Agency Recognized with “BOMA Building Excellence Award”
June 28, 2023Celebrating CCDC’s Infill Housing Project: Agency Recognized with “BOMA Building Excellence Award”
CCDC’s most recent housing infill project, The Martha, received a Building Excellence Award from the Idaho Chapter of the Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA). The organization honored CCDC at its recent awards event held at Eagles Landing in Meridian.
The Martha, located at the corner of 17th and Idaho streets, is the fourth successful CCDC residential partnership in the last ten years. In recognizing CCDC, the presenters noted its excellence in regulatory advancement and pointed to it as a shining example of creativity, community collaboration, and the power of public-private partnerships.
“This project completes a grand slam of four outstanding housing and mixed-use projects envisioned and initiated by CCDC,” said John Brunelle, executive director of the redevelopment agency. “We’re happy to be recognized by BOMA and appreciate the collaboration with our public and private partners to transform vacant and under-utilized parcels into new homes in an established downtown neighborhood.”
The Martha: A Visionary Infill Housing Development
The three-story multifamily building in the Westside Urban Renewal District has introduced 48 units with a thoughtfully designed mix of studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom units, ranging from approximately 450 to 900 square feet.
The Agency first identified the property as a potential infill site through its “Walk Every Block” program, in which CCDC employees walk each street in the Agency’s Urban Renewal Districts, looking for opportunities to improve the built environment. This “boots on the ground” program led to the purchase of the property in July 2020. Within three months, the Agency issued its Request for Proposals for an infill redevelopment project. CCDC selected the team of SMR Development, deChase Miksis, Edlen & Co, and Pivot North Architecture a short time later.
SMR Development and its team took the project to a higher level, according to Brunelle. “They were able to assemble adjacent property, navigate through the outreach, approval, and construction process, and take these homes to the market at lightning speed.”
From the day CCDC closed on its property purchase of the vacant lot, it took only 32 months until The Martha received its Certificate of Occupancy.
The Martha is also Boise’s first completed housing project to utilize the city’s Housing Bonus Ordinance. The ordinance and combining additional private parcels with the CCDC property ultimately allowed the development team to maximize the density and contribute more units to the neighborhood.
The project was envisioned as an integrated part of the neighborhood, and both the Agency and developers took important steps to ensure that. The design and development team worked closely with the community, taking into consideration feedback on building height and massing to transition from the adjacent single-family homes. Additionally, the inclusion of a large mural by local artist Lorelle Rau highlights the building’s entry and reflects the active and creative nature of the neighborhood.
Housing Diversity and a Commitment to Long-Term Affordability
The Martha was conceived with the goal of increasing high-quality housing options for downtown Boise’s workforce, and it has delivered on that promise. The development ensures that its average rents do not exceed 100% Area Median Income (AMI) rents for the next eight years and that eight units are permanently affordable at 100% AMI for the next 30 years. Additionally, at least one unit will serve families earning 60% AMI, and another unit is reserved for residents from a local non-profit voucher program or earning 60% AMI.
This commitment to long-term affordability is a testament to the project’s vision of creating sustainable solutions to Boise’s housing needs.
2023 BOMA Idaho Building Excellence Awards
The Martha’s recognition with the BOMA Building Excellence Award is a testament to the collaborative efforts of CCDC, the City of Boise, and the talented development and design team. This project exemplifies the dedication to providing housing options with deed-restricted rents to meet the diverse needs of our community. It demonstrates that when the public and private sectors unite with a shared vision, incredible transformations can take place.
The Martha stands tall as a model for future workforce housing projects, offering a beautifully designed and sustainable living environment for Boise residents.
For more information about The Martha, including leasing and availability, visit https://www.livemartha.com/.