Idaho Falls/Pocatello Development Thread

[Bob The Builder]

The new Lab Building At INL's Idaho Falls campus:

[Bob The Builder]

"The INL will be starting construction on a 3 story, 148,000 sq. ft. lab next spring. Things are really starting to line up next year for construction and hopefully will start a little "boom". Desperatly needed."


How did you hear about this other new lab? Is it out at the 'Site'? Or here in town?

[IFguy]

Originally Posted by Bob The Builder

"The INL will be starting construction on a 3 story, 148,000 sq. ft. lab next spring. Things are really starting to line up next year for construction and hopefully will start a little "boom". Desperatly needed."


How did you hear about this other new lab? Is it out at the 'Site'? Or here in town?

In town at the campus north of Freeman Park. They are working on the the Education and Research Lab right now and will start on this newly announced lab in the spring! Check out Localnews8, or any of the other news stations websites.

[Cottonwood]

Sound like good things are happening in Idaho Falls!

[IFguy]

Originally Posted by Cottonwood

Sound like good things are happening in Idaho Falls!

Yeah, a projection came out just a few days ago that they expect Idaho Falls to reach 91K and Bonneville County to reach 200K by the year 2035. I tell you what though, the economy better start turning around quick if this is going to happen. More than likely there will be a nice kickstart to it next spring, just need Arevas approval and we're off and running.

[Boiseguy]

Originally Posted by IFguy

Yeah, a projection came out just a few days ago that they expect Idaho Falls to reach 91K and Bonneville County to reach 200K by the year 2035. I tell you what though, the economy better start turning around quick if this is going to happen. More than likely there will be a nice kickstart to it next spring, just need Arevas approval and we're off and running.

apparently Pocatello is poised to boom as well with some projects there. Somebody said something about a fab facility or something in the process of being built. I drove through there a while back and there was a big 6 story hospital on the side of the mountain and what looks like a big hotel/casino being built on the reservation...

[redzeppelin]

Originally Posted by Boiseguy

apparently Pocatello is poised to boom as well with some projects there. Somebody said something about a fab facility or something in the process of being built. I drove through there a while back and there was a big 6 story hospital on the side of the mountain and what looks like a big hotel/casino being built on the reservation...

I grew up in the Pocatello area, but admit to being a little out of touch with the current state of things. Regarding the hospital, Pocatello has spent most of the past 30 years with 2 competing hospitals that eventually merged under a common management umbrella. They finally decided to consolidate operations at the site of the newer hospital, and are expanding the facilities there significantly. I think that ISU is taking over the old hospital building, but I don't remember the intended use.

The city has had some ups and downs in recent years, and a lot of the infrastructure is aging. I would love to see some major revitalization happen. My friends who still live there always seem pessimistic when I ask them about "things in Pocatello." For most of the 20th century the fortunes of Pocatello were closely tied to the large Union Pacific operations there. The number of railroad jobs have dropped dramatically over the years, but the city is forever split in half by the rail yards. The old downtown area is wedged between mountains on the west and rail yards on the east, while virtually all new development since about 1950 is to the east of the rail yards. With the downsizing of their operations, I would love to see UP open up some of that land to new development to better connect the two sides of the city. I think that alone could do a lot to help the city.

[el conquistador]

Originally Posted by redzeppelin

I grew up in the Pocatello area, but admit to being a little out of touch with the current state of things. Regarding the hospital, Pocatello has spent most of the past 30 years with 2 competing hospitals that eventually merged under a common management umbrella. They finally decided to consolidate operations at the site of the newer hospital, and are expanding the facilities there significantly. I think that ISU is taking over the old hospital building, but I don't remember the intended use.

The city has had some ups and downs in recent years, and a lot of the infrastructure is aging. I would love to see some major revitalization happen. My friends who still live there always seem pessimistic when I ask them about "things in Pocatello." For most of the 20th century the fortunes of Pocatello were closely tied to the large Union Pacific operations there. The number of railroad jobs have dropped dramatically over the years, but the city is forever split in half by the rail yards. The old downtown area is wedged between mountains on the west and rail yards on the east, while virtually all new development since about 1950 is to the east of the rail yards. With the downsizing of their operations, I would love to see UP open up some of that land to new development to would bring the two sides of the city closer together. I think that alone could do a lot to help the city.

