News Media Center

Westside District – Projects

November 11, 2023

News & Notes

Economic Development

Block 68 Catalytic Redevelopment Project: At its December 2021 meeting, the Board selected Edlen & Company’s proposal for the disposition of Agency owned property at 1010 W. Jefferson St. and 421 N. 10th St. through a competitive Request for Proposals (“RFP”) process. The selected proposal included a land exchange with the YMCA for Agency-owned property at 421 N. 10th St. In exchange for the YMCA’s property on Block 69 North. An Amended and Restated Land Exchange was executed in October 2022, as well as the Disposition and Development Agreement (“DDA”) for the Workforce Housing Project on Block 69 North. The Board approved the Block 68 South DDA for disposition of 1010 W. Jefferson St. and the development of a mixed-use residential and Mobility Hub project in December 2022. On April 28, 2023, the Developer submitted to the Agency schematic design documentation and requests for revised assistance for both projects. In May 2023, the Board established a project review committee to assist with fact-finding and analysis of these requests. Following several discussions, the Developer submitted revised requests to assist the projects in meeting minimum financial viability thresholds to the Agency on August 8, 2023. On August 14, 2023, the Board approved Agency recommended responses to such requests and directed the Parties to execute an interim agreement to implement the responses and guide negotiation of DDA amendments. The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding (“MOU”) on August 30, 2023. The MOU directed the Agency to acquire the property at the corner of 10th and Jefferson from the Developer, which was accomplished on November 1, 2023. The MOU also requires the Developer to submit updated Schematic and Unit Documentation for both projects to the Agency for the Board’s review at its November meeting, and that amended DDAs be negotiated for the Board’s review at its December Meeting. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

1010 W. Jefferson St. – 10Ten Building – Agency Owned Property: McAlvain Construction Companies utilizes 60 parking spaces for staging items for Rebuild 11th Street Blocks and a small office space on the second floor for a construction field office. All leases are now expired as of May 31, 2023, and the building is now vacant. The building signs are updated to show there are no tenants. The Car Park converted the lot to $5 public parking, signage has been added to show the $5 flat fee and a payment system through ParkMobile. The Car Park manages the lot. No significant maintenance items to report. Project Lead: Amy Fimbel/Aaron Nelson

1700 W. Main St. – Rock Hard Granite Renovation – PP Type 1: Approval of the final Agreement for this commercial building renovation occurred in February, and work has begun. Unexpected environmental remediation has slowed progress, though work continues and is expected to be completed within 2023. Project Lead: Property Development

1110 W. Grove St. – Renegade Hotel – PP Type 4: The Agency continues its coordination with Hendricks Commercial Properties on the streetscape and infrastructure improvements as part of the Linen Blocks on Grove Street and Rebuild 11th Street Blocks projects with the planned development of this 7-story, 122-key boutique hotel. The Board designated the project for Type 4 Capital Improvement Project Coordination participation in May 2022, and its Type 4 Agreement was approved by the Board in September 2022. An amendment to the agreement was executed in May 2023, coordinating construction involving Hendricks’ placement of a geothermal snowmelt system in the sidewalk. This amendment does not impact the project’s estimated expenses eligible for reimbursement. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

1015 Main St. – Smith Block Building – PP Type 1: This restoration project includes extensive facade renovation work sensitive to the historic nature of the building. The first-floor retail space will be renovated with the exterior of the building into a new bar, including replacing windows, historically accurate awnings, and new storefront display windows and entry doors. The Board approved the final Type 1 Agreement at its January 11, 2023, meeting, and construction is underway with anticipated completion in early 2024. Project Lead: Kassi Brown

1522 W. State St. – 16th & State – PP Type 2: Developer Johnson & Carr is constructing a seven-story mixed-use building with 104 residential units and 1,600 square feet of ground-floor retail on the site of an old gas station. The project includes workforce housing with 10 percent of the units reserved for rent-restricted, income-qualified residents. Public improvements eligible for CCDC reimbursement include streetscapes along 16th and State Streets. Utility upgrades include water line relocations and stormwater management infrastructure. Total Development Costs are estimated at $25 million, and Eligible Expenses at $657,655. The project is requesting the use of CIP funds dedicated to housing developments that are to be completed before the expiration of the Westside District. The Board approved the final agreement in March 2023, and construction is anticipated to begin this winter. Project Lead: Property Development

