Boise Development Thread

[City Of Trees]

Post 1000!

[el conquistador]

Originally Posted by City Of Trees

Post 1000!

Too bad I wasted the 1000th post on this thread in a moment where I didn't feel like being overly articulate.......

[alphawolf]

Here are some I took this morning of the Idaho Trust Bank in BoDo. This is by far my favorite layouts of any bank I've seen so far.





Got to love that all glass elevator.

[Cottonwood]

Nice pix Alphawolf. I really like the look of this bank branch too.

[City Of Trees]

Bronco Stadium expansion is a go!

http://www.idahostatesman.com/238/story/66749.html

10:38 a.m. — Board of Education gives BSU permission to begin expansion
Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 01/08/07

The State Board of Education today gave Boise State permission to begin construction of its Bronco Stadium addition.

The $35.9 million project will add a new press box, luxury suites, club seats and loge boxes to the stadium for the 2008 season.

Layton Construction of Salt Lake City could begin work as early as next week, athletic director Gene Bleymaier said. Boise State still must go to the board next month for permission to issue $28 million in bonds. The school can use its cash toward construction until then. BSU is covering $7.9 million of the cost through athletic department funds.

[Sawtooth]

Bigger city — Big City Coffee grows into the Linen District

Erin Ryan
THRIVE
Edition Date: 01-08-2007

Click to view the original article on Thriveweekly.com

The paint is still fresh, but Big City Coffee’s new Linen District shop already feels broken in.
Maybe it’s the vintage metal signs and weathered wood furniture. Maybe it’s the familiar sight of a pastry case overflowing with homemade baked goods. Or maybe it’s the fact that most of the customers know each other by name.
They turned up in droves for the new locale’s opening to support an old friend — Sarah Fendley — who owned Big City on State Street for six years before making this move.

In fact, it is the latest addition to the small family of businesses that make up the Linen District, entrepreneur David Hale’s concept for West Downtown. Along with places like Donnie Mac’s Trailer Park Cuisine, Visual Arts Collective and the Second Chance Building Materials Center, Big City is bringing color and culture to the developing neighborhood.

“David did a good job of picking out people who are like-minded,” Fendley said.
It was Hale who first got her thinking about reinventing her business.

“Anytime you own a business, people are always coming to you wanting you to move to this place or that place. But I had a good location and decided to focus on that. Then David Hale called, and I wasn’t surprised,” she said. “It was one of those weird moments when I knew I should do it. He’s not about to let this area fail. His business means a lot to him and my business means a lot to me …

He’s kind of looking for things off the beaten path, but really quality things. I knew it was the right fit.”

So Fendley brought four veteran baristas with her and started again after selling the State Street shop. She owns the name, but all of her efforts will be focused on establishing Big City in the Linen District.

There are a few major differences. The new shop has an enormous kitchen where Fendley and master chef Joanie Veage can cook and bake up a frenzy. Veage is a former personal chef to stars like Madonna and the boys from Def Leppard, and her innovative recipes have already taken Big City’s edibles up a notch. New items include a frosted chocolate macaroon scone and a bear claw filled with honey, marzipan and chopped almonds, both of which embody Big City’s menu mantra: “Where others scrimp, we splurge.”

Breakfast options seem endless, from toasted bagel sandwiches to tamales to steamed eggs to sweet waffles to savory wraps to the OBGYF, or “Oh Boy Granola, Yogurt and Fresh Fruit.” And don’t forget the award-winning quiche that was featured in USA Today (the turkey gouda is especially nice).



But coffee is the soul of Big City. The cafe offers three kinds, Boise’s White Cloud, San Diego’s Cafe Moto and Gillies out of Brooklyn. There are new roasts that celebrate the neighborhood, like “Rescue Me” (named for the Fire Station down the street) “District Drip (named for the Linen District) and the “Lap Dance Blend” (named for the nearby Spearmint Rhino). It’s just another way Fendley is reaching out to her neighbors, hoping their bond can facilitate their collective vision for the Linen District.

[Sawtooth]

From www.linendistrict.com

Hale and a business partner are currently revamping the former Guest Lodge on 14th and Grove streets, turning it into a 41-room boutique hotel with a classy cocktail lounge.

The Modern Hotel is slated to open next spring.

"The bar is going to be really swanky, a refreshing break from the beer-guzzling bars on Sixth and Main," Hale says.




Here is an interesting read:
--------------------------------------------------------------

Dana Oland: Small city is big on culture


Dana Oland
Idaho Statesman |
Edition Date: 10/17/06


Don’t let Boise fool you. It’s not the sleepy Western town most people expect.

Yes, the main focus of the leisure culture and economy leans toward outdoor adventures, such as mountain biking, hunting, kayaking and fly fishing. But more and more, Boise and Idaho are becoming arts and cultural destinations. Tourists are as likely to see a play at the Idaho Shakespeare Festival as they are to raft the Payette River, or dine at the elegant bistro SixOneSix as they are to quaff an award-winning brew at The Ram.

The New York Times and Wall Street Journal highlighted the trend in the summer of 2006. The arts thrive in the Treasure Valley with a community that engages and involves its audiences at a rate that rivals larger cities in the region.