I was in Pocatello for a couple days for work recently, and I see so much potential with the old downtown area. There are already some cool, funky shops and restaurants.

Oh, and I had to stuff my face at Buddy's Italian restaurant. Damn I forget how good that place is!

[IFguy]

The NRC has approved and licensed the Areva enrichment plant! Construction shall commence next spring so bring on the jobs!!!

[GrandTeton]

Is there a site that has information on the population projections reaching 90,000 in 2035? I grew up in I.F. and I'm interested in looking at the estimates. Speaking of growth, is there any talk of infill in the city?

Does anyone know about plans for the future of the Saving Center property downtown? I believe that Greg Carr owns that property, and he is known to get projects rolling i.e. the Museum of Idaho, the Bank of Idaho building, the U.S. Bank building and the Carr Gallery (I'm sure there are more).


On a side note, here's an article featuring Idaho Falls and the INL mass transit- http://www.theatlanticcities.com/com...e-transit/257/.

[IFguy]

Originally Posted by GrandTeton

Is there a site that has information on the population projections reaching 90,000 in 2035? I grew up in I.F. and I'm interested in looking at the estimates. Speaking of growth, is there any talk of infill in the city?

Does anyone know about plans for the future of the Saving Center property downtown? I believe that Greg Carr owns that property, and he is known to get projects rolling i.e. the Museum of Idaho, the Bank of Idaho building, the U.S. Bank building and the Carr Gallery (I'm sure there are more).


On a side note, here's an article featuring Idaho Falls and the INL mass transit- http://www.theatlanticcities.com/com...e-transit/257/.

There are plans to build a 4 story mixed use building on the Savings Center property. Bottom floor retail, second floor offices, third and fourth floor residential. Haven't heard anything about it for a while however. If I can locate a link or pic I will definitely post it here.

I will need to do some searching to find a link to the population projection for 2035. It was in the Post Register so the report has to be out there somewhere.

Idaho Falls is infilling fairly well. Bonneville County is growing together nicely. I'm sure within the end of the decade you won't know when you left Idaho Falls and entered Iona or when you left Iona and entered Ammon. I think most of the farmers around here are holding out for top dollar and that's why developments are scattered about.

[Cottonwood]

Originally Posted by IFguy

The NRC has approved and licensed the Areva enrichment plant! Construction shall commence next spring so bring on the jobs!!!

Good news for Idaho Falls!
Here is some info from the BW. The Snake River Alliance is against this, of course, but if there is any pollution we should just send it south of the state line border.

http://www.boiseweekly.com/CityDesk/...-uranium-plant

[IFguy]

Anyone interested in all aspects business should check these sites out. The first is created by the honorable Paul Menser from the heyday of the Shoptalk column in the Post Register. The second was created by yours truly to bring IF growth junkies together to discuss the good, the bad, and sometimes, the ugly. Enjoy!

http://bizmojoidaho.blogspot.com

http://idahofallsprojects.wordpress.com

[IFguy]

The Marriott Residence in has resumed construction and is slated for a spring opening!

Another interesting story is that the IF Regional Airport is considering expanding the terminal and looking at adding a non stop flight to Hawaii, the flight and whether or not it will happen should be decided during the next 60 days.

The San Fran, Las Vegas, So Cal, Phoenix, and Boise flights are all doing really well. Opening up new routes to the midwest do look unlikely at the moment however.

[GrandTeton]

A direct flight to Seattle would make things a lot easier for me when I visit family. I hope that happens someday soon.

With all the activity downtown such as Idahoan, Syringa, Memorial Drive, and the completion of the Marriott Residence Inn, is there any demand to for folks to live in the heart downtown? I think the D.I. property and that whole area is begging to be redeveloped for mixed-use, especially when the Memorial Drive project is complete.

[IFguy]

Originally Posted by GrandTeton

A direct flight to Seattle would make things a lot easier for me when I visit family. I hope that happens someday soon.

With all the activity downtown such as Idahoan, Syringa, Memorial Drive, and the completion of the Marriott Residence Inn, is there any demand to for folks to live in the heart downtown? I think the D.I. property and that whole area is begging to be redeveloped for mixed-use, especially when the Memorial Drive project is complete.

I imagine the flight has been talked about. However I wonder if they tested the San Fransisco flight first to see how it would take. It sounds like it's going really well bringing in Asian tourists, time shall tell if there will be a Seattle flight.

