Boise Development Thread

[ianjt]

Does anyone know when BSU will be starting construction on the Business Building? I noticed that the Hotel has no more students in it, which means they should be getting ready to bring it down...

Also, I just got back from Portland, and I have to say that I am envious of downtown feel that Portland has. Not too big, but it has a big-city feel like New York. I hope as the economy turns up that Boise will start to have more projects.

[andyroo]

BSU was suppose to start demolition on the inn this spring... My guess is they need that parking lot for the few general parking spaces that it holds, so I'd expect demolition to start once the spring semester ends.

Has anyone noticed the demo going on at the old east jr high? BSU is taking over!

[Sawtooth]

The ultimate Boise spring photo thread is almost ready.

[Boisebro]

Originally Posted by Sawtooth

It's amazing what can be seen while walking around for 30 minutes in Kathryn Albertson Park. You don't have to leave downtown Boise to see wildlife.

Hopefully nobody minds that I posted some park pics here

i have nothing against parks.

i just wish ours were taller and more dense.

[Cottonwood]

The entire article is at the link.
http://www.boiseweekly.com/blogs/CityDesk/
Boise / economy Downtown makes Boise go 'round
Posted by Zach Hagadone on Thu, Apr 22, 2010 at 2:43 PM



If you happened to be walking through the North End last night, you might have seen former three-term Seattle Mayor Charles Royer sittin’ on (CCDC boss) Phil Kushlan’s porch, talkin’ about Boise and world issues.

According to Royer, who was in the City of Trees to deliver this morning’s keynote at the 23rd annual State of Downtown meeting, the front stoop consensus was that “healthy cities have healthy downtowns,” and that downtown investment will speed economic recovery.


“The most conspicuous attribute of our wealth is to be able to walk to work,” he said.

Boise is doing a lot of things right. It has ample green spaces and pedestrian friendly downtown districts, civic pride and a nearby university that actively reaches out to the community.



A slate of development projects are in the works as well, ranging from Concordia University’s new law school on Fifth and Front streets, to Jack’s Urban Meeting Place (JUMP) on Ninth and Broad, to the Capitol Plaza office complex on Capitol and Front.

[Cottonwood]

Cool pics Sawtooth. I used to live in another city where the parks were not much of an asset, either they were places for guys to cruise other guys for sex or they had such a bad reputation for drugs, muggings, and murders and it was not just a once a year issue, but often occurances. Boise parks are a breath of fresh air...it is nice to be able to use a restroom in a park without seeing another guy next to you playing with his organ

[Cottonwood]

http://cobe.boisestate.edu/


more at the link..

http://idahobusinessreview.com/blog/...ng-for-micron/
BSU names new business building for Micron
by IBR Staff
Published: April 28,2010
Time posted: 10:54 am



Boise State University’s new home for the College of Business and Economics will be known as the Micron Business & Economics Building. The State Board of Education approved the naming of the building earlier this month.

“This is a fitting tribute to the Micron Technology Foundation, a longtime supporter of Boise State University,” Boise State President Bob Kustra said. “Their support of higher education has helped ensure that our future leaders have access to the finest quality facilities and programs.”

The Micron Technology Foundation committed to a $12.5 million lead gift for the business building in 2007, with $5 million of it contingent on Boise State raising matching funds by Dec. 31, 2009. The university successfully met the challenge and will begin construction this summer on the $37 million building at the corner of University Drive and Capitol Boulevard. It is expected to open in fall 2012.

[boisecynic]

Whitewater park update:

Finally, fill to start moving this week to shore up levee between Boise River and the pond. Pleasanton greenbelt spur to be gated closed between 7:30 am and 5:30 pm. Large old dumped concrete piles from what was the old concrete plant have already been jackhammered, probably for use as fill material. River flow at Glenwood has gone from below 500 cfs to above 1200 cfs this week, not sure if that has increased the recharge rate of the pond. Beer cans on bottom of pond, priceless.

This blurb was on the Statesman's front page last night and this morning it's disappeared. Browser history finally comes in handy:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...lt-closed.html

And in case you missed it, this was on the front page of their website AND the print edition last Tuesday;
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...d-running.html

[Visualize]

Good stuff. That is going to be such an asset to Boise and Garden City.

