BOISE | City Center Plaza |transit center/office/convention complex

Boisebro · #1 Posted **Dec 7, 2013, 7:47 PM**

This is a new and much needed proposal for downtown Boise: an underground transit center that will include a police substation, 8 bus bays, parking and an 8-10 story office building attached to the current US Bank building.

This transit center will be in the heart of downtown next to the Grove Hotel, CenturyLink Sports Arena and Boise Convention Center.

Preliminary renderings:

Boisebro · #2 Posted **Dec 8, 2013, 4:33 PM**

Update...

The new tower is being proposed as 9 stories, though the rendering only shows 8, and it could go to 10. The top 4 floors are already reserved by a local tech analytics company.

New renderings:

Site plan (the US Bank building is the white square, and the only structure that currently exists):

Boisebro · #3 Posted **Dec 10, 2013, 1:17 AM**

Different angle:

boisecynic · #4 Posted **Dec 17, 2013, 5:03 PM**

Let's start with a little history lesson. This going to take some considerable research because much of the Grove's history is not on the internet. Library trips will probably needed to fill in all the blanks. I'll correct mistakes as I find new info or someone points it out.

The Grove Plaza has only existed in its present form since about 1990 when the Convention Center was built. Prior to that it was surface parking and part of the 15 year long controversial Boise Redevelopment Agency's (forerunner of CCDC) plan to build a downtown mall by removing many historic yet mostly abandoned and run down downtown buildings. What's frustrating is not being able to find an aerial from the 60s or 70s prior to the Grove demolition phase. You'd think that all that planning and years of effort to build a mall would have produced some aerials. Anyone? One of my main questions is when was Grove ST diverted from the grid? Was it due to the canal? Or the BRA demo era?

Found it: Apparently Grove ST was relocated in the early 70s as part of the Mall Project. http://www.ccdcboise.com/aboutccdc/History.aspx

So keep in mind, the current Grove Plaza is a result of the abandoned downtown mall project, which nearly everyone derides. It was sort of a compromise. Or rather a band aid put on the still open wound 20 years after the early 70s demo phase

In the beginning...

Note: source of the following 3 pics is http://digital.boisestate.edu/cdm/la...ction/archives and technically this is a violation of their TOS. I hope they don't mind since this is an educational use.

Bird's eye view drawing from 1890 showing 8th and Grove as part of the grid.

source: http://digital.boisestate.edu/cdm/si...s/id/71/rec/17

1980s #1

1980s #2 This is before my time here but 8th appears to still punch through from Main to Front, or the diverted Grove St.

1992: Grove along with Idaho is still the main route in and out of town from the west. This pic is 2 months prior to the Front/Myrtle couplet being finished.

I'll add to this, lots more to come, including the impact of the canal, the railroad, BRA era, Broadway Chinden Connector,

Boisebro · #5 Posted **Jul 1, 2014, 9:30 PM**

This project is a "go".

Groundbreaking took place today. Final height of the main building is 145'.

Boisebro · #6 Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 2:03 PM**

Final renderings:

It's not huge, but it's good infill and the underground transit center is a much-needed facility.

Sawtooth · #7 Posted **Jul 2, 2014, 10:51 PM**

Goodbye parking lot

Groundbreaking remnants

Main Street side of the development. Does this mean goodbye trees?

And the existing centerpiece, The Grove Plaza

Expanded convention space will be built between the US Bank Tower and The Grove Hotel.

Extra shot looking towards the Grove Plaza along with the Grove Hotel and The Aspen Lofts. The brown facade covering up the bottom of The Aspen from this view is part of the existing convention center.

The porta potties are there for Alive After Five tonight which is an all age weekly live music and beer fest every Wednesday evening during summer. It looks like it might rain.

A reference to expanded convention space should be added to the title of the thread.

eastidaho · #8 Posted **Jul 3, 2014, 8:34 PM**

Great documentation (like always) Sawtooth!

This parking lot is #1 of my most hated in Boise. Loving this development and the design. I look forward to partaking in some outdoor dining at the base of this building.