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  #101  
Old Posted Sep 11, 2007, 8:35 PM
Cottonwood Cottonwood is offline
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There was actually a lot of discussion and some colorful comments about the building height/tree news I referred to, and if I remember correctly there was even a thread all about this, but it may have been back before you joined last year, maybe it was discussed a year and a half ago. When I think about it, it was just an idea that someone on the city council had.
I don't recall anything on this forum about St. George, but in those predominately LDS towns where the temples are center stage, there are all kinds of rumors that the temples have to be the tallest structures in the towns...like Idaho Falls, St. George etc.
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  #102  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2007, 5:51 PM
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---According to the Idaho Department of Labor, two of every three homes were built in the Boise and Coeur d’Alene areas in 2006.

That means that 66% of the new homes in the state were built in areas that currently have 47.6% state's population. This further shows the explosive growth in the Boise and Coeur d'Alene areas.


699,147 (population of Boise & Cd'A metros in 2006)
1,466,465 (state of Idaho population 2006)
47.6% (percent of Idaho living in Boise & Cd'A metros 2006)

---Don't get me wrong, I like Bozeman, MT. I've been there several times. It is growing rapidly, has a great university (Montana State), and great scenery. But, Bozeman seems to have a superiority complex.

The seasonal magazine, Outside Bozeman, has been comparing Bozeman to cities around the country during the past few years. During this issue, it was Bozeman vs. Coeur d'Alene.
Bozeman won. Imagine that, Bozeman winning a city vs. city contest in a Bozeman magazine... Interestingly enough, Bozeman has been rated "better" than every other city the magazine has compared it to, including: Coeur d'Alene; Ithaca, NY; Boulder, CO; Missoula, MT; Flagstaff, AZ; and Burlington, VT. Everyone should check out the article. Watch out, your city might be next

Here's the link: http://www.outsidebozeman.com/magazi...&articleID=871

---Planning heightens for Huetter bypass
Jurisdictions along preferred route asked to protect corridor

(I didn't edit or leave items out as I normally do because I think this is an interesting and very informative article)

By Mike McLean



A Kootenai County transportation planning organization’s recent decision to recommend a route for a proposed expressway that would divert traffic off of the highly used stretch of U.S. 95 north of Interstate 90 has triggered land-use planning issues for several North Idaho jurisdictions.

It also has raised the eyebrows of some and the speculative instincts of others as people look ahead to how the massive project could affect them.

Last month, the Kootenai Metropolitan Planning Organ­ization, a federally mandated transportation planning group known as the KMPO, recommended a route for the proposed high-speed roadway, following about a decade of study that initially included nine possible alternatives.

The route the KMPO chose would have its southern terminus at I-90, just east of the Huetter rest area, and generally would follow Huetter Road north to about Lancaster Avenue, where it would veer northeast and follow a railroad right of way to intersect with U.S. 95 at about state Route 53. The expressway would enable vehicles to bypass the busy, roughly 8-mile stretch of U.S. 95 through northern Coeur d’Alene and the Hayden area.

Now, jurisdictions such as the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Rathdrum, and Hayden, as well as Kootenai County, the Idaho Transportation Department, and the Post Falls Highway District, will be expected to incorporate the proposed route in their land-use planning processes.

KMPO spokeswoman Stacy Lehman describes the Huetter route recommendation as “a step to say, ‘Let’s not let people build’” on land needed for the project.

Lehman says some people who own property in the proposed corridor already have called the KMPO to ask if they should build a garage on their land, she says. “They’ve probably got 10 to 15 years to use it, but it probably wouldn’t be a good idea to build a house there.”

The KMPO is made up of representatives of the four highway districts in the county, as well as the cities of Coeur d’Alene, Post Falls, Hayden, and Rathdrum, and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

As envisioned, the Huetter bypass would reroute a section of U.S. 95 with a four-lane express way that eventually could be expanded to six lanes. It would have freeway-like interchanges located at I-90 and U.S. 95, and at about one-mile intervals between, including at Poleline, Prairie, Hayden, Wyoming, and Lancaster avenues, says Christine Fueston, a planner with Ruen-Yaeger & Associates, a Coeur d’Alene engineering firm hired by the KMPO to study the Huetter route and other proposed alternatives.

The route would follow Huetter Road for about six miles before veering right to follow the Union Pacific Railroad line that runs diagonally across the Rathdrum Prairie. The Huetter bypass would intersect with U.S. 95 just south of the current SR 53 junction in the Garwood area.

The route would encroach on nearly 400 parcels, or more than 2,500 acres.

Fueston says UP might decide to move its tracks north, along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway tracks as part of the “bridging the valley” project, which is aimed at reducing the number of at-grade railroad-highway intersections between Spokane and Athol, Idaho. If that happens, the expressway would follow the former railroad right of way, she says. If the tracks aren’t moved, the Huetter route would run parallel to the tracks on a course about 300 feet north of the tracks.

As envisioned, Huetter Road would be realigned as a frontage road on the west side of the expressway.

That type of project could have impacts both on the land along the corridor on which it has been proposed and the current U.S. 95 corridor, observers say.

