Boise Development Thread - Part II

[boisenative]

I didn't get a picture, but I did notice this morning as I was driving past that the River Sculpture on the Grove Hotel was being fixed. Hopefully the fence around it will be taken down soon, if not today. What an eyesore.

[TVurban]

Updated rendering for the new garage on Parcel B. It looks much better this time around.



vs. the last version

[boisenative]

That parking garage does look quite a bit better. Has anyone heard whether or not Gardner is still planning on changing from dark (black?) tinted glass at the US Bank Building to blue tinted?

[DonDay]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

I like the signage too. At least the signs are to be attached to the building and not stand alone rising like an eyesore billboard sign. Most of us are probably aware there is a city ordinance against certain signage on Capitol Boulevard. I've already seen a few sensationalistic stories online about the proposed new signs on The Grove since it is of course along Capitol Boulevard...oh the horror. Some people need to relax because...the signs are attached to the building.

I think maybe you're referring to the story I wrote? I haven't seen any other stories... I don't think it's sensationalistic to point out the process the City has been with in the corridor - and that they need a waiver to do what they are asking.

http://donlday.com/blog/2016/7/27/grove-hotel-hopes-to-amp-up-signage

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by DonDay

I think maybe you're referring to the story I wrote? I haven't seen any other stories... I don't think it's sensationalistic to point out the process the City has been with in the corridor - and that they need a waiver to do what they are asking.

http://donlday.com/blog/2016/7/27/grove-hotel-hopes-to-amp-up-signage

Nope, I have not read your story.

[Cottonwood]

I received a notice in the mail yesterday about the construction coming soon to St. Luke's downtown.


http://www.boiseweekly.com/boise/st-...nt?oid=3858946

St. Luke's Notifies Neighbors of Tree Removal, Beginning of Construction of New Children's Center

http://media1.fdncms.com/boiseweekly...rchitechts.jpg

[GrandTeton]

Hey Boise! I was visiting your lovely city this past week, and I have a few thoughts to share:

• I must admit, when I first saw the renderings of the new Simplot Headquarters, I was a very skeptical. Now that it's nearly complete, I think it (and JUMP) are excellent additions to downtown.

• The ClearWater building is alright. I'm glad the building replaced the parking lot, but I do wish the building itself was more slender and taller considering its location.

• The Fowler, 119 and the Afton are exactly what downtown Boise needs. They're not high-rises but the more residential, the better. I hope residential developments like these keep coming!

• The Lusk neighborhood is almost unrecognizable from what I knew it as. It's developing into quite the dense little urban village. I do wish future developments in that area would ditch the ground level parking in favor of units at street level or commercial space.

I'm glad to see downtown Boise growing!

[Architecture Buff]

Originally Posted by boisenative

That parking garage does look quite a bit better. Has anyone heard whether or not Gardner is still planning on changing from dark (black?) tinted glass at the US Bank Building to blue tinted?

The windows are bronze tint, and I had talked to my engineer friend at ESI a long time ago about changing them out to a blue tint. It was an idea that was put on the bottom of their list.
The Parcel B parking garage does look better, but the mega block is still one of the worst designs for a city's downtown.

[Architecture Buff]

July 29, 2016
Athlos Academy









Boise Hyatt Place

[Sawtooth]

A smoking Saturday morning.
The smoke, of course is thanks to the Pioneer Fire up in the Boise National Forest which is currently 16,000 acres/25 square miles between Idaho City and Lowman burning dense stands of pines.
People, keep your stupid toy drones away from the fire!
Thanks for your hard work firefighters!
















There's a crane somewhere in this smoky jungle










More construction photos on the way.
#citycenter

[DonDay]

I've learned CCDC hopes to expand beyond downtown

Story here.

[Cottonwood]

Looks like that fire has expanded to over 38,000 acres.

http://www.kivitv.com/news/pioneer-f...to-38072-acres



http://www.sustainablecitiescollecti...infrastructure

Revitalizing Boise Using Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Posted July 21, 2016

Since 2009, the City of Boise has implemented 28 projects to revitalize historic downtown in a healthy and sustainable way. By adopting innovative and cost-effective solutions to long-standing challenges such as stormwater management and low tree canopy cover, Boise has emerged as a leader in green stormwater infrastructure.

[Visualize]

Originally Posted by DonDay

I've learned CCDC hopes to expand beyond downtown

Story here.

I think this would be fantastic. Overland is in desperate need of investment east of Cole. This plan should also include all of Orchard as well since it is a major connecting arterial between I84 and the Connecter, and doesn't even have sidewalks or handicap access for a decent amount of its length.

