Westside Projects Update
September 24, 2020News Update on CCDC Projects in the Westside URD
The Westside includes a portion of the downtown core, a residential neighborhood to the west, and the burgeoning Linen District with an eclectic mix of shops and restaurants. Read below for an update of current projects happening within the Westside Urban Renewal District.
11th Street Streetscape – Washington Street to Grove 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 the Agency in their respective planning processes, CCDC is conducting planning and design on a similar schedule to ACHD.
1111 Idaho St – 11th & Idaho Building – PP Type 2: This nine-story, Class A office building is being developed by Rafanelli and Nahas using the internationally recognized architecture firm Perkins + Will. The site is adjacent to the future Westside Urban Park and is being designed to complement the existing Boise Plaza office building on the adjacent block to the north. The development was designated as a Type 2 Participation Project in July 2019. The final agreement was presented to the Board in August 2019. Construction is underway. CCDC will reimburse the developers for public improvements being completed along Idaho and 11th streets. The reimbursement will be based on actual expenses and will not exceed $740,690.
1015 W Main Street – 11th and Main Apartments – PP Type 1: Seattle’s Revolve Development purchased part of the former Safari Inn, located at 1015 W. Main Street. Revolve is redeveloping the 11th and Main building, transforming it from a 43-room hotel into 41 residential apartments, mostly studio units. Additionally, a teak-wood lattice façade will be added onto the existing stucco exterior walls. The developer was approved for a Type 1 Participation Project at the Board’s July 2020 meeting to reimburse expenses to replace the 11th Street alley drive-ramp. The reimbursement will be based on actual expenses and will not exceed $23,000 pending final confirmed work scope.
1715 W. Idaho St – 17th and Idaho – Agency-Owned Property: The Board approved the purchase of this property at its June 8, 2020 meeting. The Agency closed on the property July 1, 2020 and has begun the RFP process as generally described in the property’s Agenda Bill. Lot has been cleared of all trash, wood and weeds.
1010 W. Jefferson St – 10Ten Building – Agency-Owned Property: No notable maintenance issues.
1322 W. Main Street – Fire Fusion Studio – PP Type 1: Local artist Delia Dante owns and operates Fire Fusion Studio, an art and metalworking gallery that has recently relocated to 1322 W. Main Street. Ms. Dante is renovating the existing, empty building towards the purpose of housing Fire Fusion Studio’s sales, art gallery and metalworking classes. The finished project will feature a completely re-built structure and roof, new interior finishes across the multiple spaces and new public improvements reimbursed by CCDC. The majority of public improvement costs relate to installing a new sidewalk on 14th Street and filling decommissioned vaults on both 14th and Main Streets. The exterior renovation will begin upon permit approval. The interior renovation is underway and permitted.
421 N. 10th St – ISG/BSN Building – Agency Owned Property: Graffiti was removed from fence September 3.
Bannock Street Streetscape – 8th to 9th Streets: The City of Boise conducted a public meeting and an online survey to gauge public support of the proposed design. Feedback was evaluated. The City presented the project to ACHD during a Commission work session in November 2019 and to the ACHD Commission in January 2020 after which ACHD approved the design. The project received Design Review approval from the City in February 2020. The CCDC Board approved the contract for construction documents and construction administration services with Jensen Belts Associates and the ranking for CM/GC services in March 2020. The CM/GC contract with Guho Corp was executed in April. Construction documents have been submitted to the City and ACHD for approval. At a Special Board Meeting on July 27, 2020 the Board approved GMP (guaranteed maximum price) #1 with Guho Corp.
10th & State Streets – Agency Owned Property: CCDC is working with nearby landowners around the Agency-owned sites to create transformative development in the Brady Block area. CCDC hopes to incentivize the future redevelopment of underutilized sites adjacent to the Brady Block.
1010 Main St – Avery Building – PP Type: This privately-owned vacant building is currently undergoing renovation. CCDC has remained engaged with the developer and owner who is working on overall project financing. The developer is interested in utilizing the Agency’s Participation Program for historic preservation costs and anticipates submitting an application in 2020.
State Street Streetscape & Fiber-Optic Conduit: The Agency is negotiating a cost share agreement with ACHD to include improvements on State Street as part of a road project tentatively scheduled for 2022. Agency-funded improvements would include installation of a fiber-optic conduit bank on State between 8th and 14th, and construction of streetscape improvements to include street trees, Silva cells, and historic street lights from east of 12th to 14th streets. The Silva cells would serve a dual purpose of accommodating healthy street trees and managing stormwater from State Street. ACHD will credit CCDC for stormwater costs.
Westside URD – Boundary Adjustment: The Agency is working to adjust the Westside URD boundary to add an additional 14 acres that includes the Boise High School campus, the downtown YMCA property, as well as right of way on Franklin Street and 8th Street. The City Council accepted an eligibility report in June 2019 and directed CCDC to move forward with amending the plan. The Plan Amendment must be reviewed by CCDC and the City Council as well as Planning and Zoning prior to adoption. The proposed plan amendment will be considered by the Board on September 14 and if approved, will be transmitted to the City thereafter for review by the Planning Commission on October 5 to verify its compliance with the Boise City Comprehensive Plan.
ParkBOI – 10th & Front Garage – Agency Owned Property: The Agency hired DESMAN to perform design services for structural damage prevention. Due to the complexity of the project and proximity to Hotel 43, the Agency has chosen to prequalify general contractors. Prequalification proposals were due September 9, 2020 and the contractors qualified to bid will be presented at the October 12, 2020 Board Meeting for approval. The bid process will follow in November with an anticipated contract award at the December Board meeting and Spring 2021 construction start.
North 8th Street – City/ACHD Traffic Configuration: A traffic and bike lane analysis performed by Kittleson & Associates and a design package by Jensen Belts Associates were presented to the City Council in January 2019. The City Council requested public outreach on the project. The City conducted a public meeting and an online survey to gauge public support of the proposed design. Feedback was evaluated. The City presented the project to ACHD’s Commission during a November 2019 work session. The Commission was receptive and asked for an interagency agreement for paving and for the project to be brought back for formal presentation. That presentation occurred in January 2020 after which ACHD approved the design. The project received Design Review approval from the City in February 2020. The CCDC Board approved the contract for construction documents and construction administration services with Jensen Belts Associates in March 2020. The Agency has been working to accelerate the project timeline to complete construction in 2020. Construction documents have been submitted to the City and ACHD for permit review. At a Special Board meeting on July 27, 2020 the GMP (guaranteed maximum price) #1 with Guho Corp. Construction was approved. Construction start date is anticipated August 10, 2020.
11th Street & Bannock Street – Westside Urban Park: The City Council approved the Westside Urban Park Master Development Agreement and associated land agreement in June 2019. The completion of these agreements formalizes a public-private partnership that will result in the creation of a new downtown neighborhood urban park. This public investment complements construction of the adjacent 11th and Idaho development, a nine-story, Class A office building with retail/restaurant space fronting the park. Construction on the office tower began in August 2019 and is expected to be complete in November 2020. CCDC Board, Boise Arts & History Commission, and Boise City Council have approved artist Matthew Mazzotta’s “Gentle Breeze” design and the public artwork will be installed in conjunction with the park. Pending CCDC Board approval of the GMP (guaranteed maximum price) at the September 14 CCDC Board meeting, construction of the park will begin October 1, 2020 with ribbon cutting estimated in May June 2021.