Monte Risvold, a longtime commercial real estate executive in North Idaho, says it’s difficult to predict how land would be developed along the proposed corridor, though he says land use there certainly would be affected.

“Naturally, it would be commercial, but development appeal would depend on whether it’s accessible,” Risvold says, noting that access points are proposed to be no closer than a mile of one another.

“Frontage is only as good as the ability to get to it,” he says. “If it’s inconvenient or difficult, people will go to the path of least resistance.”

As for the impacts the proposed expressway might have on U.S. 95 north of I-90, Risvold says they likely would be positive, at least for some businesses along that busy, 8-mile commercial stretch.

“Traffic congestion (along U.S. 95), especially in the summer, already is a detriment, and it’s getting worse,” he says. “People are taking other routes, such as Government Way to the east or Ramsey Road to the west, to avoid traffic.”

The intersection of U.S. 95 and Appleway Avenue, just north of I-90, is considered the busiest intersection in North Idaho, with daily traffic counts of up to 36,000 vehicles, Risvold says.

Gary Schneidmiller, owner of Coldwell Banker Schneidmiller Realty, of Coeur d’Alene, says the route envisioned probably won’t be a business route if it has limited access, but could be a catalyst for residential development on remaining farmland on the Prairie.

“It makes it more accessible to Interstate 90 and Spokane in terms of timing,” he says. You want a good transportation system, and you want to be close to it.”

Schneidmiller was raised in a farming family with large land holdings on the Rathdrum Prairie. He also owns a real estate office at U.S. 95 and Hanley Avenue, in the north end of Coeur d’Alene.

He says an alternate route west of town shouldn’t hurt business traffic on U.S. 95 in Coeur d’Alene.

“I think there will be plenty of traffic along U.S. 95, and it will continue to grow,” says Schneidmiller.

Much of the traffic that currently travels U.S. 95 isn’t business traffic.

“A lot of people there are not trying to find businesses,” he says. “They are trying to move to or from places farther north.”

Fueston says one of the engineering firm’s next tasks will be to estimate costs. A preliminary assessment conducted by Ruen-Yaeger put the value of right of way corridor at $377 million. Fueston says the estimate includes right of way for several alignment possibilities, and once the final alignment is chosen, the actual right of way acquisition costs likely would be less.

At this point, the proposed project has no timeline, although Fueston says it’s envisioned that the route will be able to carry 38,000 vehicles a day in 2030.

Idaho Transportation Department spokes­woman Barbara Babic says most funds for the proposed Huetter route would probably come from federal highway monies. “It may be a joint state and local project,” she says. “No decisions have been made, but it will be mostly federal money.”

Separately, the Transportation Depart­ment plans to upgrade U.S. 95 from Garwood north to Sagle as a four-lane, divided freeway with interchange access similar to I-90, Babic says. Construction on that project is to begin next year, pending final environmental approval.

While the 30-mile U.S. 95 upgrade is estimated to cost about $342 million, only $83 million is funded through 2009.

“Beyond that we don’t have any funds identified,” she says.

Meanwhile, Glenn Miles, KMPO executive director, says each jurisdiction along the Huetter bypass route will be asked to protect the proposed corridor.

“The recommendation will go to each jurisdiction and ask that they include provisions in their comprehensive land-use plans to protect (the route) from encroachment in the future,” Miles says.

The KMPO updates its 30-year metropolitan transportation plan every four years, and proposed projects must be included in the plan to be eligible for federal funding.

While the KMPO has no authority over the individual jurisdictions, each jurisdiction has a member on the KMPO board. “If the board acted collectively, I would presume individual jurisdictions will act similarly,” Miles says.

The board’s vote on the route recommendation, however, was 6 to 3 in favor, indicating that there is some opposition to the plan.

One of those “no” votes was cast by Clay Larkin, mayor of Post Falls.

Larkin says the KMPO recommendation would put too many limits on land use for the sake of a project that has no identified funding.

“We’re talking about a project that’s 20 years out, when the Idaho Transportation Department is $2 billion in arrears for planned projects,” he says.

Larkin says the proposed U.S. 95 alignment puts most of the burden on property owners on the west side of Huetter Road, rather than on the east side of Huetter, where the land is within the city limits of Coeur d’Alene and Hayden.

He says he doubts that Post Falls City Council will embrace the KMPO right of way recommendation.

“My guess is it will have tough sledding with us,” he says.

Also, Larkin describes the proposed Huetter route as “only half a bypass” because it doesn’t extend south of I-90, and wouldn’t be used by motorists coming from south of Coeur d’Alene.

“Who would travel up U.S. 95 to Coeur d’Alene, then drive four miles to the west to take a bypass, when that would probably take just as long as it would to drive through Coeur d’Alene?” he says.

Transportation resources would be put to better use on improvements to the current U.S. 95, in Coeur d’Alene, and state Route 41, in Post Falls, and on a new interchange at I-90 and Greensferry Road, in Post Falls, he says.

Jonathan Coe, president and general manager of the Coeur d’Alene Chamber of Commerce, says the chamber supports the proposed bypass as a high-speed alternative to U.S. 95 in Coeur d’Alene.

