News Media Center

River-Myrtle/Old Boise URD Projects Update

February 3, 2022

News & Notes

News Update on CCDC Projects in the River-Myrtle/Old Boise URD

The city’s largest district, River-Myrtle/Old Boise is made up of two distinct zones: the areas adjacent to the Boise River, public parks, and the historic downtown section known as Old Boise.

 

 

Economic Development

5th & Front Streets – Hotel and Parking Garage – PP Type 3, 5:  CCDC leases 200 monthly, reserved spaces for public use and will reimburse for the installation of the approved public art piece, “Pale Blue Dot.” On October 11, 2021, the Board approved an amendment to extend the deadline for the art installation to December 31, 2022 due to material and fabrication delays.  Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

200 W. Myrtle Street – Jules on 3rd (formerly Boise Caddis) – PP Type 2:  This 160 unit apartment building with ground floor retail and parking garage owned by Ada County held its opening celebration on August 5. Cost Documentation for approximately $1.2 million in eligible expenses will be complete as soon as the easement agreement is executed with the City of Boise and reimbursement will begin next year. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

204 E. Myrtle Street – CDG Boise – PP Type 2: The Board approved Type 2 assistance in December 2019. CDG Boise is building a 249-unit apartment building with 353 parking spaces. CCDC will reimburse approximately $980,000 of public improvements including streetscapes and utility work. The developer expects to complete construction in late 2022 with core and shell construction currently underway.  Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

406 W. Broad Street – Hearth Apartments (formerly The Cartee) – PP Type 2: This project includes 160 apartment units, 176 structured parking spaces, and approximately $1.3 million in eligible expenses for streetscape improvements and utility upgrades. The developer anticipates receiving a temporary certificate of occupancy this month with full occupancy allowed early 2022. The Agency is coordinating with the developer regarding Cost Documentation. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

512 W. Grove Street – The Lucy – PP Type 2:  This project includes 114 apartments and 8,000 sq. ft. of ground floor retail. Fifty units will be dedicated to workforce housing. The Board approved a Type 2 General Assistance Participation Agreement with 5th and Grove Investors, LLC at its March 2020 meeting to reimburse approximately $1 million in eligible expenses for public improvements along 5th and Grove Streets and the alley. Developers will begin cost documentation soon.  Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

116 6th Street – Thomas Logan – PP Type 2:  A mixed-use residential and retail project consisting of 60 apartments, including income-restricted and market rate units, 5,000 sq. ft. of retail, and 9,000 sq. ft. of office space. The CCDC Board approved a Type 2 General Assistance Participation Agreement with development partners Capital Partners, Galena Fund, and deChase Miksis at its March 2020 meeting. The approved reimbursement agreement is for approximately $600,000 of eligible expenses for public improvements in the alley and standard streetscape improvements along 6th and Grove Streets. Developers will begin cost documentation soon. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

113 S. 5th Street – 5th & Grove Office – PP Type 1: At its October 2021 meeting, the Board approved the Type 1 Agreement for this project, which includes reimbursement for up to $200k for streetscape and alley improvements, utility upgrades, and awnings providing weather protection for pedestrians. Construction is underway, with completion anticipated in summer 2022. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

600 W. Front Street – The Vanguard – PP Type 2: Visum Development is constructing a 75-unit apartment building on the corner of 6th and Front Streets (former Biz Print location). The Board approved this project for Type 2 assistance at its December 2019 meeting. Visum has requested reimbursement for approximately $400,000 of public improvements, which includes streetscapes and utility work. Construction is ongoing and streetscape improvements are scheduled to be complete this month. The Agency is coordinating with the developer regarding Cost Documentation.  Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

601 S. 8th Street – Mixed-Use with Public Parking – PP Type 3: Jordan-Wilcomb Construction is partnering with local developer Global Senior Housing on a mixed-use project that preliminarily includes office, retail, public parking, and residential units. The residential portion will be a specialty “Active Adult Community Platform” for 55+ year-old adults. Current use at the property is a vacant, one-story building that previously housed the Foothills School for Arts and Sciences. CCDC is interested in purchasing a parking condominium and providing public parking at the location to support the surrounding area. The project anticipates more than 160 residential units over 5 floors, 300 parking stalls, and over 20,000 sq. ft. of commercial and retail spaces. The project’s total estimated development cost is $53 million with construction anticipated in 2021 and open by late 2022 or early 2023. The Board approved designation of the project for Type 3 Participation Assistance at its September 2020 meeting, and authorized the Executive Director to execute a Letter of Intent at the February 2021 Board meeting. The Developer is working to complete all information required for a Type 3 Transformative Assistance project details. Project Lead: Doug Woodruff

CW Moore Park Improvements – Type 4 Partnership with Boise Parks:  This partnership with City Parks and Recreation will provide upgrades to CW Moore Park. The Agency is working with Parks to help fund the improvements, not to exceed $200,000. The T4 Agreement is currently being drafted.  Project Lead: Karl Woods

 

Infrastructure

 

11th Street Bikeway & Streetscape Improvements – Grove Street to River Street:  This project combines the installation of bikeway infrastructure, streetscape improvements, ACHD-planned pavement rehabilitation, and storm water infrastructure upgrades. A full report is located under the Westside District. Project Lead: Amy Fimbel

