Something new and different! On CCDC's RFP& Bids webpage, there is an RFQ for a new Westside District Urban Park. They are soliciting bids for a construction manager/contractor. The park is to be located on land privately owned by Rafanelli & Nahas, the Boise Plaza owner. Rafanelli & Nahas also just opened the Hyatt Hotel and own several parking lots in the area. Before the 2008, they were very vocal about not having a transit center located near their property which they intended to develop a hotel (built), residential units, office space and a public park (in works). CCDC would develop the park/plaza, the city would own/manage it and Rafanelli & Nahas would donate the land towards it.
Judging by the schedule attached at the end of the RFQ, the plaza would be designed this upcoming spring with construction happening next August.
Here is the project description:
Quote:
The site area is the north half of the city block bounded by Bannock Street, 11th Street, Idaho
Street, and 12th Street. The vision is to create a distinctive, urban open space, a neighborhood
draw, a place for people to connect with the outdoors on a daily basis, and a hub for community
events. The desire is that it will become a commons for the office workers, residents, shoppers,
and visitors to the west side of downtown. It also will be a catalyst for high-quality, mixed-use
development on the neighboring undeveloped surface parking lots.
Initial construction cost estimates range from $4 million to $4.5 million. Available funding to
construct this project is approximately $2.5 million. CCDC is seeking the CM/GC project
delivery method to assist in reconciling the scope with the budget and construct a final design.
The concept plan’s key features include: plaza hardscape, formal and informal landscaping,
mist fountain, informal play features, public restroom building, outdoor lighting, high end
furnishings, seat walls, flexible parking, streetscapes that are compliant with the City of Boise’s
Downtown Boise Streetscape Standards, mid-block crossing pedestrian enhancements,
vehicular parking, and alley surface improvements. It’s expected that some of these features
will be eliminated, greatly diminished, or planned as a later phase to bring construction costs
into budget
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Link to the RFQ:
http://ccdcboise.com/wp-content/uplo...Urban-Park.pdf
Link to CCDC's webpage:
http://ccdcboise.com/development/rfps/cmgc-urbanpark/
**EDIT**
I'm hoping we get something similar to Jamison Square Park in Portland. It contains a mix of hardscape, grassy area and a large interactive water feature. The photo below was from when it first opened and has matured nicely since then.
http://www.pwpla.com/projects/jamison-square/&details
Image courtesy of: PWP Landscape Architecture