“It’s clear U.S. 95 is at or near capacity and will become overtaxed,” Coe says. “The key is to start with right-of-way acquisition as quickly as possible. The longer they wait, the more dislocation will be associated with it.”

http://www.spokanejournal.com/spokan...ticle&sub=3301
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Coeur d'Alene, ID Visitor's Bureau-http://www.coeurdalene.org/
Coeur d'Alene, ID population....56,733
Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA .......185,010
Spokane, WA-Cd'A, ID CSA....785,302
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  #103  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2007, 5:57 PM
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jimthemanincda jimthemanincda is offline
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Coeur d'Alene, ID Visitor's Bureau-http://www.coeurdalene.org/
Coeur d'Alene, ID population....56,733
Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA .......185,010
Spokane, WA-Cd'A, ID CSA....785,302

Last edited by jimthemanincda; Sep 21, 2007 at 5:15 PM.
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  #104  
Old Posted Sep 14, 2007, 7:53 PM
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According to the city, Coeur d'Alene is short nearly 400 parking spaces and might need two parking garages in the near future to meet current and future parking needs.

Report: Downtown parking needed
By LUCY DUKES

COEUR d'ALENE -- Downtown is short nearly 400 parking spaces, according to a preliminary report commissioned by the city.

The Rich and Associates and J.P. Stravens study, begun in spring, examined parking supply, turnover, demand and management. It also included surveys of employers, employees, the general public and stakeholders.

In figuring the number of parking spots needed, those conducting the study examined the square footage of buildings downtown and looked at how the buildings are used, calculating the demand at 3,184.

The total supply of both public and private parking is 2,822, according to the report.

One reason for the study is to see if a parking structure makes sense and what the time frame is.

Comments made at stakeholder meetings indicated that two public parking structures may be necessary. Potential sites listed are between Third and Fourth Streets in the block bordered on one side by Lakeside Avenue, and south of Front Street in the area of Seventh Street.

[Other ideas] include increasing ticket costs to individuals as their infractions pile up; using "boots" to immobilize vehicles whose drivers accumulate unpaid fines; and making downtown more friendly to pedestrians and bicyclists.

The study also recommends the city use hand-held technology to track license plate numbers, preventing vehicle shuffling by employees who work downtown.

There will be a need for more parking in the future, especially when the city, at some point, reconfigures the parking lot by McEuen Field according to a master plan created a few years ago by the Committee of Nine.

The preliminary report is available online at the city's Web site, www.coeurdaleneidaho.org.

Link: http://www.cdapress.com/articles/200...ews/news02.txt
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Coeur d'Alene, ID Visitor's Bureau-http://www.coeurdalene.org/
Coeur d'Alene, ID population....56,733
Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA .......185,010
Spokane, WA-Cd'A, ID CSA....785,302

Last edited by jimthemanincda; Sep 21, 2007 at 5:59 PM.
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  #105  
Old Posted Sep 17, 2007, 8:12 PM
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Good article from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer on Kellogg's transformation from a mining town in decline to a swanky ski resort community...

Former Idaho mining town finds new life as swanky ski resort
By NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS
ASSOCIATED PRESS WRITER

KELLOGG, Idaho -- It may seem an unlikely candidate for the Pacific Northwest's latest vacation hot spot, but this former mining town has survived decades of decline to boom once more.

The once-heavily-polluted mining community - a massive Superfund site - seems to have been transformed virtually overnight into a swanky ski resort with newcomers flocking to buy condos and open businesses.

"It was a definite surprise it took off the way it did," said Mayor Mac Pooler, a lifelong resident. "We were hoping something would do that."

In a place where homes were selling for $30,000 five years ago, brand-new condos costing more than $800,000 are selling as fast as they go on the market. A huge indoor water park is under construction in the ski village. A destination golf course is being built on the edge of the town.

New businesses are sprouting all over the town of 2,000 located in northern Idaho, about an hour east of Spokane, Wash.

Catalyst for much of the growth is Jeld-Wen Communities, the real estate arm of the Jeld-Wen wood products company of Klamath Falls, Ore. The company purchased the Silver Mountain ski resort in 1996 and began making plans to expand.

A key event occurred in 2004, when its first 68 condos were placed on the market and sold out immediately, some for as low as $100,000 as developers were unsure if there would be any demand. A second offering of 110 condos sold out in one day in 2005. The third and final phase of 99 condos sold out in one day late last year.

The latest batch of condos are quite posh, built on a mining theme with lots of stone, exposed beams and light fixtures that reproduce historical photos on the shades. Some cost more than $800,000.

A mile from the ski village, Jeld-Wen is building the 18-hole Galena Ridge golf course that will eventually contain hundreds of residences. The first 40 homesites are on the market and most have sold.

There is nothing unusual about a depleted western mining town turning into a ski resort. Telluride is a good example. But few places seemed less promising than Kellogg.

The site was initially founded in 1885 by prospector Noah Kellogg, whose donkey kicked over a shiny rock and thus triggered a massive silver boom that spread out to cover an entire region that became known as the Silver Valley.

For decades, thousands of underground miners brought home good wages and raised their families in Kellogg and surrounding communities. The mines produced vital materials for World Wars I and II, and Kellogg had more than 3,400 residents.