The best part would be the support and investment into the gas tank area by St. Als. It's a little chicken and egg, but that area holds great future potential for Light Rail connecting to Downtown, and should be developed with zoning in line with typical TODs. This could potentially be a great opportunity to redevelop a significant area as a true mid-town node, and I don't want to see it squandered with single-family homes.

[boisecynic]

The tank farm area and the area along Irving certainly need something. And Orchard and Overland. It seems to me, Orchard improved quite a bit after traffic was reduced after the opening of the Curtis Extension, at least the section south of Irving did.

I've never understood why Gage and Phillippi are disconnected streets east of Curtis. If you ask me, connect those streets into the grid. Any remaining residential negatively impacted--- up zone them so the owner can realize higher property value. Also, the Fairview flyover needs a makeover. There's too much stacking in the right lane of Fairview west of Curtis. Diverging Diamond for Fairview and Curtis? Huh? Huh?

Here's my main question. Can any of you urban planning academics explain the narrow strip boundaries of the proposed URD? This is what they did with the 30th URD. And it makes no sense. Properties that should be combined into larger more developable lots can't. Not with the narrow boundaries. Remember, URDs can only spend TIF money within their boundaries and not even 1 inch outside.

Also, while on the URD topic, no word on Monday's P&Z Commission decision on the low income housing project at 32nd and Moore, the Sandhill Crane Apartments. EDIT: P&Z approved Sand Hill Crane Apartments. Rumor is an appeal is in the works, they have 10 days to appeal. Stay tuned.

Credit following pic to Don Day: http://donlday.com/blog/2016/7/28/qu...o-boises-bench

[Cottonwood]

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/b...e93318227.html

Boise construction jobs rise at nation’s 2nd-fastest pace

[Cottonwood]

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/b...e91855892.html

A new crop is now growing in Idaho: Solar energy

Highlights:
Idaho’s first commercial solar farm has just been built south of Boise

Five other solar farms in Southwest Idaho are set to be completed this year

Idaho Power is proposing a community solar project in Southeast Boise

Meanwhile, Idaho Power wants to helps its customers who want to get on the solar bandwagon but cannot produce their own solar power because they are unable to install rooftop solar panels, or they live in apartments or condominiums.

Idaho Power submitted a proposal to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission on June 22 to launch a community solar pilot program. The utility would build a small, 500-kilowatt solar array on property it owns near its Boise Bench substation at Amity and Holcomb roads.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/b...#storylink=cpy

[DonDay]

I *think* (my reporting doesn't yet show this - so it's a theory) that they are doing it this way because making the area larger would cause issues for city services and schools from a revenue standpoint. Having 20,000 homes with tax revenue stuck at 2017 levels until 2047 could be a major problem (frankly, it's part of why the city keeps asking for tax hikes now - they are frozen at 1987 property tax levels for the entire downtown core, and keep adding new districts... think of how much more property tax 8th & Main generates now versus what it did in 1986, for instance).

Someone on a FB group put it succinctly: which do you want, pretty bricks on the streets, or good IT for your kids? Urban renewal is a double edged sword. By doing this funny shaped carve out, they can throw money at gateway streets and properties, perhaps even acquiring some through eminent domain and other means -- without crimping all the tax revenues from a HUGE part of Boise.

I'm working on a follow-up story and hope to have a better understanding of the why.

Originally Posted by boisecynic

Here's my main question. Can any of you urban planning academics explain the narrow strip boundaries of the proposed URD? This is what they did with the 30th URD. And it makes no sense. Properties that should be combined into larger more developable lots can't. Not with the narrow boundaries. Remember, URDs can only spend TIF money within their boundaries and not even 1 inch outside.


Credit following pic to Don Day: http://donlday.com/blog/2016/7/28/qu...o-boises-bench

[Sawtooth]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

http://www.sustainablecitiescollecti...infrastructure

Revitalizing Boise Using Green Stormwater Infrastructure
Posted July 21, 2016

Nice.

[Sawtooth]

Here are the remaining City Center Plaza photos I promised this smoky last weekend.




























Oh no!!!!

[Bodo_business]

Originally Posted by DonDay

...they can throw money at gateway streets and properties, perhaps even acquiring some through eminent domain and other means...

As i commented to Don on twitter, this quoted portion above is what has me the most worried about this expansion. I generally support CCDC and their districts, but this one would likely encompass the Orchard/Emerald area. I don't see blight there but rather grit and personality. Would hate to see all the quirky little shops, ethnic restaurants and grocers, and Boise institutions (think Wok Inn Noodle, Navajo, etc.) priced out of a gentrified neighborhood. This area is old and eclectic, but not abandoned and blighted.