Boise: West Downtown Urban Renewal Thread - Page 2

boisecynic · #21 Posted **Mar 9, 2008, 4:00 PM**

comment deleted, thread repurposed

boisecynic · #22 Posted **Mar 12, 2008, 12:10 AM**

Big news!

Boise hires designer for whitewater park

http://www.idahostatesman.com/outdoo...ry/320414.html

SharonU · #23 Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 1:59 PM**

I am glad to hear that the VPNA is actively looking for ways to communicate effectively. In case this forum doesn't catch on, there is a group out in Eagle that has successfully used Yahoo Groups to exchange information and ideas. You can find out more about them and how they communicate at VOICE_of_EAGLE@yahoogroups.com .

boisecynic · #24 Posted **Mar 21, 2008, 3:51 PM**

Wow! Look who's come out of the woodwork. Long time no see Sharon. Are you going to run for Ada County Commission again? Hey, what can you do for our neighborhood? I have a huge wish list. If I'm not mistaken VPNA is part of your district.

boisecynic · #25 Posted **Apr 2, 2008, 12:51 PM**

River Recreation Park open house tonight at Whittier Elementary at 29th and Bannock. 6 PM, presentation begins at 6:30 PM.

Cottonwood · #26 Posted **Apr 7, 2008, 9:25 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boisecynic

River Recreation Park open house tonight at Whittier Elementary at 29th and Bannock. 6 PM, presentation begins at 6:30 PM.

How did the open house go? Good attitudes among the attendees or were the "anti/growth/tax/anti anything good that benefits us" kind of people too vocal?

boisecynic · #27 Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 2:17 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

How did the open house go? Good attitudes among the attendees or were the "anti/growth/tax/anti anything good that benefits us" kind of people too vocal?

Sorry Cottonwood, I haven't checked this thread in a while. The RR Park open house was a full house. I'm guessing well over 100 people. I was very distracted because I had my kid with me. I think it's safe to say, everyone there was in favor of the RR Park. The question and answer portion of these meetings is always my favorite but unfortunately I missed most of it.

The question I would have asked is about Garden City residents not having public access, except via bicycle via the greenbelt. How many GC residents will be driving all the way around to park on the Boise side. This seems silly to me. You can't fight Garden City Hall though.

boisecynic · #28 Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 2:25 PM**

The Goodman Oil Property.

This is a new topic that I believe is worth some discussion. I don't know if you all caught the Statesman article, but somebody has turned that property in for a code violation, and the City of Boise has opened a code enforcement case:

Statesman article, front page, Monday 3-31-2008:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepie...ry/338057.html

Get the code enforcement details here:
http://pdsonline.cityofboise.org/pds...ype=act&insp=i

And finally, one pic, but really, it would take dozens of pics to properly depict the deplorable conditions of this prime river front property.

el conquistador · #29 Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 3:10 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boisecynic

The Goodman Oil Property.

This is a new topic that I believe is worth some discussion. I don't know if you all caught the Statesman article, but somebody has turned that property in for a code violation, and the City of Boise has opened a code enforcement case:

Statesman article, front page, Monday 3-31-2008:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepie...ry/338057.html

Get the code enforcement details here:
http://pdsonline.cityofboise.org/pds...ype=act&insp=i

And finally, one pic, but really, it would take dozens of pics to properly depict the deplorable conditions of this prime river front property.

I cringe when I drive by that place, too! I am guessing before any work can be done the EPA will need to come in and do soil tests. There is going to be some major clean-up involved with that. I can't believe it was left such a dungheap.

boisecynic · #30 Posted **Apr 10, 2008, 3:26 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by el conquistador

I cringe when I drive by that place, too! I am guessing before any work can be done the EPA will need to come in and do soil tests. There is going to be some major clean-up involved with that. I can't believe it was left such a dungheap.

The statesman article quotes Susan Goodman stating that they have had a private brownfield assessment and that the result was no brownfield issues. My question; Where is a copy of that private brownfield assessment?

boisecynic · #31 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 1:00 AM**

First time ever seen on the web! Rare aerial from 1969 recently found and scanned by Boise City Historian, Tully Gerlach. Thanks Tully! Original size must have been huge, the pdf that I got was 5.5 MB and when I converted it to jpg, I got a 5184 x 6552 pic. Lucky for you all, I rescaled it down to a manageable 1024 x 810. It's still half a megabyte, though. Sorry.

Here's a screencap from google earth, probably only a few years old.

boisecynic · #32 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 1:27 AM**

Here's a sample of one very small portion of the pic at much higher resolution. Guess where!

Visualize · #33 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 1:11 PM**

Nice pics!! Goodman Oil seemed to fit right in with the surrounding area way back then....oh wait, it still does.

alphawolf · #34 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 5:59 PM**

I wish the tracks were still there. They would have been helpful for a light rail. Does anybody know that big building with the big shadow a block and a half southwest of the Red Lion Hotel? It's right above the tracks.

Visualize · #35 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 7:21 PM**

I don't know what it was, but now the freeway runs right there.

alphawolf · #36 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 7:31 PM**

Well, thats right down 23rd St. and from the looks of it its where part of that furniture store is. Something else kinda funny with that photo because I would have never thought that the old Kmart building was that old.

boisecynic · #37 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 8:18 PM**

It would be fun to find the differences. Aw, never mind, there must be hundreds. The ones coming to me right away, no Shoreline Blvd to connect 27th with the old Kmart, Whittier school back lot, the shape of Quinn's Pond, and the no-name ponds not even there.

boisecynic · #38 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 8:24 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by alphawolf

I wish the tracks were still there. They would have been helpful for a light rail. Does anybody know that big building with the big shadow a block and a half southwest of the Red Lion Hotel? It's right above the tracks.

I think you're talking about what appears to be a tall building just south of 23rd and Fairview, my gf's dad thinks that was the Eddy's bakery that blew up due to the bad mix of welding and a gas leak. Her dad says that downtown Boise was covered by bread wrappers.

This has not yet been confirmed. Stay tuned.

boisecynic · #39 Posted **Apr 17, 2008, 11:13 PM**

Boise Greenbelt Comprehensive Plan 1968

Groovy Greenbelt Comprehensive Plan brochure from 1968!

This wonderful historical document can be found at the Boise City Library, 3rd Floor Reference Section, or at the Idaho Historical Archives, 2205 N Old Penitentiary Road
Boise, ID 83712, in the filing cabinets under Boise/Parks/Greenbelt.

Look, there's a giant greenbelt lake and the 30th Street Extension was proposed way back then. It was proposed to go all the way from the proposed Curtis Extension past Americana to 9th Street. Is that why there's a short little street called Shoreline. Oh, what could have been!

Edit: Adding key words to improve page rank.
Boise Greenbelt Master Plan

Visualize · #40 Posted **Apr 18, 2008, 12:08 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by boisecynic

It would be fun to find the differences. Aw, never mind, there must be hundreds. The ones coming to me right away, no Shoreline Blvd to connect 27th with the old Kmart, Whittier school back lot, the shape of Quinn's Pond, and the no-name ponds not even there.

Do you know how to copy a screen shot of that area off of mapquest with just the aerial image? I can't figure it out and I've seen you do screen shots before. Posting one of those would be sweet to show some of the differences.

Regarding the 1968 report, I'm amazed with the foresight they had back then and more so that we're still trying to get some of the things that were addressed back then completed. Damn suburbia...