But the environmental costs were high, with mine tailings polluting water and smokestack emissions decimating surrounding vegetation.

Human costs were also high. In May 1972, fire broke out deep in the Sunshine mine, near Kellogg, trapping 93 miners below the surface. Only two survived.

The next year, a fire at the Bunker Hill smelter damaged the system that removed toxic lead from the smokestack emissions. Gulf Resources, the Texas company that operated the smelter, kept it running anyway, spewing lead into the air.

When health officials began testing the blood of local children in 1974, they found some of the highest lead poisoning levels in the world.

In 1981, the plunging price of silver prompted Bunker Hill to shut down, putting more than 2,000 people out of work and sending the region into a tailspin from which it is only now emerging.

Shoshone County's population fell from 20,000 in 1975 to around 14,000 today. The unemployment rate rose well into double digits.

In 1983, the Environmental Protection Agency declared the town and its immediate surroundings a Superfund site. The stigma hurt, but it triggered tens of millions of dollars for clean up.

Hillsides that had been denuded of trees by poison chemicals were replanted and now are lush again. The ground and water were cleaned up, and land was made safe for human activity.

After Bunker Hill closed, city officials decided that tourism was their best hope for a strong economy, and focused on pumping up business at the modest local ski area, originally called Jackass Ski Bowl, after Kellogg's donkey.

They built a 3.1 mile gondola, billed as the longest in the world, to carry skiers from parking lots near Interstate 90 straight up to the slopes, avoiding a treacherous mountain drive. But the ski area, renamed Silver Mountain, proved too difficult for the city to run and it was sold to Jeld-Wen in 1996.

As a private company, Jeld-Wen does not publicly disclose its finances. Stephen Lane, director of sales for Silver Mountain, said the company's investment in the area is considerable.

That's obvious on a tour.

The 42,000-square foot indoor water park, the only one at a western ski resort, is under construction in the ski village, and is set to open next February or March. It will have a surfing machine, a lazy river and slides.

The golf course sprawls across a hillside that used to be covered with toxic mining wastes. It will open with nine holes next year and 18 holes in 2010.

One big selling point in Kellogg is that, relative to the likes of Sun Valley or Vail, condos are still a bargain. And nearby Spokane's good air connections throughout the West make it a relatively short trip for people in Southern California and other places to fly in and then drive an hour to the ski area. Real estate manager Neal Scholey said condo owners hail from 15 states.

The area is also drawing a big boost from the construction of numerous paved biking trails that run for dozens of miles into the scenic mountains, drawing riders from around the world.

Instead of Superfund, the emphasis now is on "superfun," Lane said.

Link: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/...logg_Boom.html

Here's some updated pictures of Parkside. 15 stories built, 5 more to go!



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Coeur d'Alene, ID Visitor's Bureau-http://www.coeurdalene.org/
Coeur d'Alene, ID population....56,733
Coeur d'Alene, ID MSA .......185,010
Spokane, WA-Cd'A, ID CSA....785,302
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  #106  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 10:56 AM
N2I.F. N2I.F. is offline
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Question That's One Rumor or Law I've Never Heard

[QUOTE=Cottonwood;3050953] There was actually a lot of discussion and some colorful comments about the building height/tree news I referred to, and if I remember correctly there was even a thread all about this, but it may have been back before you joined last year, maybe it was discussed a year and a half ago. When I think about it, it was just an idea that someone on the city council had.
I don't recall anything on this forum about St. George, but in those predominately LDS towns where the temples are center stage, there are all kinds of rumors that the temples have to be the tallest structures in the towns...like Idaho Falls, St. George etc.[/QUOTE]

Good to see your post, Cottonwood. I wasn't aware that Idaho Falls had any rumors or laws about any building having to be the tallest structure. Please share your source, as I want (and honestly MUST) read more given the height of other structures already built or announcements to be made. That's new information for me. Clearly, that law, if there is one, has been broken, at least by several developers in Idaho Falls.

Your post wasn't what brought me to the CDA discussion, but I'm interested in what you know about rumors or even maybe a law in Idaho Falls and building height. Really interested.

Also, just because people seem to be so skewed about the facts of what religions, and percentages of each religions are in Idaho Falls, please clarify, Cottonwood, your source or meaning for "predominately LDS towns."

What's the % of LDS in the Boise area? Is it seen as predominately LDS? Boise has a LDS Temple too, and Twin Falls and Rexburg will have theirs open soon as well. Is someone in Idaho (or some group) putting out data that any Idaho city that has an LDS Temple in a city means the greatest percentage of residents are LDS? I've not seen those numbers and I simply don't know where the data is being published that Idaho Falls is predominately LDS.

Please help me out here. I don't think Boise is 50% LDS, but I may be very wrong. I haven't followed those numbers. If Boise is 50% (or more LDS) please update me, as I'm really out of the loop on that one. But, I'm surprised the myth remains about Idaho Falls.

I'm not saying this is you, Cottonwood, you know far too much about INL and other big business in Idaho Falls who recruit employees nationally (and internationally for some the very emerging companies - watch for another international announcement from a spin off, if you haven't seen it already), to ever believe a rumor that Idaho Falls is even 50% LDS in 2007.

