice occupied previously, about 18 years ago. Three medical providers, two behavioral health counselors and support staff are based there.

Nampa-based Reilly, with 240 employees and an annual budget of $19 million, operates six medical clinics, four dental clinics and a pharmacy.

Trout Architects, Inovus Solar and artist Nan Rick will be displaced by Terry Reilly Health Services on 23rd Street.

Trout Architects plans to move to a 2,000-square-foot space on the first floor of the former Idaho Associated General Contractors building at 110 N. 27th St., Boise, around Dec. 1, said Steve Trout, principal in the five-employee firm. Idaho AGC sold the building to an investor and built new headquarters on Shoreline Drive in Boise.

Inovus Solar is looking at office space and aims to stay in or near downtown Boise, CEO Clay Young said. The company, which employs 15, seeks a space big enough to meet its needs for three to five years. Inovus must vacate its 3,500-square-foot space on South 23rd by year’s end.

Intrigue LLC sold the building on 23rd. Members of that group included staff from Trout Architects and Ellsworth-Kincaid Construction, as well as Jacqueline and Charlie Crist. Transaction was handled by Lawrence Ross, of Michener Investments of Boise.

Rick could not be reached.

[Boisekid]

Nothing major, but 5 Guys Burgers announced today they'll be opening in BoDo, and there's a new "boutique" bowling alley to be built in Meridian. No major projects are coming forward, but it seems like there have been a ton of new smaller projects announced recently.

Here are the links:
Bowling
http://www.ktvb.com/news/business/Bowling-center-construction-to-begin-in-Meridian-118597949.html
http://idahobusinessreview.com/2011/03/24/41115/

5 Guys
http://idahobusinessreview.com/2011/03/24/five-guys-and-fries-to-open-in-bodo/


The valley is really starting to turn the corner i think

[Sawtooth]

I have been looking on line recently for old photos of downtown and found this one from 1977 when the US Bank Tower was under construction, and pre Wells Fargo Tower and before The Eastman Building burned down. I am pretty sure this was pre Angell's Bar and Grill too. It's too bad The Eastman burned down:(





source: http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2010/08/11/15/0814Treasureisfhistory3.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/08/13/1299645/expands-its-scope-and-deepens.html
http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2010/08/11/15/0814Treasureisfhistory3.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg
The Idaho Shakespeare Festival has had four homes during its evolution. It started at One Capital Center in Downtown Boise, then moved to Plantation Golf Course and then to the ParkCenter area before its amphitheater was built on Warm Springs Avenue. The photo at left is from the festivals first-season performance of A Midsummer Nights Dream in 1977.




http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/10/10/1373970/back-to-the-future.html


source: http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2010/10/09/23/1010_Local_lostcity_7a.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg

Lost to Fire.
http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2010/10/09/23/1010_Local_lostcity_7a.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg






I find this photo interesting and still trying to determine where this was, maybe all leveled.
source: http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2010/10/09/23/1010_Local_lostcity_6a.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg
http://media.idahostatesman.com/smedia/2010/10/09/23/1010_Local_lostcity_6a.standalone.prod_affiliate.36.jpg
Provided by Boise State University
THEN: A misguided plan -- Boise's urban renewal project of the 1960s and '70s purchased several blocks of Downtown to build what was envisioned as Idaho's biggest shopping mall. Entire city blocks, including Chinatown, were leveled to make way for new development. The Downtown mall plan was scrapped when Boise Towne Square opened in 1988.

[ianjt]

A misguided plan -- Boise's urban renewal project of the 1960s and '70s purchased several blocks of Downtown to build what was envisioned as Idaho's biggest shopping mall. Entire city blocks, including Chinatown, were leveled to make way for new development. The Downtown mall plan was scrapped when Boise Towne Square opened in 1988.

This makes me cringe. It would be so cool to still have a little China Town.

Apparently development problems are not new to Boise :yuck:

[Sawtooth]

This makes me cringe. It would be so cool to still have a little China Town.

Apparently development problems are not new to Boise :yuck:

At least after all was said and done, the city leaders decided a mall was not a good fit for downtown, any downtown really, and we have the vibrant pedestrian and bike friendly downtown we have today, although many old buildings are gone because of hopes for a stupid mall. The thought of a mall in downtown Boise today would be blasphemy.

Boise had one of the largest China Towns in the west and the largest in the Intermountain West, which began during the Boise Basin Gold Rush, then after the gold rush many left for the coastal cities; San Fran, Portland and Seattle. There was a lot of opium in downtown Boise back in the day:) Now it is ganja!

http://www.boisestate.edu/history/cityhistorian/galleries_city/galleries_chinatown/chinatown1_balcony.html

[Evo5Boise]

You know, for the size of Boise in 1977, the US Bank Tower was a pretty good size building.

[ianjt]

I think it would be neat to build this up a little again. If not that, then why not post some signs at the street corners saying "Historic Chinatown"? I know we have a lot of those around the older neighborhoods. I am willing to bet that most residents don't even have a clue as to the history of downtown.

And by the way; I agree about the mall. At least we don't have one of those smack downtown.

[BoiseTran]

I think malls have their place downtown when done right. Montreal and Portland come to mind as cities that have successfully integrated them, matching the density of the surroundings and creating a kind of 'indoor city'. But yeah, somehow I doubt the project planners in Boise had this in mind :/

[boisecynic]

San Diego has Horton Plaza. It's about 4 stories tall and has parking garages. At 750' per side footprint no lot in downtown Boise could duplicate it. Let's face it, the small block sizes of downtown Boise really hamstring what can be done. Combining 4 blocks into one was the goal BRA had and at the time it seemed reasonable, at least to them. On the other hand, the vision BRA lacked was that the small block sizes are great for pedestrians. Look at the success of Bodo.

San Diego has the same small block size problem. For decades downtown San Diego languished while the suburbs exploded. But Horton Plaza (1985), the trolley (major components in place by 1990) and the new Convention Center (1989) really turned it around. Hmm, sounds oddly familiar.

http://i.imgur.com/7emua.jpg

See this pic also:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HortonPlaza2.jpg

Going out on a limb here, but a downtown Boise mall, a vertical rather than sprawling complex might have been a good thing. Who knows?

[Visualize]

I think the biggest issue wouldn't have been the mall itself, but what would have came after it, such as Target, Red Lobster, Sports Authority, etc. on every available lot. I would have taken a vertical mall over a Winco, Whole Foods and Walgreens on Myrtle and Front any day, then it would have also been hemmed in down there so there might not have been an explosion of the stripmall retailers that surround the Boise Towne Square Mall today. All-in-all it probably worked out for the best, and after downtown gets a bit more infill to guard against some of the negatives (since the city doesn't seem to care what is being built these days...aspects of JUMP and walgreens on Myrtle and Broadway) it could be an interesting option for the future.