Infrastructure

“Rebuild 11th Street Blocks” – Redevelopment of the 11th Street Corridor – State Street to Grove Street:  This project combines the installation of bikeway infrastructure with streetscape improvements to realize plans by the City and ACHD for 11th Street as a corridor that prioritizes cyclists, pedestrians, retail business, and residents while accommodating existing vehicular use. The project spans two URDs, with the improvements extending into RMOB and continuing from Grove Street to River Street. ACHD’s bikeway facility improvements for 11th Street from Heron Street to State Street were completed in October 2023. To maximize public investment, the Agency entered into an Interagency Agreement with ACHD to include in the project scope ACHD’s planned pavement rehabilitation, stormwater upgrades, and the replacement of the underground Boise City Canal Bridge crossing on 11th Street. Jensen Belts Associates led the design effort, and McAlvain Construction Companies is the Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC). Construction started in June 2022. Project Lead: Amy Fimbel

State Street Streetscape & Fiber-Optic Conduit: This is a cost-share project with an ACHD Downtown Boise Implementation Program (DBIP) project to rehabilitate State Street between 2nd & 16th Streets. CCDC-funded improvements include the installation of a fiber-optic conduit bank between 8th and 15th Streets and streetscape improvements between 8th and 16th Streets. Streetscape components include wider sidewalks, street trees, furnishing zones, and suspended pavement systems (Silva cells) for tree root growth and stormwater retention. The project also anticipates green stormwater infrastructure features in the form of bioretention planters and a landscaped median at select locations throughout the project area. ACHD bid on this project in August but rejected all bids due to high pricing. ACHD re-bid the project in January 2023, and bids were again rejected. The ACHD Commission has asked its design team to re-examine the western portion of the project design from 8th to 14th Street for ways to improve safety for all users. ACHD initiated a new Concept Study in late August 2023 for this section of the project to determine potential cross-section modifications and signalization changes at key intersections and anticipated adoption of a concept in August 2024 (Final design to be completed in 2024/2025 and Construction anticipated in 2025/2026). Improvements proposed through the project east of 8th Street (i.e., outside of the WS URD) will be bid out as separate projects to be constructed in 2023/2024. Agency continues to coordinate with ACHD, and development teams associated with YMCA and Block 68/69. Project Lead: Zach Piepmeyer

Bannock Street Streetscape Improvements, 12th to 16th Streets: This project will make streetscape improvements on both sides of Bannock Street between 12th and 16th Streets to improve connectivity for all modes of travel from the West Downtown neighborhood into downtown. The design is coordinated with ACHD’s Bannock Street Neighborhood Bikeway project. In March 2023, a competitive RFQ process resulted in CCDC selecting CSHQA as the project’s design professional. The design is anticipated to be complete in spring 2024, with construction to start later that same year. The project received City of Boise Design Review approval on September 21, 2023. Project Lead: Amy Fimbel

Mobility

8th Street Improvements, State to Franklin Streets: This project will increase mobility options and improve safety for cyclists and pedestrians between the North End Neighborhood and Boise State University. The proposed 8th Street bike facilities will connect to a future east west ACHD Franklin Street Bikeway, and ACHD will extend the 8th Street bike facility improvements north of Franklin Street to Union Street under a future, separate project.

The CCDC project proposes undergrounding overhead power and telecommunication lines as well as streetscape and transit improvements along the frontage of several properties. The ACHD Commission adopted a modified concept from the three originally presented to the public as the preferred alternative. The Board approved Task Order 19-006 for final design services with Kittelson & Associates at its March 2023 Board Meeting, and final design work is underway. Kittelson submitted a Design Review application to the City of Boise in early June. Final Design is anticipated to be complete in early 2024. Construction to begin spring 2024. CCDC issued a RFQ for Construction Manager/General Contractor (CM/GC) services in May 2023. McAlvain Construction was hired as the CM/GC. 95% construction documents have been submitted to ACHD for approval. Project Lead: Kelly Burrows

Special Projects

Westside Public Art – Downtown Traffic Box Art – PP Type 4: Boise City Department of Arts & History requested assistance to re-wrap traffic boxes that need replacement. There are 17 traffic boxes in the Westside District that need replacement. The project was designated as eligible for Type 4 Capital Project Coordination Assistance at the October 2023 Board Meeting. Project Lead: Karl Woods

Westside Public Art – Deferred Maintenance – PP Type 4: Boise City Department of Arts & History has requested assistance to repair two public art installations in the Westside District. The project was designated as eligible for Type 4 Capital Project Coordination Assistance at the October 2023 Board Meeting. Project Lead: Karl Woods