Some seem to want to make it an issue because an LDS Temple is in Idaho Falls thus it must be "predominantly LDS."

I remember asking, via a PM, someone who lives full-time in UT why frequent visitor from Phoenix, who posts in UT forums fairly often, refuses to read/hear the hard data. Salt Lake County isn't even 50% LDS and that has been well documented. Yet, this "contributor" continues to write his/her views, which I have no problem with as long as it is crystal clear they are only his/her views, not FACTS, stating his/her beliefs as the facts. I don't understand those people and who they think they are fooling.

When Salt Lake City proper is examined, the % of LDS is far less, meaning more LDS appear to be in the burbs in 1,000,000+ SL County residents. Not trying to rehash that issue here, except to ask why do these myths prevail?

I'm totally puzzled why some people who don't live in, do business in or have ventures etc. in a specific area continue to perpetuate their own opinion or a myth as fact. What can everyone do to stop them?

Sorry to be off topic about CDA, as I have a bunch of questions about CDA - I'm behind and need a fast tutorial of some of the venture groups etc. I sincerely apologize. I've got two sizzling CDA questions I want to know more about what's really happening, but don't want to mix apples and oranges in this post.

Cottonwood's post, being the last before mine, just made me wonder that question again. I posed it to some in UT and now I'm posing the same question to some who live, or have financial interests/businesses in or are otherwise invested in the CDA area.

I look forward to all of your thoughts.

Thanks, Cottonwood, for addressing that issue here so I can read the views of some who are in Northern Idaho. I'm interested in viewpoints from another geographical area.
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  #107  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 11:15 AM
N2I.F. N2I.F. is offline
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Thumbs up Lost Post ?????

I don't know where my earlier post went??????? Have you got aliens or some monitoring posts in CDA?

Seriously, I have so many questions and don't have the time right now to re-write them.

Plus, Cottonwood raises such a good question of why myths about certain cities contine. LDS Temple in Idaho Falls having to be the tallest? That is news to me!

Anyway, I'll try again when I have a little more time.

The pics are great!
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  #108  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 2:41 PM
Cottonwood Cottonwood is offline
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Oh brother
N2if, jimthemanincda and I were discussing building height and the rumor (you refer to laws, but laws were not mentioned ) about building height St. George was brought up and I just added to his comment about the rumor over the temple having to be the tallest building in smaller towns. For your information there are rumors out there about temples being the tallest buildings in predominately LDS towns, which Idaho Falls falls into, sorry, I don't know why you take issue to that, but Idaho Falls is very influenced by the LDS church and there is nothing wrong with it. Nothing at all. And of course, we all know that it is just a rumor because Idaho Falls has buildings proposed (a hotel right?) that would be taller than the temple. There is even the false rumor about the COB in SLC having to be their tallest ,which is just a rumor.
Sorry I cannot confirm sources about the rumors, after all they are just rumors and nothing more. Since when does simple discussion become such an issue?

Anyways.......

jimthemanincda,
the info I pasted below from your previous post is interesting news, but not surprising. It seems natural that Idaho's two largest commercial centers would be evenly split between the north and the south of the state

---According to the Idaho Department of Labor, two of every three homes were built in the Boise and Coeur d’Alene areas in 2006.

That means that 66% of the new homes in the state were built in areas that currently have 47.6% state's population. This further shows the explosive growth in the Boise and Coeur d'Alene areas.

699,147 (population of Boise & Cd'A metros in 2006)
1,466,465 (state of Idaho population 2006)
47.6% (percent of Idaho living in Boise & Cd'A metros 2006)

Last edited by Cottonwood; Sep 21, 2007 at 3:05 PM.
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  #109  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 6:34 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jimthemanincda View Post

The seasonal magazine, Outside Bozeman, has been comparing Bozeman to cities around the country during the past few years. During this issue, it was Bozeman vs. Coeur d'Alene. Bozeman won. Imagine that, Bozeman winning a city vs. city contest in a Bozeman magazine... Interestingly enough, Bozeman has been rated "better" than every other city the magazine has compared it to, including: Coeur d'Alene; Ithaca, NY; Boulder, CO; Missoula, MT; Flagstaff, AZ; and Burlington, VT. Everyone should check out the article. Watch out, your city might be next
Quite the entertaining article.


Quote:
Originally Posted by jimthemanincda View Post

---[B]Planning heightens for Huetter bypass

“A lot of people there are not trying to find businesses,” he says. “They are trying to move to or from places farther north.”

One of those “no” votes was cast by Clay Larkin, mayor of Post Falls.

Larkin says the KMPO recommendation would put too many limits on land use for the sake of a project that has no identified funding.

“We’re talking about a project that’s 20 years out, when the Idaho Transportation Department is $2 billion in arrears for planned projects,” he says.
So...because there's no current funding, planning should be eliminated so they can make it into a mess? ...Sounds good to me, that's what we do in Boise.


Quote:
Originally Posted by jimthemanincda View Post

Larkin says the proposed U.S. 95 alignment puts most of the burden on property owners on the west side of Huetter Road, rather than on the east side of Huetter, where the land is within the city limits of Coeur d’Alene and Hayden.