[Boise Benchman]

A mall also works in downtown Sacramento! If integrated properly it can be cool. But now Boise Towne Square kind of dominates the market anyways since it's only 5 minutes away on the connector from downtown.

[Evo5Boise]

It's hard to say what decision would have been best for Boise with the mall location. I will say that downtown Boise has really handled it's own though over the years. It's very lively and progressive compared to many other cities of similar size.

[Sawtooth]

:previous:Yeah downtown is a gem, and like you said more lively and progressive than other similar size cities and even some larger cities.

One small example is what took place last night in Cazba and the alley between 8th and 9th, Sensory Illumination, basically an over 21 rave in an alley spilling out onto 8th Street, with an afterparty nearby this morning that ended around 5am. http://www.sensoryparty.com/SensoryParty/The_Event.html

Downtown was hopping last night, even in the rain, the street musicians, and the vibe and people of all ages, and the overall street presence would be hard for other cities, especially similar sized cities in our region to replicate. The small tight blocks and narrow alleys are a huge plus.

I would say downtown Boise has arrived without a mall or the B Tower:D

[Mushroom]

Article that Cottonwood posted the link of:

Condo sales continue to increase in Boise, Ada Co.


There is plenty of “pent-up” demand for owning a condo in Boise. It’s precisely the reason why developer Bill Clark decided now was the time to revive the stalled Crescent Rim condo project overlooking Ann Morrison Park.
Without new construction there will be less selection and that will inevitably drive prices up, Clark said.

It’s something directly attributed to cautious lenders and developers treading carefully in the wake of the recession, he said.

“We would not have started Crescent Rim today had the project not already been partially developed with millions invested in it,” he said.

With all due respect, this quoted article is nothing more than self-serving nonsense.

Boise is not Seattle, L.A., or San Francisco. It's downtown is very compact, measuring a few blocks in any direction. There is ample and cheap parking downtown, and major residential areas where one might own a real HOUSE for cheap are but a few minutes drive away. In my almost 20 years living in this state, I have heard many reasons why newcomers say they moved here, but not one time have I heard anyone say that they moved here for an "urban experience." Idaho is all about the outdoors and being surrounded by a lot of space.

Many of the unsold downtown condo units are little larger than rabbit hutches, measuring anywhere from less than 500 sq. feet to about 900 feet. These are priced in the $300 to $400 per square foot range. Hardly anyone who would want such a unit can qualify for a loan to buy one, and even if they qualified, no responsible lender would appraise those units at anything approaching asking prices. That basically leaves cash buyers or those who could come up with a very large down payment. How the developers have been able to hold onto these projects in the face of their debts is anyone's guess.

From what I can tell, approximately ZERO units in the acceptable projects, e.g. Jefferson, Aspen Lofts, or Royal Plaza, has sold in the last 3 months. Virtually the only prior sales since the crash have been from a well publicized auction that sold a handful of the smallest, noisiest, and least desirable lower floor units at the Aspen.

The developers of these projects have done their best to obfuscate the obvious reality by not listing all their remaining units on the MLS, and producing sales sheets indicating that various units have pending sales, but on followup months later the sales did not go through and mysteriously there are other units in the "pending sales" category, as if there is an intentional "rotation" going on.

There never was any real demand in Boise for $200K or $350K rabbit hutch sized downtown condos. This was a myth creating by overzealous developers and city redevelopment people repeating the same things to each other, over and over again, and fueled by ready cash from naive pension funds and foolish banks.

The developer quoted above is correct on one point; there won't be any more such developments built in Boise for a long long time. And the reason is that there is no real demand for them, certainly at current price points.

[boisechev]

With all due respect, this quoted article is nothing more than self-serving nonsense.

Boise is not Seattle, L.A., or San Francisco. It's downtown is very compact, measuring a few blocks in any direction. There is ample and cheap parking downtown, and major residential areas where one might own a real HOUSE for cheap are but a few minutes drive away. In my almost 20 years living in this state, I have heard many reasons why newcomers say they moved here, but not one time have I heard anyone say that they moved here for an "urban experience." Idaho is all about the outdoors and being surrounded by a lot of space.

Many of the unsold downtown condo units are little larger than rabbit hutches, measuring anywhere from less than 500 sq. feet to about 900 feet. These are priced in the $300 to $400 per square foot range. Hardly anyone who would want such a unit can qualify for a loan to buy one, and even if they qualified, no responsible lender would appraise those units at anything approaching asking prices. That basically leaves cash buyers or those who could come up with a very large down payment. How the developers have been able to hold onto these projects in the face of their debts is anyone's guess.

From what I can tell, approximately ZERO units in the acceptable projects, e.g. Jefferson, Aspen Lofts, or Royal Plaza, has sold in the last 3 months. Virtually the only prior sales since the crash have been from a well publicized auction that sold a handful of the smallest, noisiest, and least desirable lower floor units at the Aspen.

The developers of these projects have done their best to obfuscate the obvious reality by not listing all their remaining units on the MLS, and producing sales sheets indicating that various units have pending sales, but on followup months later the sales did not go through and mysteriously there are other units in the "pending sales" category, as if there is an intentional "rotation" going on.

There never was any real demand in Boise for $200K or $350K rabbit hutch sized downtown condos. This was a myth creating by overzealous developers and city redevelopment people repeating the same things to each other, over and over again, and fueled by ready cash from naive pension funds and foolish banks.

The developer quoted above is correct on one point; there won't be any more such developments built in Boise for a long long time. And the reason is that there is no real demand for them, certainly at current price points.

So the only chance of downtown Boise gaining any major projects/height is going to be dependent on office buildings only?

[boi2socal]

Besides general demand the biggest issue is price. Many of the units are the same per square foot price of some units down here in LA (and these are nice areas). So those coming in who would even consider a condo won't buy because they can stay home and buy a condo and those in Boise wanting a condo can't afford it.

Boise draws large families being pushed out of other communities because of price or lifestyle. I don't know many people my age or DINKs that have Boise on a short list. Those are the type of people open to condo living. The job and higher education situation in Boise needs to change before Boise will be appealing to these types of people.

Downtown Boise is great but I think it will remain more of a work/play place instead of a true live/work/play area.

[Visualize]

I don't think everyone is taking into account the rental market, even if that is a little beyond Mushroom's point. There is demand to live downtown, just not at the high prices being mentioned.

http://www.ccdcboise.com/Documents/ReportsAndMarketStudies/MarketstudySept03screen.pdf

Sorry if that's so old, it just gives a nice run-through of the rental properties downtown.

[Mushroom]

I don't think everyone is taking into account the rental market, even if that is a little beyond Mushroom's point. There is demand to live downtown, just not at the high prices being mentioned.

http://www.ccdcboise.com/Documents/ReportsAndMarketStudies/MarketstudySept03screen.pdf

Sorry if that's so old, it just gives a nice run-through of the rental properties downtown.

