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Westside Projects Update

August 9, 2021

News & Notes

News 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.

 

Economic Development

1111 Idaho St – 11th & Idaho Building – PP Type 2:  This nine-story, Class A office building was developed by Rafanelli and Nahas. The building is adjacent to the Cherie Buckner-Webb Park set to open to the public early August. The final agreement was approved by the Board in August 2019. The Agency is working with the Participant to gather all necessary cost documentation. CCDC will reimburse the developers for streetscape improvements completed along Idaho and 11th streets, not to exceed $740,690.  Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

1015 W. Main Street – 11th and Main Apartments – PP Type 1: Seattle’s Revolve Development rehabilitated part of the former Safari Inn located at 11th and Main Streets, transforming it into 41 studio and one bedroom apartments.  The Agency has completed its review of the Type 1 project’s cost documentation and will issue a check for $22,612 to reimburse expenses for replacing the 11th Street alley drive-up ramp in August 2021 as approved by the Board in July 2020. Project Lead: Alexandra Monjar

1721 (formerly 1715)  W. Idaho St – 17th and Idaho – Agency-Owned Property: The Developer, SMR Development LLC, has negotiated a Purchase and Sale Agreement for the additional properties beyond 1715 Idaho included in its proposal. Agency staff has negotiated a Disposition and Development Agreement with SMR Development LLC, as previously directed by the CCDC Board at the January 28 Special Board meeting. The Board of Commissioners approved the negotiated Disposition and Development Agreement at the July 12, 2021 Board meeting.  Upon satisfaction of the terms of the Agreement, the Agency will convey the land to the development team. The project hopes to break ground in September 2021. Project Lead: Brady Shinn

Block 68 Catalytic Redevelopment Request for Proposals: At the Board’s May 2021 meeting, the Agency received Board approval to issue a Request for Proposals concerning disposition of the two Agency-owned properties of 1010 W. Jefferson Street and 421 N. 10th Street. As part of Block 68 Catalytic Redevelopment RFP, the Agency seeks a public-private partnership to develop housing that fills gaps unmet by the private market, to expand attainable housing opportunities for Boise’s active workforce and their families. The Agency is offering its two properties, participation with public infrastructure improvements and a Park BOI mobility hub. In exchange the Block 68 RFP expects proposals to embrace density and reinvestment in the City’s existing infrastructure. It expects proposals to develop more affordable housing units, maintain the authentic neighborhood fabric, advance mobility initiatives, and contribute to Boise’s long-term sustainability. The RFP is seeking proposals of high architectural aspirations with visionary and creative development programs that include or catalyze further development of nearby underutilized land. The Block 68 RFP was published on May 17, 2021, with Questions and Clarifications due by August 3, 2021 and RFP proposals due by August 19, 2021. The Agency published the first set of Questions and Clarifications on July 22, 2021 to the Agency’s website.   Project Lead: Brady Shinn

1010 W. Jefferson St – 10Ten Building – Agency-Owned Property:  No significant maintenance items to report. The Agency’s CM/GC for the Westside Urban Park project will be using a portion of the adjacent parking lot for construction staging.  Project Lead: Aaron Nelson

421 N. 10th St – Agency Owned Property: The Agency executed new leases with the two tenants through May of 2022, after which the Agency expects to vacate the property for redevelopment.  Project Lead: Aaron Nelson.

Infrastructure

Bannock Street Streetscape – 8th to 9th Streets:  This project will improve the streetscapes and bike facilities as well as upgrade the geothermal system, provide new paving and extend the downtown fiber-optic network in accordance with CCDC and City plans and public and partner agency input. This $2.6 million project is substantially complete and the final walk through occurred on July 14. Project closeout is in process.  Project Lead: Karl Woods

11th Street Bikeway & Streetscape Improvements – 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 St as a corridor on the west side of downtown that prioritizes cyclists, pedestrians, retail business, and residents while accommodating existing vehicular use. The project spans two URDs with the improvements extending into RMOB with the continuation from Grove St to River St. ACHD is advancing with the design of bikeway facility improvements for 11th St from Heron St to State St in preparation for installation in FY2022. To maximize public investment, the Agency is working closely with ACHD to include in the project scope ACHD planned pavement rehabilitation, stormwater upgrades, and the replacement of the Boise City Canal bridge crossing on 11th Street. The Board approved an Interagency Agreement with ACHD for the design of the ACHD improvements at the May 10, 2021 Board meeting. CCDC issued a RFQ for a professional design team and selected Jensen Belts Associates as the design professional. Design work commenced February 2021 and will be complete by February 2022 with construction to follow in 2022. CCDC Board approved the Construction Manager/General Contractor rankings at the Board’s May 10 meeting. Design Review package to be submitted in late August. Project Lead: Amy Fimbel