He says he doubts that Post Falls City Council will embrace the KMPO right of way recommendation.

“My guess is it will have tough sledding with us,” he says.

Also, Larkin describes the proposed Huetter route as “only half a bypass” because it doesn’t extend south of I-90, and wouldn’t be used by motorists coming from south of Coeur d’Alene.

“Who would travel up U.S. 95 to Coeur d’Alene, then drive four miles to the west to take a bypass, when that would probably take just as long as it would to drive through Coeur d’Alene?” he says.

Transportation resources would be put to better use on improvements to the current U.S. 95, in Coeur d’Alene, and state Route 41, in Post Falls, and on a new interchange at I-90 and Greensferry Road, in Post Falls, he says.
They're more than welcome to have our Eagle Road here in Boise. IMO that's what will happen if they don't provide a northern expressway.

By this article, it sounds as if you northerns are serious about planning before its to late, unlike us southerns who are still trying to wrap our minds around the concept.
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Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 8:12 PM
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Quite the entertaining article.

They're more than welcome to have our Eagle Road here in Boise. IMO that's what will happen if they don't provide a northern expressway.

By this article, it sounds as if you northerns are serious about planning before its to late, unlike us southerns who are still trying to wrap our minds around the concept.
Yes, we're serious about planning. There are voices of opposition still, as there are in any other place (NIMBYS or as I like to call them, CAVEMEN-citizens against virtually everything), but I think the growth and development backers are winning out. Thank God.

It sucks that construction is still a long time down the road, but planning is necessary and the purchasing of rights of way is the first step. I am happy though that other large highway needs up to this point are finally being met (the expansion of Hwy. 95 to 4 lanes from Sandpoint through Cd'A, continuing south most of the way to Moscow). That was a dangerous and heavily traveled section of road.

Post Falls' Mayor Larkin was one of the three who didn't vote for the proposal because, as the article said, most of the burden is put on property owners on the west side of Huetter Road (i.e. PF city limits where Larkin has to answer to his constituents), rather than on the east side of Huetter, where the land is within the city limits of Coeur d’Alene and Hayden. He's just playing to his city's needs and not taking into account the needs of the whole area. Small-minded thinking in my opinion.

I do agree with his assessment, though, that the bypass is not "complete." Originally, the plans called for the bypass to run from the Hwy. 95-Hwy. 53 interchange in the north to Hwy. 95 south of Cd'A (south of I-90 where the proposed terminus is now). Yes, as it stands we'll have a six mile bypass, relieving congestion on Hwy. 95 and Hwy. 41. In addition there are plans to expand Hwy. 95 to 6 lanes and Hwy. 41 to 4 lanes in the coming years, but the bypass truly should extend south past I-90. That way people wanting to bypass town and go farther north won't have to drive up Hwy. 95, take I-90 4 miles west, then get on the bypass.

This picture helps explain what I'm talking about. Right now the southern terminus of the bypass is at I-90. It would only take about 2 more miles to extend it over the Spokane River to Hwy. 95 south of Cd'A. There are houses on the south side of the Spokane River and the terrain is not as flat as on the north side of the river, but it's not too bad. It's better to buy up land now than wait many years when land is too expensive (it's already really high) along the water and on the hills above.

[The red line is the current proposal, while the green lines are possible routes the southern bypass extension could take. We're already building 6 miles, why not two more and make a complete bypass? We're on the right track. I think this project is 90% satisfactory, but a southern extension would make the project perfect.]
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  #111  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 8:31 PM
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Hey, Jim, I am curious about the plans to make US95 into 6 lanes. That will be sooooooooo nice for those of that have to battle it daily! It gets so bad at about 5 (or all the time during the summer).

And there are lots of peole that don't think the Heutter bypass will help--have you ever looked at how many of the plates are WA? About a third, I am guessing. These people are likely going to Sandpoint, Silverwood or Canada, and if we can funnel them out of Cd'A, traffic will improve tons.

Lastly, does anyone have any new developments on what is coming to PF by Cabela's? I have heard a SuperTarget, and I think that there is a very good chance we'll see that (the mayor even said so...). I am thinking also maybe a Home Depot (yes, there is one 5 miles down I90), a nicer hotel, maybe some grille style restaraunts like Applebees or Chilis, and I think that with the way Kohl's is expanding into the PNW, we may see them there too. I am just thinking of the shopping centers in teh area, and rarely is a store ever by itself.
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Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 10:14 PM
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Hey, Jim, I am curious about the plans to make US95 into 6 lanes. That will be sooooooooo nice for those of that have to battle it daily! It gets so bad at about 5 (or all the time during the summer).

And there are lots of peole that don't think the Heutter bypass will help--have you ever looked at how many of the plates are WA? About a third, I am guessing. These people are likely going to Sandpoint, Silverwood or Canada, and if we can funnel them out of Cd'A, traffic will improve tons.