I saw that study before and I think it was one of the justifications used for the downtown condo building boom of a few years later.

I believe there was a unique set of circumstances at play from around 2005 to 2008 that led to the current situation. These included the rapid growth of population in Boise (and elsewhere in Idaho) largely due to a huge increase in the construction industry, which itself was fueled by an economic boom resulting from easy money and rapid increases in property values. For a while, it was a self-perpetuating cycle. Given that nearly anybody could qualify for a mortgage during that period, and that many people were "flipping" properties as soon as they bought them, the game of musical chairs began in earnest. Unfortunately, like most games of musical chairs, in the end a bunch of people ended up with nowhere to sit:)

Now that one has the luxury of being able to step back and look at what those few years wrought, it is pretty obvious that a WHOLE LOT of ill-conceived and unneeded construction was done in both the residential and commercial sectors. In some ways the commercial overbuilding is worse, in that most of the currently unoccupied residential construction could find a buyer if only the prices would drop down to current values. But there would be no incentive to build any more, since selling a unit for half of what it cost to build is not going to make any developer rich:D. As to some of the commercial stuff, it was so badly conceived and executed that it may just need to be bulldozed to get rid of the blight on the landscape that it creates.

Getting back to those downtown condos -- the forbearance of lenders and actions of the government have delayed the day of reckoning which surely approaches. But no amount of "extend and pretend" financing or government actions can stop the inevitable. And the inevitable is that those condos, including probably the as yet uncompleted Crescent Rim project, will be fire-saled out the door, eventually.

[Cottonwood]

Boise draws large families being pushed out of other communities because of price or lifestyle. I don't know many people my age or DINKs that have Boise on a short list. Those are the type of people open to condo living. The job and higher education situation in Boise needs to change before Boise will be appealing to these types of people.

Downtown Boise is great but I think it will remain more of a work/play place instead of a true live/work/play area.


You are correct in that Boise draws families, but it also draws several DINK's (If your definition is the same as mine), in fact I do not personally know any families who have moved here....people I know who have relocated here are DINK's and single young professionals, Boise has been noted as a smaller city that attracts the creative class/young professionals and it seems to hold true from my experience. Boise appeals to these people for several reasons, many I know rent at first and then look for a home or condos to buy. I think downtown Boise will continue to turn into a "live area" to add to its work/play status. Think about the North End, the neighborhood and downtown blend together, they seem and feel like one large cohesive area, and the North End is known to have a lot of DINK's, singles, and families, so in some respect there are already thousands of people living "downtown", just not on Main Street.

[Cottonwood]

I think malls have their place downtown when done right. Montreal and Portland come to mind as cities that have successfully integrated them, matching the density of the surroundings and creating a kind of 'indoor city'. But yeah, somehow I doubt the project planners in Boise had this in mind :/

I feel the same way, usually malls in a downtown area work much better in large cities like the two you mentioned, cities large enough that a downtown mall doesn't detract from the rest of the downtown.... smaller cities of around 200,000 and less, regardless of metro size... not so much.

[boisecynic]

... I have heard many reasons why newcomers say they moved here, but not one time have I heard anyone say that they moved here for an "urban experience."...


I'm going to address just this one point.

Many of the newcomers came here from smaller Idaho towns like Challis, Ketchum, McCall, Jerome, Mountain Home etc. etc. They came here because it's a city and cities are where the jobs are. This is not unique to Boise, it's been happening all over the USA for decades, indeed all over the world.

Boise is an "urban expericence" to those who came from the smaller Idaho towns.

I've lived inside the beltway in DC and in San Diego and though downtown Boise is tiny, it does offer an experience somewhat comparable to DC and SD. In fact downtown Boise is better in many respects for me.

[Mushroom]

I'm going to address just this one point.

Many of the newcomers came here from smaller Idaho towns like Challis, Ketchum, McCall, Jerome, Mountain Home etc. etc. They came here because it's a city and cities are where the jobs are. This is not unique to Boise, it's been happening all over the USA for decades, indeed all over the world.

Boise is an "urban expericence" to those who came from the smaller Idaho towns.

I've lived inside the beltway in DC and in San Diego and though downtown Boise is tiny, it does offer an experience somewhat comparable to DC and SD. In fact downtown Boise is better in many respects for me.

Boise is a nice small city and way preferable in terms of quality of life, when compared to most larger cities in the USA. This is besides the point. The point I was making was that "urban lofts/high end downtown condos" exist in big cities for obvious reasons, virtually none of which are true of Boise. A partial list of these factors include:

(1) large urban areas with congested streets, making driving around in them a pain in the a**;

(2) Inadequate and expensive parking;

(3) Absence of nice residential areas immediately outside the downtown core;

(4) Much greater concentration of restaurants and other attractions in the downtown core as opposed to outlying areas;

(5) General lack of space and open areas with a population that is used to living in small dwellings; this goes along with a high density of population per sq. mile;

(6) Affluent and well paid work force that can afford to pay top dollar for a small condominium.

None of these characteristics that one finds in larger N. American cities is present in Boise, Idaho. For these reasons there is no real demand for expensive tiny condos in downtown Boise. The construction of a bunch of them in the mid to late 2000s was due to a fundamental misreading of what Boise is all about, and did not take into consideration the other options that prospective condo purchasers have.

All the talk from the developers about how the "economic crisis" has caused their expensive downtown condo units not to sell is pure bunk. Certainly, it is hard to sell such a thing during an economic downturn, but being as there never really was any demand for such a product in the first place, the apparent demand was just a symptom of too much credit availability with lax lending standards.

In retrospect it is obvious that this product should never have been built, or certainly should not have been built in the quantity it was built. This is the "teachable moment" of this whole experience.

[Visualize]

^^ Except for number 4, which is pretty significant, I'm not really trying to disagree because your points are mostly valid, but you are also completely ignoring any of the reasons someone would want to live there.

Status, Convenience, Safety, View....

Typical single-family home view...
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/backyard2.jpg
http://www.2dolphins.com/veranda.html

The Aspen offers this, along with many other perks...
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/aspeninteriors281_2_3_4_5_6_7Adjust.jpg
http://www.theaspen.net/photography.php

Just about everywhere on earth, location, a sense of place, a view, is what demands top dollar. Where are the the highest priced homes in Boise? Crescent Rim...the foothills...both with views and in close proximity to downtown. The properties developed downtown offer another option. I'm not saying the demand is there to fill them all up, that they should all have been built, or that more will be built in the future, but I don't think the developers were exactly blindly shooting from the hip either.

[Mushroom]

Status, Convenience, Safety, View....


Just about everywhere on earth, location, a sense of place, a view, is what demands top dollar. Where are the the highest priced homes in Boise? Crescent Rim...the foothills...both with views and in close proximity to downtown. The properties developed downtown offer another option. I'm not saying the demand is there to fill them all up, that they should all have been built, or that more will be built in the future, but I don't think the developers were exactly blindly shooting from the hip either.