In the past few years, the city and state have received national recognition with the Idaho Shakespeare Festival, The Cabin (the Boise literary center) and Idaho Dance Theater all receiving direct funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mark Hofflund, managing director of the Idaho Shakespeare Festival and chairman of the Idaho Commission on the Arts, was appointed by President George W. Bush to the National Council on the Arts, which advises the NEA.

Yet the city retains the charm and allure of a sincere small town that embraces and builds its arts groups. Each of the city’s anchor organizations began as community efforts. Rehearsals for the Idaho Shakespeare festival began in a cow pasture. A civic ballet and opera blossomed into professional organizations with strong regional reputations. The Boise Philharmonic, once a community orchestra, is one of today’s most sought after “tickets” in town.

The 2005-06 arts season saw the premiere of cutting-edge American choreographer Trey McIntyre’s summer dance project and performances by some of today’s best symphony conductors. The 2006-07 season saw the U.S. Western premiere of Don DiLillo’s newest play at Boise Contemporary Theater.

Also on tap for 2006-07: There’s an extensive collaboration between Ballet Idaho and the Boise State University music department. Opera Idaho plans diverse productions of “Barber Of Seville” and the intimate cabaret showpiece “Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris.”

Expect an exciting Boise Philharmonic season as its search for a new conductor/musical director continues and guest conductors step up to the podium.

There’s also a lively visual arts community with a vibrant First Thursday gallery stroll in Downtown Boise, eclectic performances of music, theater, visual and performance art at the Visual Arts Collective in the growing cultural village The Linen District. The Boise Art Museum offers exhibits that are as far reaching as rich Russian icons, and as close to home as an exhibit reflecting the events that followed the 1905 assassination of Idaho governor Frank Steunenberg.

When it comes down to it, you could live in a much larger city and do nothing; if you do half of what is available to you in Boise, you’ll be exhausted.

[boisecynic]

Meanwhile, David Hale's building on 27th, next to Jerry's market continues to look like crap. It took a call to city code enforcement to get the 2 year old weeds mowed and the broken tv sets and junk tires to be hauled off.

I dare any of you (mainstream media reporters) to go talk to the homeowners behind there and get their opinion, and no, I'm not one of them.

OH, and did I mention the graffiti on that building?

I don't mean to be mean to DH here, I like the work that he has done. In fact, IIRC, there was a recent media story about DH and others complaining to City Hall about the same problems---graffiti/vandalism etc in the Linen District.

No, I'm not dissing DH, this is a barb pointed at the City Council and the Mayor. When it comes time for re-election I hope viable opponets come forward who can wax poetic about civic pride.

[boisecynic]

Finally, construction news drought is over. 5 pics. Ground has broken on the Grand Ave Condos, 36th Street Garden Center is moving along quickly and Garden City's Waterfront District has its first home completely framed. You heard it first on the skyscraperpage, take that mainstream media.

[boisecynic]

Here's a blowup of the 36th Street Garden Center's sign. Sorry for the poor quality, in my haste, I forgot to zoom in with the camera.

[boisecynic]

Here's a blowup of the 36th Street Garden Center's sign. Sorry for the poor quality, in my haste, I forgot to zoom in with the camera. You can see there will be residences and retail as well as the impressive main building.

[Boysee Boi]

So it sounds like the Aspen should be under way by March now according to the developer in an interview with the Statesman today. 30 to 60 days. Hope so.

Developer of Boise's ‘skinny building' says about 100 on waiting list


By Joe Estrella
Idaho Statesman | Edition Date: 01/11/07

After 30 years as a small residential and commercial builder, Scott Kimball decided it was time to go for broke last year when he announced plans to build The Aspen, the so-called "skinny building" that will sit on the narrow piece of ground between the north wall of the City Centre Garage and Front Street. Kimball is gambling that the old adage of "location, location, location" will be enough to bring buyers flocking to live in a Downtown project that lenders say will cost at least $20 million to build. But as 2007 began, the date to start construction had not been set.

What's the status of The Aspen project?

We're about finished with our building permit and expect to have it in about 30 days. About a month ago we went to the sales stage. Once we get some of these units sold to where our bank is satisfied, we'll begin our excavation. We've gone ahead and sent out contracts to some folks who have been on our waiting list for over a year. I would guess that in about 30 to 60 days our bank will be happy and they'll give us the go-ahead.

How many people are on the waiting list?

We have a 100 or so. We feel comfortable that we can go to the contract phase, where we actually sell these units. We've sent these things out to folks, so their lawyers can look at it. As part of our deal, we'll work out custom floor plans. A lot of condo developments will say ‘You have option A, B and C. Which do you want?' We're saying ‘Here's a suggested floor plan, but how do you want us to change it?' We can move a wall here or there. If somebody asks us to come up with a custom floor plan, that means they've put a lot of thought into this and they're very serious. We have a lot of buyers that are doing that right now.

How much of a problem has it been getting financing for such an unconventional project?