Lastly, does anyone have any new developments on what is coming to PF by Cabela's? I have heard a SuperTarget, and I think that there is a very good chance we'll see that (the mayor even said so...). I am thinking also maybe a Home Depot (yes, there is one 5 miles down I90), a nicer hotel, maybe some grille style restaraunts like Applebees or Chilis, and I think that with the way Kohl's is expanding into the PNW, we may see them there too. I am just thinking of the shopping centers in teh area, and rarely is a store ever by itself.
I definately think the bypass will help. 60mph speed limit instead of the 45mph on Hwy. 95, plus NO STOP LIGHTS-it will be awesome and will be greatly needed by the time it is built.

Regarding future plans for Hwy. 95, I know a good deal about them. I was an intern for Butch Otter back when he was a US Congressman. Besides my daily tasks, I sometimes worked on in-depth reports. One of the major reports I did were the future plans for Hwy. 95.

Every metro area has to create a long-term transportation plan. Our Cd'A Metro organization just completed our 2030 Long-Term Plan last month. If you go through it, it details the improvements that are planned for local highways, roads, bike trails, and public transit.

Hwy. 95 is planned, by 2030, to have 7 lanes (3 in each direction plus a turning lane) through Hayden. Other large lane expansions include:
-I-90 having 6 lanes from the Sherman exit in Cd'A to Huetter Road and 8 lanes from Huetter Road west through all of Post Falls to the state line (WA is planning on expanding I-90 to 6 lanes from Sullivan Road in Spokane Valley all the way to the ID state line in the next few years)
-15th Street in Cd'A having 4 lanes all the way from downtown to Dalton Avenue.
-Hwy. 41 having 5 lanes (2 in each direction plus a turning lane) from I-90 through Rathdrum all the way to Spirit Lake
-Hwy. 53 having 4 lanes from the WA state line to Garwood


Of course all of these expansions are just planned, some will not be built by 2030 because of $, but some-hopefully most-will be built by then. The 8 lanes on I-90 from Huetter Road to the state line seem like they would be the first project to be cut. My guess is that you'll see 6 lanes-all the way from the Spokane airport, through Spokane, the Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake, Post Falls, and Coeur d'Alene.

Let me know if you have any particular questions. Here's the link to the KMPO Long-Term Transportation Plan: http://www.kmpo.net/mtp-page.html


Regarding the Cabela's site, here's what I know-the store opens on November 9 and is expected to draw 2 MILLION people a year, making it one of Idaho's largest tourist attractions. The store is 125,000 square feet. Customers are expected to stay in the store for 3 1/2 hours on average. Half of the customers will come from farther than 50 miles away. It's a 200-acre project and there will be 3 other large anchor stores and 2 hotel sites.

Now the speculation-I remember hearing something about Super Target and a home improvement chain going in. As to Super Target going in, I think with the size of Post Falls now, the city definately can support a second large retailer besides Wal-Mart or having citizens drive to Cd'A or Spokane Valley. Lowes is also a good idea since there is no large home improvement store in Post Falls. There is a Home Depot and Lowes in Cd'A. There is also a Home Depot in Liberty Lake, about 5 miles away from The Pointe site, that is why I doubt Home Depot would be building there...

I'm sure there are a few pads on the site for restaurants. I haven't heard anything specific, but I agree with your thoughts/opinions on a grill-style restaurant such as Applebees or Chillis. Other possible restaurant chains off of the top of my head that might work well include Olive Garden, TGI Friday's, Red Lobster, Ruby Tuesday's and Red Robin. There also might be a few fast food joints.

I haven't thought too much about what retailers might move there besides Super Target, but I do know for sure that there will be 3 large anchor stores besides Cabela's. If you assume Lowe's and Super Target are two of them, that obviously leaves one more. Your Kohl's idea is interesting. They are finally opening stores in the area, with the one in Cd'A and one by Northtown Mall in Spokane both opening next month. I know the area could support a third Kohl's, and it would be a good location and probably cheaper to build in PF than by the Spokane Valley Mall.

I'm sure there will also be other small retailers, such as clothing and jewelry stores and a gas station/convenience store or two in the area as well.
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  #113  
Old Posted Sep 21, 2007, 11:37 PM
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Jim your posts are like my favorite because you know so much! I really don't like the idea of US95 being 7 lanes--mainly because of the center turn lane...it'll just make it into an ugly replica of Sprague in the valley as opposed to the relatively pleasane looking boulevard it is now...I think they should keep the grassy median, if at all possible. Also, I think that SH41 will become the next US95...it is already pretty bad with traffic, and it def. could be 4 lanes in the future (same thing, I hope it is divided). I90 I don't think will EVER be 8 lanes unless they do a c/d thing at the intersection with the bypass. Afterall, we are the North, and well, there is Boise to compete with.

I think that the bypass stands a VERY good chance of being built since it'd likely be funded with federal monies (and US95 is important for NAFTA--but that is a different story )

I Just really hope that with all the road improvements that we can get a lightrail system started with Spokane...however, I doubt it will ever happen.
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  #114  
Old Posted Sep 22, 2007, 4:42 AM
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There are voices of opposition still, as there are in any other place (NIMBYS or as I like to call them, CAVEMEN-citizens against virtually everything)
Nice!