Any word on how Esther Simplot Park is progressing?

[Sawtooth]

[Eeyore]

Awesome pictures! I really like you close up shot of the highrise.

[CaliforniaKid]

I always like seeing the green mountains in the spring. I've even thought of planting trees on those mountains. I figure if one person from Boise plants just one tree on those mountains before you know it you will get a nice forest going..

Thanks for the pics saw!!

[Visualize]

I think the best feature of Boise's hills is that you can see the shadows and rolling nature of the land. San Jose has hills on both sides of the valley, the east are similar to Boise in that they don't have much vegetation on them, and the west are covered in very dense trees, as you probably know. I very much prefer looking east. Drive over the hill in Boise if you want a forest...it goes for hundreds of miles.

[CaliforniaKid]

Originally Posted by Visualize

I think the best feature of Boise's hills is that you can see the shadows and rolling nature of the land. San Jose has hills on both sides of the valley, the east are similar to Boise in that they don't have much vegetation on them, and the west are covered in very dense trees, as you probably know. I very much prefer looking east. Drive over the hill in Boise if you want a forest...it goes for hundreds of miles.

Oh yes... I know. I live near San Jose. Very dry out here just like in Boise. I think however if they were covered in trees, that actually might help the air too and cool the place off.

[Sawtooth]

And a few from a much closer location in the Foothills directly above the Northend in an area between 6th and 8th Streets a hop away from Lower Hulls Gulch. I am going to have more of these types of views posted soon in my city Spring photography thread. I am obsessed with looking for that perfect skyline view with the Owyhee Mountains in the background.




















and a hint of some Oregon Trail pics which will be in the thread.

[CaliforniaKid]

Wow... What awesome shots!!

Saw.. You DA man!!

[Visualize]

Originally Posted by Sawtooth

Nice pic. This really shows how close an abundance of available land is to downtown. Granted the airport is right there, but just beyond, and to the east there is land as far as the eye can see. The potentially good part is the difficulty in currently developing this land, and the ease with which development can go west. Hopefully when the east is developed smart growth urban design standards will be the norm, cars will be smaller and more automated, and Boise could eventually have extremely unique development patterns very close to the urban core.

[CaliforniaKid]

It would look good on any postcard for sure...

[Sawtooth]

Originally Posted by Eeyore

Awesome pictures! I really like you close up shot of the highrise.

Thanks Eeyore.

and CaliforniaKid and Visualize.

Originally Posted by Visualize

I think the best feature of Boise's hills is that you can see the shadows and rolling nature of the land. San Jose has hills on both sides of the valley, the east are similar to Boise in that they don't have much vegetation on them, and the west are covered in very dense trees, as you probably know. I very much prefer looking east. Drive over the hill in Boise if you want a forest...it goes for hundreds of miles.

I agree about the Foothills and their nature, they almost seem to change from morning to night depending on how the sun is hitting them; the long deep gulches and billowy hills are almost like an art piece because depending on sun and weather you can see details not seen on other days, and the pine forests on the upper reaches kind of top off the appeal of the mountains.

The forests behind us are great, and it is an asset that they extend all of the way north to British Columbia, what is that-- nearly 400 miles or so, and hundreds of miles east and west. I believe Boise is near more forest lands than anyplace else or major city in the Rocky Mountain States, except for cities in North Idaho of course.

[Sawtooth]

Originally Posted by CaliforniaKid

It would look good on any postcard for sure...

Thanks again. I should have moved a few feet and tried to get the entire facade of The Aspen, maybe I can get up there again soon.

Originally Posted by Visualize

Nice pic. This really shows how close an abundance of available land is to downtown. Granted the airport is right there, but just beyond, and to the east there is land as far as the eye can see. The potentially good part is the difficulty in currently developing this land, and the ease with which development can go west. Hopefully when the east is developed smart growth urban design standards will be the norm, cars will be smaller and more automated, and Boise could eventually have extremely unique development patterns very close to the urban core.

It is surprising just how much open and undeveloped land is south and east of Boise and that downtown is so close to all of that, and also that time and history led to the metro extending west while downtown is on the far east side.