It was easier than I thought. It's because the bank looks at each project individually. They all have their merits, they all have their risks. My plan has always been not to jump too soon. Take (Rick) Peterson's Boise Tower project. He started digging before he had everything nailed down. So when a problem popped up, he was already committed and had money in the ground. So we ended up with a hole that was uncompleted and had been there forever. I don't want to do that. I want the bank completely behind us, with our building permits in place, all the entitlements done and buyers to get us started. Once I've got all those things, I'll start the project, and not before.

What's attracting folks to the project?

One, the location. They really like the idea of being able to go downstairs and walk over to the Farmer's Market on Saturday morning, or go around the corner to P.F. Chang's, or walk across the street to the hockey arena. And we're not that far from the airport. Those are all very important reasons. Another thing is they really like the look of the building. I think we've got a winner in terms of the appearance.

How many units will you have?

Roughly 70 . But say we've got two one-bedrooms and somebody wants to buy both, we redo the floor plan and you have one unit. That could change our count. We won't know how many we'll have until we're done.

Once you begin, how long will construction take?

It will take one year to put the main structure up. Then we'll start doing the interiors. We'll finish a floor and move people in on that floor. Those people will not know the building is not finished on the floor above or below them. The hallways will all be done, the elevator and exterior will all be done. Some of the units may be sold and will be be waiting their turn to be finished.

What's the demographic of the people expressing interest in buying?

The majority are what you would call baby boomers or empty-nesters. Their kids are off to college, or out of the house. They have a three- or four-bedroom home they don't need anymore. They want to shift gears and move onto the second phase of their lives where they can go out to dinner a lot and travel. So they're going to sell and move Downtown. But I also have young single people who like the Downtown scene. They like to go to the bars, concerts and things like that and they want to live Downtown.

Has the design of the project changed?

It's evolved. We've perfected a few things as we went along. For example, the parking situation. At first, we weren't sure how many parking spaces we wanted to include in the building, or even how important they were. As I began talking to buyers, it became apparent that private parking was very high on their list. The Washington Mutual Building was built back in the '90s with no parking. All the owners park next door in the public garage where they rent space from Capital City Development Corp. We didn't want to do that, so we put in two floors of parking into the project.

Why a location that is only 32 feet deep?

The thing I looked for was the best location. Everybody wants that location as close as you can get to the Downtown core. I knew this site would work — even with tight parameters — given what Mark Rivers had done with BoDo, the hockey arena across the street, Alive After Five and such. It also has the highest zoning in the city. We could go 40 stories at that location if we wanted to. But we don't want to. We'll be about the same height as The Grove.

What's going to be the biggest challenge?

The biggest challenge will be storing materials. You need someplace close by to unload trucks and store materials. That's going to be tough because there is no space next door. It's all buildings around us and street in front of us. There are several vacant lots west of us and we'll try and rent some space there and ferry stuff over on trailers. We're still working with CCDC to use the top floor of the City Center Garage. They've already approved the use of it and we're working on the insurance that would go with it. We'll be able to put certain things up there like cars and some materials. But we wouldn't want to store anything real heavy up there, so we'll still need some other space where we can put things that are heavy and bulky.

Any plans for another Boise project after this one is done?

I've got my eye on a couple of sites that I would like to start negotiating on next year. I think 10 to 20 years from now this Downtown is going to look more like Portland. We have a beautiful, clean Downtown, compared with some cities. And as a city grows it reaches a critical mass where suddenly the distance to drive to the nearest suburb becomes too much travel. Road are clogged with traffic and people say ‘That's it. Why drive an hour and a half to Nampa when I can live Downtown?' You spend three hours driving every day and that adds a lot of time to your work week. So for the next 10 years I'm going to looking for sites Downtown where I can do projects similar to this.

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by boisecynic

Here's a blowup of the 36th Street Garden Center's sign. Sorry for the poor quality, in my haste, I forgot to zoom in with the camera.

Is the residential going to be condos, or houses?

[boisecynic]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

Is the residential going to be condos, or houses?

I don't know, but the drawing doesn't look like detached housing. They have a website with only a frontpage and no other details. www.36streetgardencenter.com

[Boisebro]

potentially good news on the jefferson... this from their website:

December 29, 2006

The Jefferson is scheduled to begin construction in February 2007. There are several excellent residences still available. For more information please call (208)381-8006.

[Boizean]

Here's a new one I came across. It's called the Whitney Building and is supposed to go in at the corner of Vista Ave and Rose Hill Street. Five floors, nice location.

Here's a link http://www.colepoe.com/portfolio/current/whitney.html

[el conquistador]

I like that Whitney building, I think that is an area that could benefit from a few buildings like this.

[el conquistador]

I like that Whitney building, I think that is an area that could benefit from a few buildings like this.

sorry for the echo, browser was slow responding

[Cottonwood]

It seems like that intersection is built out already so some buildings will have to be torn down for this new project?

[nobody]

Does anyone know anything new about the Capitol Terrace Apts? The developers website doesn't have any news or projected start dates or anything, just a bunch of renderings and price points. Has anyone heard about a start date (assuming it hasn't started yet, I don't believe it has)?