And I don't disagree with you, either. The major error made was on the cost side. These downtown condos cost as much or in many cases more than they would cost in a truly large city, and the target population that would want to live in downtown Boise is nowhere near affluent enough to buy them. Rule number one in producing any product is that you have to design the product so that your potential customers can afford it, otherwise, no deal.

Last week an old friend was in town and we talked about those expensive downtown condos. She is a high end residential Realtor in Portland. I showed her the Jefferson website and listed prices on that site. There is a ~2000 sq. foot penthouse condo for sale at the Jeffersons listed at nearly a million dollars.

My Portland Realtor friend told me she had just closed a deal for one of her clients in a NEW, beautiful, probably nicer downtown building in Portland for a similarly sized penthouse unit (actually slightly larger than the comparable Jefferson unit). She told me the final sales price was $700K.

[City Of Trees]

From personal experience, I agree with Mushroom on #3. I showed absolutely no interest in buying a condo, when I could get a North End house for a comparable price and location with far more size and amenities. As long as the inventory of vacant houses close to downtown is high (which I would say still is right now), any new downtown residential projects are DOA.

What downtown REALLY needs are affordable apartments to live in. The addon on top of the Capitol Terrace would have been perfect, had it not been for the NIMBYs in the WaMu building.... :hell:

[Cottonwood]

Before the new condo projects were built the past few years, there were only a few true condo options in downtown (Grove Hotel, Wamu/Chase Tower) in addition to the several apartment options that are still around. Almost all of the new condo buildings in downtown were completed right about the time the national housing market crashed, so it might be a good thing that prices are going lower so that people who may have not been able to afford a downtown condo can now afford one. I look at this way, downtown has condominium and loft options it didn't have 5 years ago and that is a really good thing. The buildings are there, now it is just getting them all filled up. It is a needed step in the right direction to futher urbanize downtown, even if there are some people who don't agree that all of the buildings should have been built. Isn't one of the goals of a growing city, such as Boise, and a city that has goals to have a more urban downtown such as Boise, to have condo options? Not doing so would be unprogressive even if it is taking time to sell all of the units around downtown. It is also ignorant for someone to assume that people are not going to want to live in a downtown condo unless you know every single person in Boise and their intentions and wish's. I know several people who would love to snatch up a downtown condo/loft but they already own a home and in the current market it isn't the best time to sell.

Things will change and get better when the world and national and local economies turn around, and I bet overall Boise will be in a better position because of the condo options currently around downtown.

[ianjt]

What downtown REALLY needs are affordable apartments to live in. The addon on top of the Capitol Terrace would have been perfect, had it not been for the NIMBYs in the WaMu building.... :hell:

They're there, but the hipster college kids swoop them up quickly. :haha:

[BoiseTran]

I agree that cost has been an issue with many of the recent condo developments downtown, and that maybe more focus should have been placed on apartments with more affordable guts. However, Boise is growing and I believe that premium downtown housing will be an important aspect of its future residential landscape. There is still time and will likely be a growing demand for low cost apartments (Capitol Terrace, or whatever it's called, comes to mind) to which builders hopefully respond. But I don't think anything has been done too early here. Boise is getting bigger and has to start somewhere with this stuff.

[GrandTeton]

Boise should aim for the 18-24 year old demographic living downtown.

Idahoans love their space, especially when raising a family.

I think Boise should focus on high rise apartments before high rise condos.

[Sawtooth]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/002-16.jpg





http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/003-15.jpg







http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/005-11.jpg






http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/008-12.jpg








Misc.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/012-9.jpg







http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/009-12.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/011-9-1.jpg

[trails]

Greetings Boise posters. I've followed this thread for seemingly years now and just recently got a username. Firstly wanted to thank all you folks for posting and sharing the many pictures of the various developments in the Treasure Valley. I lived in Boise for 6 years from the late 90's through the first half of the 2000's. Thinking now, that was a sort of heyday before the real estate and economy crashes of the last 4 years. I worked in the Sonna Building on the 3rd floor and had a window facing over that little old pocket park with the bear heads and salmon sculpture on the wall... and some awesome views of the foothills and capitol dome taboot. The bank filled that park in toward the end of my Boise years and the folks from Milky Way put some restaurant in that I think has since failed. Anyways, our office suite had windows facing 9th as well and I can recall watching the crane go up and then later go down for the Boise tower. So it was that time period, pretty exciting, seemed like Boise was on an unstoppable roll.

So enough of the nostalgia. I really wanted to say, Boise's a wonderful city. And it is a city, mostly low density, but still a city. It's really bugged me when I see folks pick on Boise on this board. I guess it's some sort of envy or their obsession with reputation and status that's purveyed by other cities. Boise has a fantastic climate, many pleasant neighborhoods, one of the best trail and park systems in the country, etc. You guys living there know it all very well and could continue on with the list.

So with that long winded introduction, I'll move on to the point I wanted to reply to. And it was Sawtooth's comment above "I would say downtown Boise has arrived without a mall or the B Tower." I wanted to say, the hole from the proposed Boise tower is unfortunate but I've come to the conclusion that not building the Boise tower has been a blessing in disguise, so I agree Boise arrived a long time ago without that tower.

A year or so ago, Larry Beasley, the former planning director of Vancouver, BC came to DC (my most recent abode) to deliver a lecture noting the centennial of the building height limit restrictions within the District of Columbia. For those not aware of him, Mr. Beasley, arguably, was the guide for the 30 year time span in which Vancouver densified into the built environment we see today. Aside from the comical descriptions of architectural "Vancouverisms" and the resulting densities, he made a clear point regarding the intentional design of Vancouver, and that is the place-based planning codes, etc. which they decided to create for the city. And going further that, the density and design is not for everywhere. He thoroughly rejected the idea that DC should do away with it's height restrictions and in fact endorsed keeping them in perpetuity. Which was an interesting take given DC's recent development history which has created, now on average, one of the most expensive housing markets in the US. The only direction to go would appear to be up. But he noted there are other options to density, which I'll not digress into the boringness of overlay districts, etc.

The point he made I feel is also very relative to Boise and it's potential urban designs. While the gleaming towers are exciting to see proposed and rendered, Boise's character really doesn't suit them. Boise's a place where you one can cherish the views of the foothills, sky, the Owyhees and tree lined streets and parks. Those are the qualities that contribute to Boise's fantastic feel if you would. In other words, I think the Banner Bank building hit it spot on and I hope it's design traits can be followed in future density and development. Boise shouldn't go for the wannabe Vancouver award as Seattle, Bellevue, and PDX have tried. It's unique on its own and could provide us all one day with architectural "Boiseims" instead of "Phoenix meets Portland." So at this moment I thank the forces that be, that the taller towers proposed during the last 10 years have never coalesced. I apologize if this gets me off on the wrong foot with any Boise density evangelists! Boise is just to special to waste on quick fix skyline proposals. That JUMP place is another item though!

