Boise Development Thread

[el conquistador]

Originally Posted by mikelwallace85

Constitutionally protected??

Yeah, very T.I.C. on my part, but that's how it feels when someone uses that as a reason against good infill (like the folks on the east end of the MK buildings not wanting a multi-story condo there, like it was going to magically block out the sun...)

[Cottonwood]

http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/qui...nt?oid=1723912
Quick, Say it Three Times Fast: State Street Streetscape
City eyes a new look for major road

Jensen drafted two design concepts for State Street between Eighth and 16th streets: an urban streetscape and a parkway streetscape. The differences were subtle, but at July's meeting, the CCDC board liked the urban streetscape a bit more.

"The construction cost will be a little higher, but maintenance costs will be less," said Kushlan. The first draft estimates that the cost per block might be $239,000.

Each block could see a 9-foot-wide sidewalk and up to eight trees and four historic Granville street lamps on each side of State Street. And intersections could include new features too, not unlike the Basque Block: scored, colored concrete yielding a brick-like facade with a centerpiece featuring a logo or artwork molded into the pavement.

[boisecynic]

Good article from BW but why, oh why can't the old school media post higher res pics? I guess this pic is a rendering of the proposal:

Hotlinked:


Here's some more detailed info from bad old CCDC. Note: PDF

http://www.ccdcboise.com/Information...Packet_003.pdf

Direct link to JensenBelts Associates

http://www.jensenbelts.com/

[mikelwallace85]

Love it. They should do that on Main/Fairview as well. That whole end of town looks desolate.

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by mikelwallace85

Love it. They should do that on Main/Fairview as well. That whole end of town looks desolate.

That area which is near the 30th Street Urban Renewal area the city is working on, will probably get a facelift once the urban renewal and the 30th Street Extension takes place. I think that forgotten area west of downtown is a gold mine for developers once the economy picks up.


This might be a sign of good things to come:
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...ects-look.html
Idaho's economic prospects look up
The revenue trend has been steady in the past months, the state's chief economist says.
BY WILLIAM L. SPENCE - LEWISTON TRIBUNE
Published: 08/13/10

Employment and income are two key factors in turning that around, Ferguson said. The prospects for both are better now than in December. In fact, IHS Global Insight - the firm Idaho uses for its national forecast data - suggests the Gem State will be the nation's top job creator over the next two years and the third-best for the 2012-2015 time period, in terms of percentage job growth.
Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...#ixzz0wVH7anP8

[Chaisem]

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/...oises-west-end

[Sawtooth]

shhhhhhhhhhhhh

[City Of Trees]

Originally Posted by Chaisem

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/...oises-west-end

Please oh please be a Trader Joe's.

Regarding the State Street plan, I like it, and it would be made much easier if they would do something I've been harping on for years: make State Street a one way street and couple it with Jefferson Street. Then you'd even be able to narrow that road by a lane if you wish.

[Cottonwood]

Trader Joes..or whatever the market will be...Maybe this is a sign of things to come to that end of downtown, bring on the redevelopment

[Sawtooth]

Originally Posted by Chaisem

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/...oises-west-end

Originally Posted by City Of Trees

Please oh please be a Trader Joe's.

Bend has a Trader Joes and that is the closest store to Boise, so we could be on their distribution route. About 5 years ago Supervalu aka Albertsons started up the Sunflower Market, specializing in organic food, and those stores are typically in the same square foot range as this proposal. Supervalu of course has their Albertsons LLC headquarters here so which will it be, TJ's or Sunflower? I believe some of the old Albertsons locations in Utah have been converted into Sunflower Markets.


I prefer Trader Joes, I've been in a Sunflower before, they're nothing too impressive and they don't compare at all to the Boise Co-op and Boise is a TJ's kind of town.


Here's some info http://www.allbusiness.com/retail-tr...4439026-1.html

[Cottonwood]

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...daho-earn.html
Idaho ranked among U.S. News & World Report's top national universities; BSU a top regional
By KATY MOELLER - kmoeller@idahostatesman.com Published: 08/17/10


.....University of Idaho ranked 81st among top public schools.


