River-Myrtle/Old Boise URD Projects Update
December 10, 2019News 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.
5th & Front Streets – Hotel and Parking Garage – PP Type 3, 5: Construction continues on the 540-space 5th & Front parking garage with opening scheduled for early 2020. The hotel portion of the development is scheduled to open in summer 2020. CCDC will lease 200 parking spaces for public use. To-date, all 200 of CCDC’s leased spaces have been reserved by members of the public for monthly passes (weekday – daytime) . The developers are planning to add a public art element on the stairwell wall facing Front Street. They are working with the City of Boise Arts and History Department on the selection process. The Board will review the proposal for $90,000 of public art at the December Meeting.
505 W. Idaho Street – The Gibson – PP Type 2, 4: The Gibson apartment building is complete and fully leased. The Agency inspected the public improvements subject to reimbursement and has received final acceptance of the “parklet” from the City’s Parks & Recreation Department. The Agency is processing reimbursement as per the existing Participation Agreements. The project will receive approximately $1,000,000 in reimbursement funds for public improvements including streetscapes, utilities, and dedicated public park space.
503-647 S. Ash Street – Ash Street Townhomes– Agency Disposition PP Type 5: In 2018, this property was sold to deChase/Miksis for the purpose of transforming this area into workforce housing. The Ash Street Townhomes are now complete. CCDC toured the development Friday, June 12 with the developer. These 34 workforce rental housing units and a small retail space along the Pioneer Pathway will help transform this urban neighborhood. Rents will be affordable to families making less than 120% of the area median income, or less than $2,200 per month for a 3-bedroom townhome.
620 S. 9th Street – Afton Phase II – Agency Disposition PP Type 5: Phase II is complete. CCDC toured the project in October and issued a Certificate of Completion per the original Design and Development Agreement. The majority of the 35 condo units have been sold or are pending sale. CCDC has reimbursed the developer $94,000 for the land cost per the re-use appraisal.
500 S. 8th Street – Trailhead – Agency Leased Property: This 60-month lease entered Year 5 on February 1, 2019. Event and user programming by Actuate Boise remains active.
200 Myrtle Street – Boise Caddis – PP Type 2: Construction has begun on the Boise Caddis project. Site work is underway. The project is scheduled to have an 18-month construction period, opening in the summer of 2021. The Project includes 160 rental units and 400 parking stalls. Ada County will purchase the parking stalls to be used by its nearby Courthouse complex workforce. The Type 2 Agreement includes approximately $1.2 million in public improvements for 2nd, 3rd, and Myrtle Streets and a small portion of Broad Street, which will be reimbursed by CCDC using tax increment revenue generated by the project.
204 Myrtle Street – CDG Boise – PP Type 2: The Board designated this project for Type 2 funding at the November 12 meeting. CDG is building a 249-unit apartment building with 353 parking spaces, and has requested reimbursement for approximately $980,000 of public improvements including streetscapes and utility work. The Type 2 Agreement has been finalized and is on the consent agenda for approval at the Board’s December 2019 meeting.
406 Broad Street – Cartee Apartments – PP Type 2: Construction and mobilization began in early October. The agreement between CCDC and the developer contemplates approximately $1.3 million in Eligible Expenses to be reimbursed from the project’s tax increment revenue. The project includes approximately 160 apartments units and 176 structured parking spaces.
429 10th Street – Agency Owned – PP Type 5 (RFP): At its November 2019 meeting, the Board reviewed the two bids received and accepted public comment. The motion to award the property to the highest bidder failed on a 3-3 vote. CCDC will re-evaluate plans for the parcel in the coming months.
512 W Grove Street – 5th & Grove Mixed Use Residential – PP Type 2: At the August 2019 Board Meeting, the CCDC Board designated 5th and Grove as Eligible for Type 2 Participation funding. The project includes 114 for-rent apartments and 8,000 SF of ground floor retail. Preliminary estimates show Eligible Expenses between $900,000-$1,200,000. Preliminary scoring shows that the project will qualify for Level A status and would receive 80% of the tax increment revenue it generates to reimburse Eligible Expenses. CCDC estimates the project would be reimbursed approximately $750,000 if the typical Type 2 reimbursement structure is used. The developers are considering dedicating 50 units for workforce housing, which may increase the total reimbursement amount that CCDC can provide with the aim to be closer to the total Eligible Expense amount. The developer will know more in the coming months. CCDC will make that determination once the workforce piece is confirmed in late 2019. CCDC is committed to bringing more workforce and affordable housing projects to market.
600 Front Street – The Vanguard – PP Type 2: Visium Development is building a 75-unit multifamily project on the corner of 6th and Front (formerly Biz Print). The Board designated this project for Type 2 funding at its November 2019 meeting. Visium has requested Type 2 reimbursement funds for approximately $400,000 of public improvements including streetscapes and utility work. The Type 2 Agreement has been finalized and is on the Consent Agenda for approval at the December 2019 meeting.