I swear if I ever post again it will not be an essay of this length and ilk!

[boi2socal]

Definitely think apartments first then condos. Boise kind of went about it backwards. Downtown is cool and luckily the condo boom didn't get too out of control. It could have been WAY worse and empty towers would dot the skyline.

There is a growing number of people disinterested in a large home or yard, including myself. However, most part people still want bigger. I know plenty of DINKs that think like this as well. People did it within the LA Area as well, buying McMansions. I know several single people that bought 3000+ square foot homes in the "middle of nowhere" and they lived in them buy themselves, now their interest rates have reset and they have to rent out the rooms. Bigger is better. It is the American way. :yuck:

[Visualize]

While the gleaming towers are exciting to see proposed and rendered, Boise's character really doesn't suit them. Boise's a place where you one can cherish the views of the foothills, sky, the Owyhees and tree lined streets and parks. Those are the qualities that contribute to Boise's fantastic feel if you would. In other words, I think the Banner Bank building hit it spot on and I hope it's design traits can be followed in future density and development. Boise shouldn't go for the wannabe Vancouver award as Seattle, Bellevue, and PDX have tried. It's unique on its own and could provide us all one day with architectural "Boiseims" instead of "Phoenix meets Portland." So at this moment I thank the forces that be, that the taller towers proposed during the last 10 years have never coalesced.

I've long thought about a height limit in Boise, how it would look and feel, and have some thoughts despite not being completely sold myself. Skylines produce the look of man made mountains, with peaks and valleys, blending and complimenting the natural backdrop of the foothills (as long as you can see them). I think a height limit would look bulky, and without depth, in addition to taking away one of the most important features of high-rise living in Boise, the view for most units. Also, using Sawtooth's second to last picture as an example, from most locations in and around downtown, there are trees and buildings that block the foothills regardless of a height limit. It's really only an issue for a few locations, coming down Capital being the most obvious.


Here is a picture of San Jose's skyline which has a height limit due to its proximity to the airport. Very boring in my opinion.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/San_Jose_Skyline_San_Jose_48dda29d86f68.jpg
http://www.weblo.com/asset_image/65625/146027/San_Jose/

Its fun to imagine a huge skyline in this shot, though hard to swallow losing that gorgeous backdrop. It probably won't ever extend further east than where you can see St. Lukes in the photo, which would produce a really cool effect as the hills blend into the skyline... unless BSU starts to really build up and blocks that side too.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/Boise_downtown.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boise,_Idaho

[Cottonwood]

Boise has a fantastic climate, many pleasant neighborhoods, one of the best trail and park systems in the country, etc. You guys living there know it all very well and could continue on with the list.


Welcome,
Our parks are an incredible asset and impressive, they really add to the whole natural outdoorsy feel of Boise. Nearly 300 acres of parkland by downtown alone not counting the parkland and natural areas in the rest of the city, can't go wrong with that. That restaurant by the bank you mentioned that used to be owned by the owners of Milky Way is now Berryhill..http://www.berryhillandco.com/ that little pocket park is a great place for outdoor dining.

[el conquistador]

Welcome,
Our parks are an incredible asset and impressive, they really add to the whole natural outdoorsy feel of Boise. Nearly 300 acres of parkland by downtown alone not counting the parkland and natural areas in the rest of the city, can't go wrong with that. That restaurant by the bank you mentioned that used to be owned by the owners of Milky Way is now Berryhill..http://www.berryhillandco.com/ that little pocket park is a great place for outdoor dining.

Berryhill is expanding and adding a little breakfast and lunch bistro in the same building. I think it's called Bacon.. :D

[Visualize]

Here is a really interesting interactive census tract map.

http://projects.nytimes.com/census/2010/map?hp


Click on the left to view more maps. The density and vacant housing maps are especially good.


Just a few key points:

A large percentage of Boise census tracts actually saw a decline in population from 2000-2010 despite overall growth for the city.

Downtown was one of the fastest growing census tracts in Boise from 2000-2010, growing 26%, multiracial residents grew 135% to become 5% of the total downtown population, the third largest after hispanics at 8%.

Another interesting thing to note is that the Garden City drag, census tract 11 from the Connector to Glenwood is now 25% hispanic, increasing 57% despite the total population for the tract falling 4.3%

Census tract 4, right across the river from Garden City, which is the 30th Street-Veterans Park neighborhood, saw its black population increase 385% to 4% of the total tract population. Asians also increased 137%, becoming 3% of the total share.


And there are many more interesting things to note...

[boisecynic]

Oh crap Visualize. Damn cool find. I spent way too much time looking at that.

Nearly every city showed very similar patterns. I started with Spokane, then Reno, Albuquerque, SLC, SD, DC, Charlotte. Downtown cores grew, 1st ring of older suburbs shrank, outer suburbs grew.

Does this mean urban renewal policies are succeeding? Is the next wave going to be 1st ring suburban renewal?

Take Chattanooga of all places. Downtown Chattanooga grew. Why? Lots of links about it, but the synopsis is a commitment to renewal, construction and attention to outdoor recreational amenities and a commitment to the arts.

http://www.smartertravel.com/travel-advice/Soaring-above-Tennessee-River.html?id=92403

And downtown San Diego... holy crap. Tract 58 up 208%, tract 54 up 97%, tract 51 up 112%.

[boisecynic]

Hah, look at Little Rock. Downtown south of the river up 38% and north of the river up 16%. Then look at Little Rock's trolley (opened Nov 2004) map:

http://www.littlerock.com/info-maps/PDF-maps/Trolley-map.pdf

http://i.imgur.com/p3gFE.jpg

[Cottonwood]

NIMBY's or are they justified in wanting to protect open space? After all they are in the foothills, not right in the city.

Neighbors object to Pierce Gulch development in Boise Foothills
BY CYNTHIA SEWELL - cmsewell@idahostatesman.com
Copyright: © 2011 Idaho Statesman
Published: 03/30/11


A group of residents is taking the city of Boise to court over its approval of a high-density infill project in the Foothills.

The Pierce Gulch project features 17 multistory townhomes on 2.14 acres on Pierce Park Lane just north of Hill Road.

Dave Leach, Mark Burkhart, Russ Dane and Marcia Pursley filed a petition for judicial review in 4th District Court in January.

The lawsuit claims the city did not follow its in-fill, Foothills and other development policies when it approved Andrew Erstad’s development application in October.

The neighbors also say the high-density development is not compatible with adjacent multi-acre lots and a five-acre equestrian subdivision north of the site.

In December, the Boise City Council denied an appeal filed by Leach. The city says the project complies with city policies and is an appropriate in-fill project.

A hearing date has not yet been set on the lawsuit.





Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/03/30/1585399/neighbors-object-to-boise-foothills.html#ixzz1I5r0IPiR

[greenbearcub]

Visualize that map is cool, by far a great find. I personally liked the maps that showed the concentration of different races. Little Idaho is so white but we aren’t the only ones. I can’t wait to take a longer look at it.

As for the topic of condos I agree on the whole with a lot that has been said. Such as I think Boise should focus on apartments right now then move to condos. With fact that so many neighborhoods are so close to downtown also is a big reason not for condos that cost so much. It takes me only 20 min from Meridian to get to ST Lukes Downtown. There are a few places to live between those two locations. I think having affordable apartments downtown would be good for both college students (and former) and DINKS. That is mostly my peace on this topic.

[BoiseAirport]

I do agree that we development-geeks sometimes get too caught up in the "shinyness" of new proposals and renderings, that we often sometimes forget that bigger isn't always better. Better is always better. Ultimately, if it came down to choosing between creating a beautiful skyline with taller structures, or improving the quality and atmosphere by having lots of new amenities... Always I would choose improving the quality.

That's why I've been such a huge proponent of the Trolley, JUMP, Bodo, Library Blocks, the Convention Center, etc. These projects may not be the biggest or the tallest, but they're projects that improve upon our already great downtown atmosphere. And if there's something I NEVER want downtown to lose... it's that big-city-perk/small-town-feel. Throw in a few 30 floor buildings and suddenly that small-town feel that makes downtown so refreshing and great to be in is diminshed, and we start to feel more like Salt Lake City. Which isn't a bad thing... but it's not Boise anymore.

Part of me is happy Boise Place as proposed wasn't built. For one it looked fine in renderings, but I think the building translated into reality would've looked... meh. I'd rather have a 10-story architectural masterpiece than a 34-story Boise Place on that lot. If you ask me what I want to see out of downtown in the next 10-15 years... I'd say maybe a couple of 15-25 floor towers... but most development being 3-10 floor midrise structures full of amenities that improve the quality of life. And a trolley and convention center, if that's not asking too much.

[Cottonwood]

:previous: I feel the same regarding much of your thoughts, but even with a few 30 floor towers we would still be completely different then SLC, mainly because our downtown has the small blocks and vibe, and Boise life our neighbor to the southeast doesn't have, I don't think downtown Boise will ever lose its "center of everything" feel it has even as the city continues growing. I agree with you about the mid rises...I would rather see more of those taking over some of the surface parking lots and creating even more density downtown rather than one or two 30 floor towers. Our downtown , without a 30 floor building, has more life to it than a lot of other cities ...although one or two in the future would still be nice:) The height of the proposed Capitol Plaza is perfect.
http://www.boisecapitolplaza.com/images/view2.jpg

[Cottonwood]

The Boise area has some great outdoor concert venues!! Time for summer music! It's pretty cool that we can go to outdoor concerts at wineries here in the Boise area.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/04/01/1587757/woodriver-cellars-rocks-all-ages.html

Woodriver Cellars is uncorking its potential as part of the Treasure Valley’s outdoor concert scene.

Jam band Widespread Panic is the latest show announced at the Eagle winery: Wednesday, June 29 ($35, Ticketfly.com). Peter Frampton and Cake concerts already are on sale.




for the hell of it, here are links for a few outdoor music venues:

http://www.woodrivercellars.com/

http://www.landofrock.com/ aka Eagle River Pavillion

http://www.idahobotanicalgarden.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=feature.display&feature_id=40

http://www.idahocenter.com/index.asp


And a little further out in wine country.
http://www.stechapelle.com/visit/wineryevents.asp

[isangpogi]

Today the LDS church announced a temple for Meridian. These are always very beautiful buildings with well-maintained landscaping. Because of the meticulous attention to detail, planning and construction seems to usually take a couple years from start to finish. There's no announcement yet of a location, but it would seem to make more sense to locate it in western meridian, maybe near the new Ten Mile interchange. This would make it more accessible for people traveling from Nampa, Caldwell and beyond and could sit up on a hill overlooking the valley. No matter what one believes religiously, this is good news for the area. The church typically tries to contract local firms for design and construction. Like I mentioned before, temples are beautiful structures that enhance the areas around them. Temples also raise the value of surrounding property. (see: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2009/01/08/20090108ldstempleeffects0103.html).

LDS Church announces new temple in Meridian
by Scott Evans
Bio | Email | Follow: @KTVB
Idaho's NewsChannel 7
Posted on April 2, 2011 at 11:28 AM
Updated today at 4:39 PM

MERIDIAN – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints announced a new Idaho temple Saturday morning as part of its 181st Annual General Conference. Church President Thomas S. Monson announced three temples, including one in Meridian. That would bring the total number of Idaho temples to five.
After the announcement, a spokesperson with the Meridian Mayor’s office said that Mayor Tammy de Weerd met with representatives from the church on Friday. There aren’t a lot of details on what transpired in that meeting other than the representatives notified the mayor of the decision.
The spokesperson said that the temple will be a welcome addition to the area that has a strong and caring community of people from several faiths.
At this point the location of the new temple has not been announced. Also not released is the date for the groundbreaking.
The other temple locations announced are Fort Collins, Colorado and Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
According to the church’s website, there are over 410,000 members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Idaho. There are also 134 temples currently in operation, with 26 more either announced or under construction.

For examples of what the newer temples look like, see:
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/rexburg/gallery/
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/twinfalls/gallery/
http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/draper/gallery/

[Boisekid]

So happy to hear about a temple coming to Meridian! I'm hoping it's a prominent location right off the freeway! Can't wait to see this thing get done!

[GrandTeton]

I guess Boise's temple isn't very large...:shrug: I really hope they get more creative than the Rexburg and Twin Falls ones.

[Visualize]

I guess Boise's temple isn't very large...:shrug: I really hope they get more creative than the Rexburg and Twin Falls ones.

The Mormon temple in Boise is actually quite impressive. I'm not really interested in what goes on inside, but the building looks good. And I guess according to wikipedia is able to serve 100,000 members.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/Boise_idaho_temple.jpg
http://www.mormonwiki.com/File:Boise_idaho_temple.jpg

[Sawtooth]

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/089.jpg





http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/003.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/099-3.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/112.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/100.jpg

[Visualize]

lol...Those deer pictures are awesome.

[boisecynic]

What do you got? Deer radar?:)

[Cottonwood]

I guess Boise's temple isn't very large...:shrug: I really hope they get more creative than the Rexburg and Twin Falls ones.

The Boise Temple is tiny, a shoe box. This new temple will be much needed.

[Cottonwood]

My temple comment turned the page....awesome photos, and I am with Boisecynic...how do you find the deer all of the time?




http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/089.jpg





http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/003.jpg








http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/099-3.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/112.jpg









http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/Spring2011/100.jpg

[Troubadour]

Wow, deer munching on grass in the middle of a city! If a deer somehow showed up around here (metro LA), it would be surrounded by a crowd of noisy gawkers within minutes, then shot with a tranquilizer dart and dragged off by animal control.