.....Boise State was ranked 51st among regional public universities (17th in the West).
Boise State University was also listed as one of the "up-and-coming" regional universities, which have made "promising and innovative changes." Others universities that made the western list: Abilene Christian University, Chapman University, St. Edward's University, California Polytechnic State University-San Luis Obispo and Trinity University.















Read more: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...#ixzz0wt2zQh1H

[ianjt]

I noticed that BSU removed the old Arbiter building. The area next to the new aquatics complex is blocked off now. Does anyone know of anything in the works there? Also, what about the Business building?

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by ianjt

I noticed that BSU removed the old Arbiter building. The area next to the new aquatics complex is blocked off now. Does anyone know of anything in the works there? Also, what about the Business building?

You mean the COBE on Capitol Blvd? The other day I drove by and the old hotel is roped off and there is a fenced area with equipment.

[mikelwallace85]

It will be exciting to see something go in between 15th/16th.
I just got a letter about something at C.W. Moore Plaza to view plans for the Whole Foods site. I live at Civic Plaza, so I guess they want input from neighbors? I might go.
Something I noticed, infront of the 252 building here, the concrete pad is for sale for hotel development. That would be awesome, especially if there was retail that opened on the pedestrian areas

[Boisekid]

http://gardnerahlquist.com/Portals/0...lyer_Flyer.pdf


Not Downtown but still big. The hotel has been mentioned here before but i drove past the site on Franklin the past week and theres big dirt piles moving around and some fencing going up. Don't know if this is a sign of the hotel soon breaking ground or what. Does anybody else have ANY info on this hotel?? It'll be nice to have another 4-diamond hotel other than The Grove

[andyroo]

Originally Posted by ianjt

I noticed that BSU removed the old Arbiter building. The area next to the new aquatics complex is blocked off now. Does anyone know of anything in the works there? Also, what about the Business building?

They are adding the second edition of the parking garage where the arbiter building was. Once it is complete the garage will also house the student media area, much like the current garage which houses the parking offices. I also heard that the COBE building will start sometime this fall, haven't heard of any official date. I always thought that they were going to start demo on the inn this summer but that didn't happen...who knows.

[ianjt]

Originally Posted by andyroo

They are adding the second edition of the parking garage where the arbiter building was. Once it is complete the garage will also house the student media area, much like the current garage which houses the parking offices. I also heard that the COBE building will start sometime this fall, haven't heard of any official date. I always thought that they were going to start demo on the inn this summer but that didn't happen...who knows.

Are they planning to make it as big as the first part? If so, I hope that it doesn't detract too much from the entrance to the university from Lincoln. I also noticed that they are tearing up the front of the SUB. I wonder what that's all about.

[andyroo]

If I remember right the second garage won't be quite as big, but I don't think the actual dimensions were that much difference, just a small margin.
according to boise state's SUB website

SUB Projects Update
The Student Union is undergoing some exciting construction projects throughout this Fall 2010.

Transit Center
The exterior west side of the Student Union is now closed and fenced off for the construction of the new campus Transit Center. The Transit Center will be connected to the Student Union and will serve as the central bus and public transportation center for campus. The project will continue through mid December, 2010.

I also read back in July this article in the statesman...
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...resh-look.html
I think it would be awesome if they could connect downtown to bsu. As a student living about 2 blocks away from the SUB, I could guarantee I'd use that very frequently. I wonder if the transit center will be built with the potential to accommodate a streetcar...

[Cottonwood]

U of I Law School opening in the old Ada County Courthouse after a renovation. Good news, two new law schools (U of I and Concordia) opening in downtown.

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/0...-donation.html

[Cottonwood]

in addition:


http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/...nty-courthouse

University of Idaho --A Million Reasons to Renovate the Historic Ada County Courthouse



http://www.boiseweekly.com/images/bl...5-dsc_0014.jpg