I agree about downtown, after the Savings Center property is redeveloped I would imagine the north end of downtown will begin its new era. There are quite a few domiciles downtown, however not all of them are of quality.

[Cottonwood]

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/1...ine-maker.html

Idaho Falls nuclear medicine maker, ISU to produce cancer-fighting isotope
- Statesman staff
Idaho Statesman
Published: 11/22/11

Idaho Falls-based International Isotopes Inc., a manufacturer of nuclear medicine products, and Idaho State University began a joint partnership this month to produce Copper-67.

Copper-67 shows great potential in treating non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma as well as bladder, colorectal and ovarian cancers, the company said. However, it is a difficult isotope to produce and has not been consistently available in the United States. That has restricted its evaluation in cancer research and clinical trials.

Idaho State University developed an advanced method for producing the isotope using technologies at its Idaho Accelerator Center in Pocatello. Under an agreement, Idaho State will produce the raw isotope and International Isotopes will transfer the material to its Idaho Falls headquarters, where it will be processed and packaged in its final form.

[jimthemanincda]

Originally Posted by IFguy

Yeah, a projection came out just a few days ago that they expect Idaho Falls to reach 91K and Bonneville County to reach 200K by the year 2035. I tell you what though, the economy better start turning around quick if this is going to happen. More than likely there will be a nice kickstart to it next spring, just need Arevas approval and we're off and running.

The city estimate for 2035 comes from the City of Idaho Falls Planning Commission. It estimates that there will be 88,542 people in the city in 2030 and 91,586 in 2035. It also estimates that there will be 160,985 people in Bonneville County in 2030 and 173,458 in 2035. Here's the link (pg. 21 of 53 is the relevant population page): http://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/wwwro..._county.01.pdf

Here are some older estimates for the I.F. metro...the metro numbers are lower and include two counties...
Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization's 2035 Long Range Transportation Plan...Idaho Falls' metro (Bonneville and Jefferson counties) population is estimated to be at 166,600 in 2035. Here's the link (pg. 7 of 83 is the population page): http://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/wwwro...tp_5-11-11.pdf
Another BMPO document has 2035 estimates for the metro at 165,626. Here's the link (pg. 2 of 31 is the population page): http://www.idahofallsidaho.gov/wwwro...sts_update.pdf

[GrandTeton]

Thanks for finding that.

I wonder how Idaho Falls plans to keep up with all that growth. I'd be disappointed if Idaho Falls continues expanding out but not up. I hope I.F. chooses to go for the infill and redevelopment route.

I have a proposal- if Idaho Falls expands its city limits from 17 to 20 square miles over 20 years, and raises the density from 3200 people per square mile to 4200 people per square mile, sprawl would finally be under control without expanding too much and leaving plenty of room for agriculture. Of course that would call for more public transit and tighter living quarters, which eastern Idaho doesn't exactly embrace.

One can dream...

I don't want my hometown to mimic a suburb, which seems to be the case every time I visit. Imagine how incredible the city would be if city planners and developers focused on downtown and the run-down areas just as much as they do for the east and south sides...

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome if the water tower was converted into a observation tower?

[IFguy]

Originally Posted by GrandTeton

Thanks for finding that.

I wonder how Idaho Falls plans to keep up with all that growth. I'd be disappointed if Idaho Falls continues expanding out but not up. I hope I.F. chooses to go for the infill and redevelopment route.

I have a proposal- if Idaho Falls expands its city limits from 17 to 20 square miles over 20 years, and raises the density from 3200 people per square mile to 4200 people per square mile, sprawl would finally be under control without expanding too much and leaving plenty of room for agriculture. Of course that would call for more public transit and tighter living quarters, which eastern Idaho doesn't exactly embrace.

One can dream...

I don't want my hometown to mimic a suburb, which seems to be the case every time I visit. Imagine how incredible the city would be if city planners and developers focused on downtown and the run-down areas just as much as they do for the east and south sides...

On a side note, wouldn't it be awesome if the water tower was converted into a observation tower?

Hopefully you are right...however I believe that there will be a lot more sprawl before Idaho Falls grows "up". Idaho Falls is going to have to gain more young professionals who would rather live in condos and apartments. Right now the American dream of home ownership is the going thing here. I do think however IF is not too far away from growing up. It just takes time and the population has to be there.