[isangpogi]

Here's a map I stumbled on today of the proposed Idaho 16 Freeway/Expressway. http://itd.idaho.gov/Projects/garvee/Program/SH16_I84-44_14_855%20(11-15-2010).pdf

There are a couple of concerns I have with it, number one is it's only 4 lanes, two in each direction. It seems with the completion of this project development will rapidly occur along the corridor. This project won't just serve Emmett but will be used by Star, Meridian, and Nampa residents to avoid more congested surface streets. ITD may say that they will build it to be easily expanded to more lanes as needed, but with past experience I say its best to build it right the first time. Widening I-84 from Meridian to Nampa was years if not decades overdue! It would seem much more cost-efficient to build at least 6 lanes now and not have to worry about traffic headaches, rising construction costs, etc in 5-10 years.

What really perplexes me are the interchanges with Highways 26 (Chinden) and 44 (State). The interchange with 26 has a loop meant to for eastbound vehicles to go North to Emmett and star. The interchange with 44 has a loop to direct Westbound traffic from 44 onto 16 toward I-84. Seems it would make more sense to position the loop on 44 to catch traffic coming from Emmett and direct them towards Eagle and do the same with the interchange at 26...

These are just my observations, I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this freeway. It's so long overdue to have a quick North/South route through the valley. There's gonna be plenty of NIMBY opposition to fight through though!

[Visualize]

The Boise Temple is tiny, a shoe box. This new temple will be much needed.

wow, you are right. I didn't realize they were built so large in other cities. Here's the square footage of their temples around the world.

http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/statistics/temples/

[Boisekid]

I can't imagine Meridian's Temple being larger than Boise's. I think everybody that watched General Conference was surprised when they announced Meridian getting a Temple. I'd imagine it'll be one of the mini-Temple's that are so prevalent now. I don't see it being bigger than 30,000 sq feet...but then again, they know more than I do. I'd love to see a new 200,000 sq ft temple :)

AND, just a few development tidbits:

-Kohl's is beginning it's renovation of the former Mervyn's space at the Mall
-St Luke's is breaking ground on a new 120,000 sq ft Mixed-Use Medical/Retail Facility http://idahobusinessreview.com/2011/04/04/41655/
-Nordstrom has confirmed that a Nordstrom Rack is coming to Boise by Spring 2012

[Sawtooth]

Thanks Visualize!
What do you got? Deer radar?:)

I don't know:rolleyes: Just a lot of luck and perfect timing I guess. I was at the Black Forest up in the gulch and had just turned on to Fort Street and bam, a little herd of deer just waiting for my camera:)




Wow, deer munching on grass in the middle of a city! If a deer somehow showed up around here (metro LA), it would be surrounded by a crowd of noisy gawkers within minutes, then shot with a tranquilizer dart and dragged off by animal control.

The area in downtown I saw them is close to the gulches and creeks of the lower foothills, so if you time it right seeing deer can be somewhat common in and around downtown Boise and especially in certain wooded areas of the river. Traffic on Fort Street was stopping to see the deer, although they meaning the deer, weren't in the street, but no one honked or yelled at the other cars for stopping and holding up traffic, everyone was sane and inched along till they were past the deer. No tranquilizers here, they are usually left alone because they go back into the trees and natural areas away from people, except for an elk that was tranquilized a few winters ago while running around on busy streets in downtown during rush hour.

I am just waiting to see a wolf or two hanging out downtown someday, there are some up in the Foothills and not very far from the city, a friend of mine who jogs between Military Reserve and Rocky Canyon often sees a few of them.







Here's another shot, with the Statehouse dome in the background. This one was kind of trapped between a fence and the rest of the herd which were right next to Fort Street.

http://i81.photobucket.com/albums/j214/Idahomajesty/104-7.jpg

[CaliforniaKid]

The Mormon temple in Boise is actually quite impressive. I'm not really interested in what goes on inside, but the building looks good. And I guess according to wikipedia is able to serve 100,000 members.
http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m48/visualeyez1983/Boise_idaho_temple.jpg
http://www.mormonwiki.com/File:Boise_idaho_temple.jpg

Another demonic LDS temple near Boise? How sad... :(

[GrandTeton]

Another demonic LDS temple near Boise? How sad...

Hey now, just because tithing money doesn't always go towards what they tell you it's going for doesn't mean it's demonic ;)

I would know, I'm an ex-Mormon.

Anyway, I'm excited for the Boise Metro about the possibility of an extension of a freeway. I'm wondering what the odds of it becoming a reality are. Now if Boise could just get that street-car built then the city of trees would really be in business.

[boisechev]

Hey now, just because tithing money doesn't always go towards what they tell you it's going for doesn't mean it's demonic ;)

I would know, I'm an ex-Mormon.

Anyway, I'm excited for the Boise Metro about the possibility of an extension of a freeway. I'm wondering what the odds of it becoming a reality are. Now if Boise could just get that street-car built then the city of trees would really be in business.

The chinden to State portion of the new freeway has already been approved and will start construction next winter.

[ianjt]

Not really development news, but has anyone noticed how high the river has gotten in the past few days? I went for a run this morning and it was significantly higher then it was last week. I wonder if they will need to close sections of the Greenbelt this year. I heard the snow pack is pretty good, so we may see some flooding.

[andyroo]

Hey now, just because tithing money doesn't always go towards what they tell you it's going for doesn't mean it's demonic ;)

I would know, I'm an ex-Mormon.

Anyway, I'm excited for the Boise Metro about the possibility of an extension of a freeway. I'm wondering what the odds of it becoming a reality are. Now if Boise could just get that street-car built then the city of trees would really be in business.

Every time I venture downtown to get my crunk on, lol I know I'm white, I always drunkenly imagine a street car taking me safely back to the BSU area...I know I'm a dork.

[boisecynic]

Not really development news, but has anyone noticed how high the river has gotten in the past few days? I went for a run this morning and it was significantly higher then it was last week. I wonder if they will need to close sections of the Greenbelt this year. I heard the snow pack is pretty good, so we may see some flooding.

It's up to 3300 and slated to go to 5800 on Wednesday. The bowls in Sun Valley are still completely covered and that's pretty unusual in my experience. SV's bowl cam:

http://i.imgur.com/EpHWn.jpg

Anyway, 5800 cfs at Glenwood is pretty big flow, keep in mind, the flow all winter has been around 250 cfs. 5800 will probably get the kayakers in the 36th St wave. From some reason I hate calling it the 36th Street Wave. Garden City's 36th Street doesn't dead end at the wave, 34th does. Most people access the wave from the Boise side anyway. Furthermore, Garden City leaders have gone on record stating they will not provide access (parking) to the whitewater park. Sorry, can't find the source for that right now.