1010 W. Main St – Avery Building – PP Type:  Avery LLC, led by local developer Michael Hormaechea in partnership with chef Cal Elliott, a Boise native and Michelin star recipient, is currently renovating the vacant, four-story building at 1010 W. Main Street to include 39 boutique hotel rooms and two restaurant spaces. In addition to restoring the building, Avery LLC plans to enhance the alley as a public space, for access to one of the restaurants. The Avery Hotel redevelopment will be the first time in sixty years that all four stories will be in use. The building is a contributing element on the National Register of Historic Places and the developer is pursuing an Historic Facade Easement with Boise City, and likewise requesting reimbursement for eligible facade restoration work as part of a Type 3 Transformative Assistance project. In total, the project is estimating nearly $1.1 million in reimbursement costs.  At the July 12, 2021 Board meeting, the Agency approved designating the project as a Type 3 Transformative Assistance Agreement.  Project Lead: Brady Shinn

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 and 15th Street.  CCDC-funded improvements include installation of a fiber-optic conduit bank between 8th Street and 15th Street and streetscape improvements between 12th Street and 14th Street.  Streetscape components include wider sidewalk, street trees, furnishing zone and Silva cells for tree root growth and stormwater retention.  In the absence of CCDC participation on this project, existing streetscapes would be eliminated by ACHD between 12th and 14th Street due to roadway widening to five travel lanes.  ACHD is considering additional green stormwater infrastructure features in the form of bio retention planters at select intersections throughout the project area.  CCDC negotiated an interagency agreement and cost share permit with ACHD and the City.  The CCDC Board approved the agreement with ACHD in December 2020.  ACHD’s design consultant is currently preparing 95% design plans for the project, with an expected construction start date of late spring 2022.   Project Lead: Zach Piepmeyer

Mobility

ParkBOI – 10th & Front Garage – Agency Owned Property:  John Rohrer Contracting Company (JRCC), started repair work on Level 2 in early May. JRCC has completed Phase 1 cement pours. This is part of Phase 1 of 3 of the overall repairs for the garage. JRCC has begun Phase 2 and is expected to complete Phase 2 in late August.  To perform the repairs, JRCC will close up to 150 parking spaces while maintaining access to the garage. This project will extend the service life of the repaired areas by 12-15 years. The Agency issued additional work including waterproofing and accessibility upgrades to the Hotel 43 entrance ramp that were not included in the original scope.  The project is currently on schedule to be completed in late October.  Project Lead: Aaron Nelson

North 8th Street – City/ACHD Traffic Configuration:  This project will improve the streetscapes and bike facilities on North 8th Street as well as provide new paving and extend the downtown fiber-optic network in accordance with CCDC and City plans and public and partner agency input. This $2.6 million project is substantially complete and the final walk through occurred on July 14. Project closeout is in process. Project Lead: Karl Woods

8th Street Improvements, State Street to Franklin Street:  With the Westside URD expansion in late 2020, CCDC intends to implement low-stress bike facilities on 8th Street between State Street and Franklin Street.  This project will improve mobility and safety between the North End and Downtown Boise.  The proposed 8th Street bike facilities will connect to a future east-west Franklin Street Bikeway (by ACHD).  The project will also contemplate undergrounding of existing overhead power and telecommunication lines as well as streetscape improvements along the frontage of several properties which have sub-standard streetscapes.  CCDC selected Kittelson & Associations to perform consultant design services in late May 2020 and negotiated the first Task Order to complete concept design between July and December 2020.  Topographic survey of the project area is underway and the consultants are preparing a technical memo about traffic and existing conditions of the area. Construction is anticipated in 2022/2023.  Project Lead: Zach Piepmeyer

Place Making

11th Street & Bannock Street – Cherie Buckner-Webb Park:  Made possible through a public-private partnership, this park provides a much-needed public space on the west side of downtown for Boise residents and workers to enjoy. Construction is complete and a park dedication and grand opening ceremony occurred on August 5, 2021. Project Lead: Amy Fimbel