535 S. 15th Street – River Street Lofts – PP Type 1: Siding is being installed on the townhomes, and the project is scheduled to be complete in late 2019. CCDC will reimburse up to $150,000 for public improvements upon completion and inspection.
5th & Grove Streets Utilities – Underground & Conduit: This project includes undergrounding overhead utilities and installing a conduit bank on 5th Street from the north side of Front Street to the north side of Main Street. Probst is doing the Idaho Power work and Guho is doing the street light, conduit and vault work. Work resumed on October 14 following a 10-week ACHD permit moratorium to deconflict road work and is expected to be complete in mid-December.
11th Street Streetscape – Grove Street to River Street: These streetscape improvements are planned for construction in FY2023. To maximize public investment, the Agency is working closely with ACHD on its 11th Street bikeway facilities project. To ensure that cooperative and coordinated solutions are developed by ACHD and CCDC in their respective planning processes, the Agency is conducting planning and design on a similar schedule to ACHD.
6th Street Streetscape – Front Street to Main Street: Design and construction of streetscape improvements on 6th Street between Main and Front Streets. The Land Group was selected as the design professional in October 2018, designed plans, including the Block 7 Alley, and the formal bid process was completed in July 2019. The contract was awarded to Guho Corp at the Board’s August 2019 meeting. Construction is slated to start February 2020, due to current ACHD permit restrictions.
RMOB – Consolidated Newspaper Boxes: CCDC and the City are coordinating purchase and installation of consolidated newspaper boxes. The Agency received approval on June 3, 2019 from the City for proposed locations and box configurations. The Agency ordered newspaper boxes from vendor M.E.R. The boxes were received on September 3. CCDC is preparing a timeline for installation.
390 S. Capitol Blvd – Mod Pizza – PP Type 1: Mod Pizza has opened and CCDC is working with the developers on the reimbursement documentation for awnings and some sidewalk work. The reimbursement will not exceed $100,000 and will be paid in late December 2019 / early January 2020.
5th St & Myrtle St – Signalized Crossing: Kittelson & Associates is working on a preliminary warrant analysis for a new signalized crossing at 5th and Myrtle Streets.
RMOB Circulator – Preliminary Engineering: CCDC is partnering with the City to share the costs of initial engineering for the Downtown Circulator project. The Agency has re-budgeted initial engineering funds to FY2020. The Agency stands ready to assist.
ParkBOI – Capitol & Myrtle Parking Garage – Agency Owned Property: Agency contracted with American Fire Protection to flush the fire suppression system on the third level. The work was completed the week of November 11. Agency has contracted with Specialty Systems of Utah to repair patches of spray-on fire-proofing. The application process requires warmer temperatures, so Specialty Systems will be performing the work in spring of 2020 .
ParkBOI – 11th & Front Parking Garage – Agency Owned Property: No significant maintenance performed in November. Fewer than 100 of the 722 spaces that were originally available for general public monthly use remain available to lease.
5th & 6th Streets – City of Boise/ACHD Traffic Configuration: ACHD has this project on indefinite hold until there is programmed construction funding. The Agency stands ready to assist and anticipates direction in the near future.
Block 7 – CCDC Alley Program: Block 7 is bounded by Capitol Boulevard, Main Street, 6th Street, and Grove Street. The project includes pavement enhancements, lighting, and improved trash facilities. The contract was awarded to Guho Corp, along with the 6th Street Streetscape project, at the August 2019 Board meeting. Guho began work on September 30 (after Old Boise Oktoberfest) and plans to complete the alley work by the end of calendar year 2019. Construction is going well and is currently on schedule.Grove Street – Multi-Block Improvement Project: CCDC solicited, received, and reviewed proposals from design professionals. CCDC and the City selected a public engagement team, who is under contract. Design professional and a contract is forthcoming. A vision statement, project timeline, and community engagement plan are being developed. Conversations with some property owners are underway.
RMOB Public Art – City of Boise Traffic Boxes – PP Type 4: The City Arts & History Department issued the Call-To-Artists. The T4 Agreement with the City of Boise was approved by the Board on February 11, 2019. Artists were selected and traffic boxes were assigned in March. Art content has been approved, fabricated and installed. Project is complete.
8th St Public Art – City of Boise Murals – PP Type 4: CCDC is working with the City Arts & History Department on a T4 Agreement for murals in Simplot Alley and on 9th Street. The City is in the process of determining to handle easements. The Agency stands ready to assist and anticipates direction in the near future.
RMOB Public Art – City of Boise Broad Street Sculpture – PP Type 4: The T4 Agreement was approved by the CCDC Board on February 11, 2019. In April, the City’s artist selection panel selected Krivanek + Breaux. City Arts & History is working with the artist on a contract. In May, Boise City Council approved the selection panels and the Arts & History Commission’s recommendation to approve working with Krivanek + Breaux. Mr. Krivanek was in Boise August 8-9 to exchange ideas with stakeholder groups and develop initial concepts.