PS:

To stay on the development topic and tied to river flow info--- The Boise River Recreation Park facebook page posted this on Monday around 3pm:

Tuesday, noon, join us on the Greenbelt by Quinn's Pond for an announcement from the Mayor. Gonna be big ... we'll post details after.

[Evo5Boise]

Not really development news, but has anyone noticed how high the river has gotten in the past few days? I went for a run this morning and it was significantly higher then it was last week. I wonder if they will need to close sections of the Greenbelt this year. I heard the snow pack is pretty good, so we may see some flooding.

Actually I did the other day as well. It's been a damn good water year!

[Cottonwood]

PS:

To stay on the development topic and tied to river flow info--- The Boise River Recreation Park facebook page posted this on Monday around 3pm:


Keep us updated!

[Cottonwood]

Here's a map I stumbled on today of the proposed Idaho 16 Freeway/Expressway. http://itd.idaho.gov/Projects/garvee/Program/SH16_I84-44_14_855%20(11-15-2010).pdf

There are a couple of concerns I have with it, number one is it's only 4 lanes, two in each direction. It seems with the completion of this project development will rapidly occur along the corridor. This project won't just serve Emmett but will be used by Star, Meridian, and Nampa residents to avoid more congested surface streets. ITD may say that they will build it to be easily expanded to more lanes as needed, but with past experience I say its best to build it right the first time. Widening I-84 from Meridian to Nampa was years if not decades overdue! It would seem much more cost-efficient to build at least 6 lanes now and not have to worry about traffic headaches, rising construction costs, etc in 5-10 years.

What really perplexes me are the interchanges with Highways 26 (Chinden) and 44 (State). The interchange with 26 has a loop meant to for eastbound vehicles to go North to Emmett and star. The interchange with 44 has a loop to direct Westbound traffic from 44 onto 16 toward I-84. Seems it would make more sense to position the loop on 44 to catch traffic coming from Emmett and direct them towards Eagle and do the same with the interchange at 26...

These are just my observations, I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this freeway. It's so long overdue to have a quick North/South route through the valley. There's gonna be plenty of NIMBY opposition to fight through though!

It looks like it will cut through some prime farm land?

[Bob The Builder]

I can't imagine Meridian's Temple being larger than Boise's. I think everybody that watched General Conference was surprised when they announced Meridian getting a Temple. I'd imagine it'll be one of the mini-Temple's that are so prevalent now. I don't see it being bigger than 30,000 sq feet...but then again, they know more than I do. I'd love to see a new 200,000 sq ft temple :)

AND, just a few development tidbits:

-Kohl's is beginning it's renovation of the former Mervyn's space at the Mall
-St Luke's is breaking ground on a new 120,000 sq ft Mixed-Use Medical/Retail Facility http://idahobusinessreview.com/2011/04/04/41655/
-Nordstrom has confirmed that a Nordstrom Rack is coming to Boise by Spring 2012

Boise Kid - They don't build '200,000 sq ft temples' - the once did some at and over a 100,000 sq ft before the '90's. But Today the 'big ones' are the 50,000-65,000 sq ft temples (Rexburg, Draper ect). The Church has discontinued doing the 10,000-12,000 sq ft 'mini-temples' that look the same. They did so because after the temple opened after a about 2 years it was already too small and given their floor plans are harder to expand, so they will just build it with the extra 3,000-7,000 sq ft on them. The 'average temple size that they do now is around 30,000 sq ft. 'Small' temples today are now considered to be 14,000 sq ft to 19,000 sq ft - which is what I would expect in Meridian :tup: .
The only reason I know any of this is a have a good friend who is in the church construction department. Also, my former Architecture teacher at BYU-Idaho was a church architect and told me the same thing when I was there in school.
Regardless of its size it will look great ;)

[Cottonwood]

:previous: It will probably be the same size or smaller than some of the new Catholic Church's built in the valley in recent years.

[City Of Trees]

Here's a map I stumbled on today of the proposed Idaho 16 Freeway/Expressway. http://itd.idaho.gov/Projects/garvee/Program/SH16_I84-44_14_855%20(11-15-2010).pdf

There are a couple of concerns I have with it, number one is it's only 4 lanes, two in each direction. It seems with the completion of this project development will rapidly occur along the corridor. This project won't just serve Emmett but will be used by Star, Meridian, and Nampa residents to avoid more congested surface streets. ITD may say that they will build it to be easily expanded to more lanes as needed, but with past experience I say its best to build it right the first time. Widening I-84 from Meridian to Nampa was years if not decades overdue! It would seem much more cost-efficient to build at least 6 lanes now and not have to worry about traffic headaches, rising construction costs, etc in 5-10 years.

What really perplexes me are the interchanges with Highways 26 (Chinden) and 44 (State). The interchange with 26 has a loop meant to for eastbound vehicles to go North to Emmett and star. The interchange with 44 has a loop to direct Westbound traffic from 44 onto 16 toward I-84. Seems it would make more sense to position the loop on 44 to catch traffic coming from Emmett and direct them towards Eagle and do the same with the interchange at 26...

These are just my observations, I'd be interested to hear what others have to say about this freeway. It's so long overdue to have a quick North/South route through the valley. There's gonna be plenty of NIMBY opposition to fight through though!Wow, great find, and thanks! I obviously have plenty of comments on this.

Regarding the interchange on Chinden, I'm bummed that this is even planned as a normal interchange to begin with. In many long term studies that I've seen, Chinden is going to be a freeway of its own west of Eagle Road (Personally, I'd advocate turning all of Chinden into a freeway, but that's for another day). I'd want to see a full freeway-to-freeway interchange at that location.

I agree with you on the cloverleaf loop on State St, though--that should be placed to ease Emmett traffic going inbound to Star, Eagle, and Boise.

An observation of my own that I noticed was the "drift" around Ustick that takes the freeway off from being directly placed on McDermott Rd, and ending up a quarter mile west. I've long said that that route should NOT go directly on McDermott (as was advertised in many plans), for fears that it would turn into another Eagle Road. This map alleviates those fears somewhat. I still think the best route would be to do it on the half mile section between Black Cat and McDermott, as that would be the straightest shot, but I'm thinking that there may be some land acquisition issues that could dictate the route. It was mentioned above that some prime farm land would be taken over, which is correct, but for better or worse the taking of single family homes would raise even more anger.

Finally, I'm not sure if I'm a fan of that full folded diamond interchange at Franklin. That will no doubt make the connection with I-84 much more complicated and costly. I could see a half interchange on the north side of Franklin getting the job done, with the rest of the traffic going to the Ten Mile & Garrity interchanges to access I-84.

[Evo5Boise]

I'm kind of curious if they are going to leave it available to allow it to punch to the south for future development. Seems to me I have heard rumors about a future (who knows how far in the future) plan for a 284 route that will cut around near Kuna and up towards Nampa/Caldwell. Surely that would want to connect with it given we ever see that growth.