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I do agree with his assessment, though, that the bypass is not "complete." Originally, the plans called for the bypass to run from the Hwy. 95-Hwy. 53 interchange in the north to Hwy. 95 south of Cd'A (south of I-90 where the proposed terminus is now). Yes, as it stands we'll have a six mile bypass, relieving congestion on Hwy. 95 and Hwy. 41. In addition there are plans to expand Hwy. 95 to 6 lanes and Hwy. 41 to 4 lanes in the coming years, but the bypass truly should extend south past I-90. That way people wanting to bypass town and go farther north won't have to drive up Hwy. 95, take I-90 4 miles west, then get on the bypass.

This picture helps explain what I'm talking about. Right now the southern terminus of the bypass is at I-90. It would only take about 2 more miles to extend it over the Spokane River to Hwy. 95 south of Cd'A. There are houses on the south side of the Spokane River and the terrain is not as flat as on the north side of the river, but it's not too bad. It's better to buy up land now than wait many years when land is too expensive (it's already really high) along the water and on the hills above.

[The red line is the current proposal, while the green lines are possible routes the southern bypass extension could take. We're already building 6 miles, why not two more and make a complete bypass? We're on the right track. I think this project is 90% satisfactory, but a southern extension would make the project perfect.]
I completely agree (sorry I didn't have the time to articulate that earlier).

This sounds a lot like the problems with Hwy. 16 extension from I84 to Emmett. The new expressway should continue around Emmett, not dump all the traffic onto the main street thru town. This new route should become the new north/south freeway corridor for "CONNECTING IDAHO" as was the title of this now debacle called the GARVEE plan.
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Old Posted Sep 22, 2007, 7:28 AM
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Wink Ok

What brought me to this thread, besides a couple of other development issues/questions posted elsewhere, was to say thanks to the residents of CDA and the Mayor.


A generic thanks to the residents of the Panhandle, CDA specifically and the mayor.

I think I'll return at a different time or send Jim a PM to finish the other info of CDA endorsed.

Have fun
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  #116  
Old Posted Sep 22, 2007, 4:17 PM
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Full disclosure-I have to admit Boizean that I did not come up with the CAVEMEN acronym. I got it from a local newspaper columnist who uses it in his articles a lot (he didn't come up with it either, but he's popularized the line).

By the way, I posted a list of buildings 7 stories and higher in Cd'A on the first page of this thread. It was inspired by your Boise list (though it not quite as extensive ).
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Old Posted Sep 22, 2007, 7:01 PM
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Much appreciation jimthemanincda for the project list.
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  #118  
Old Posted Sep 22, 2007, 9:35 PM
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Cody, it's funny that we were talking about the Cabela's site yesterday and today we get this article in the Press about Wal-Mart negotiating to build there:

Wal-Mart may join Cabela's
By BRIAN WALKER

POST FALLS -- It appears Wal-Mart is far from being settled in Kootenai County.

The big box retailer is reportedly negotiating with the developer of the project anchored by Cabela's near the state line.

"Staff has surmised this is the case since Foursquare has told us that they are in talks with Wal-Mart to construct a superstore in their development," Post Falls city administrator Eric Keck said.

The movement may be puzzling to some, especially since Wal-Mart officials have said the supercenter on Mullan Avenue in Post Falls has exceeded company expectations since it opened about six years ago.

Wal-Mart also has a store on Sullivan in Spokane Valley and still plans to build one at U.S. 95 and Honeysuckle in Hayden.

There's evidence that Wal-Mart wants a bigger presence in the area.

"Wal-Mart had submitted plans for expansion of their Mullan Avenue location, which were reviewed and a permit prepared," Keck said. "Wal-Mart then subsequently decided to not take out the permit for the work at the Mullan Avenue location."

Keck said that Cabela's developer Foursquare Properties has not told city officials that Wal-Mart is definitely coming to the site, but said there are ongoing negotiations.

Wal-Mart has purchased the Hayden site and is currently updating its plans to resubmit to the city.

Wal-Mart's plans for Hayden are "moving along quite well."

The average size of supercenters is 205,000 square feet. They employ roughly 300 people who make an average of $10 per hour, according to the retailer.

Foursquare has not announced any tenants in The Pointe at Post Falls project along Interstate 90 except outdoors giant Cabela's, which is slated to open in November. However, home improvement big box Lowe's is expected to finalize a deal soon. The Post Falls Chamber of Commerce and Visitor's Center also plans to move to the project. Target was earlier rumored to be looking, but it's unclear if it is still in the picture.

Link: http://www.cdapress.com/articles/200...ews/news01.txt
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  #119  
Old Posted Sep 23, 2007, 12:50 AM
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Oh I know, however the news of another WalMart in Post Falls is exactly great news....I'd like some variety!
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Old Posted Sep 23, 2007, 2:17 AM
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Oh I know, however the news of another WalMart in Post Falls is exactly great news....I'd like some variety!
I'm assuming you meant to say "not good news."

I don't mind Wal-Mart, and this just confirms growth in our area, but I agree that it's not really newsworthy. There's a LOT more important and bigger projects going on in the area (I have a few articles left to post from the past couple of days, but I'll wait until tomorrow to post them). The only reason why I posted the Wal-Mart information is since we were talking about the Cabela's site yesterday.
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