RMOB Closeout Inventory and Analysis: This project will identify locations where streetscape infrastructure repairs or upgrades are needed to address minor deficiencies, deterioration or hazards within the right-of-way.  A consultant will be selected in early 2022 to perform a district-wide assessment of current conditions and to identify locations in need of improvements. Locations identified through this effort will be prioritized to inform the programming of closeout project work prior to RMOB sunset.  Project Lead:  Zach Piepmeyer

 

Mobility

 

5th St & 6th St Two-Way Conversion: CCDC is assisting ACHD and the City of Boise with this high-priority project to convert the two one-way corridors to two-way vehicle travel.  ACHD previously conducted feasibility studies and performed concept level design work prior to 2017.  CCDC will assist by managing the Final Design, agency approval and construction processes.  A cost share with ACHD will be required to complete design, outreach and construction work for portions of these corridors located outside of URD boundaries. CCDC staff is currently coordinating with ACHD, City of Boise and ITD staff on project scope and anticipates final design work by a consultant to begin in spring 2022.  Project Lead:  Zach Piepmeyer

5th St & Myrtle St – Signalized Crossing: This project anticipates installing a traffic signal on Myrtle Street at the 5th Street intersection to provide a safe crossing between Julia Davis Park and the Central Addition and to extend the signal-coordinated traffic calming of Myrtle Street. Kittelson & Associates completed a traffic signal warrant analysis for this project, which CCDC submitted to the Idaho Transportation Department on July 15, 2021, with a formal request to allow signalization of the intersection. ITD reviewed the request and is not supportive of a signal at this intersection due to the proximity of other crossing locations along the corridor and that sufficient signal warrants are not currently met at 5th & Myrtle. Project Lead: Zach Piepmeyer

 

Place Making

 

Grove Street Old Boise Blocks – Multi-Block Improvement Project:  CCDC conducted an inclusive, community-driven visioning process to develop a place-making strategy for this site. The process began in June 2020 with a series of stakeholder visioning meetings to create a community-supported vision for the area. The public had several opportunities to engage in the visioning process through summer and fall 2020. The Agency presented the visioning documents to the Board at its December 14, 2020 meeting. The Agency selected Jensen Belts Associates in February as the Landscape Architect of Record for the project. The Board approved the ranking of Guho Corp. as the selected Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) for the project at the April Board meeting.  Stakeholder meetings are complete, and the project was presented to City Council in July 2021. CCDC received a draft memo from the City, which proposed tasks and a road map to gain design review approval for the project. CCDC has responded to the memo and is awaiting a reply from the City. While awaiting the response, CCDC is preparing for a Design Review submission.     Project Lead: Karl Woods

Linen Blocks – W. Grove Street Improvements:  This project assesses the Linen Blocks on Grove Street between 10th and 16th Streets for catalytic infrastructure improvements. CCDC conducted an inclusive, community-driven visioning process for the project from September 2020 to June 2021. The process included a series of stakeholder visioning meetings and public surveys and resulted in a final visioning document. GGLO started design in July 2021 and will have a completed design by May 2022. Construction anticipated beginning in 2022/2023. The Agency hosted two public open houses for feedback on the concept design on September 22, 2021 and used a public survey to garner additional feedback. The Board approved Guho Corp. as the selected CM/GC for the project at the October Board Meeting. The project submitted a Design Review application to the City on December 10, 2021. Project Lead:  Amy Fimbel

Boise City Canal Pathway – 3rd Street to Broadway:  This project anticipates constructing a non-motorized multi-use pathway generally aligned with the Grove Street corridor, connecting 3rd Street to Broadway at the recently installed enhanced pedestrian crossing to Dona Larsen Park. As recommended in the 2020 Old Boise Blocks Visioning Report, pedestrian activation and connectivity through the Grove Street corridor (including connectivity to Broadway Ave.) is important to stakeholders and the public. The project will include concept work (i.e. alternatives analysis), public outreach, final design, and construction.  Because no continuous public right-of-way exists within which to construct the pathway, close coordination and cooperation with adjacent property owners will be important.  CCDC has initiated preliminary discussions with property owners and agency partners and is developing an RFQ for design-related services.  Consultant selection and design work anticipated to begin winter/spring 2022. Project Lead: Zach Piepmeyer

Fulton Street Improvements – 9th Street to Capitol Blvd:  This project looks to improve Fulton Street between 9th Street and Capitol Boulevard.  CCDC selected The Land Group to perform consultant design services for the project.   The design team previewed draft concept alternatives with the CCDC Board on December 13 and will preview concepts with ACHD and City of Boise in early January 2022.  Public outreach on the draft alternatives anticipated in February 2022.  Project Lead:  Zach Piepmeyer

 

Special Projects

 

RMOB Public Art – City of Boise Broad Street Sculpture – PP Type 4:  The Arts & History Commission approved the design in October 2020. CCDC supported the project through funding and involvement in the selection process.  Fabrication of the sculpture is complete and Arts & History has decided to store the sculpture until the completion of the Ovation Apartment construction to avoid potential damage to the sculpture.   Project Lead: Karl Woods