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Westside Projects Update

September 9, 2019

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.

1010 W. Jefferson St – 10Ten Building – Agency-Owned Property:  A new control system for an HVAC system on the 2nd floor was installed in mid-July to replace the original, now obsolete, controls. No significant maintenance was performed in August.

421 N. 10th St – ISG/BSN Building – Agency Owned Property:  There were no major maintenance issues in August.

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, the Agency is conducting planning and design on a similar schedule to ACHD.

15th Street Utilities – Undergrounding & Conduit:  This project will underground overhead power lines and install underground conduit to facilitate future redevelopment (including a new Fire Station #5), mature street trees, and an expanded telecommunications network on the west side of 15th Street. As of September 3, Anderson & Wood has installed the main conduit runs and vaults from Front Street to north of Jefferson Street.  Substantial completion of conduit work is scheduled for September 26. Further work on Idaho Power undergrounding is on hold until contractor Probst receives primary cable, expected to arrive in mid-September. This combined with other circumstances will likely push substantial completion of the full project into October 2019.

Westside District – Consolidated Newspaper Boxes:  CCDC and the City are coordinating purchase and installation of consolidated newspaper boxes.  The Agency received approval on

June 3 from the City for proposed locations and box configurations.  The Agency has ordered newspaper boxes from vendor M.E.R.  The boxes were received on September 3. CCDC is preparing an informal bid for installation.

Bannock Streetscape – 8th to 9th Streets:  Jensen Belts Associates has completed the Design Review package. The project is on a temporary hold pending the outcome of City/ACHD traffic and street configuration decision. The City of Boise conducted a public meeting and an online survey to gauge public support of the proposed design. Feedback is being evaluated prior to further discussions with City Council and ACHD.

  1. 8th Streetscapes – Bannock to State Streets: This City PDS project is on temporary hold pending outcome of City/ACHD traffic and street configuration decision. The City has met with ACHD and conducted a public meeting and an online survey to gauge public support of the proposed design. Feedback is being evaluated prior to further discussions with City Council and ACHD.

10th & State Streets – Brady Block Concepts:  CCDC is working with nearby landowners around the Agency-owned sites to create transformative development in this area. CCDC hopes to incentivize the future redevelopment of underutilized sites adjacent to the Brady Block.

1010 Main St – Avery Building – PP Type:  This is a privately-owned vacant building 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 and hopes to work on an application submittal in late 2019.

1111 Idaho St – 11th & Idaho Building – PP Type 2:  This highly designed, 9-story, new Class A office building is being developed by Rafanelli and Nahas and is using the globally 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. The development was designated as a Type 2 Participation Project on July 15, 2019 and the final agreement will be presented to the Board on August 12, 2019.

1715 W. Idaho St – Odyssey Flats – PP Type 1:  A Treasure Valley based development team held a neighborhood meeting and has submitted plans to the City for the development of approximately 18 residential units on this currently vacant parcel.  Although the final design and eligible public expenses are not yet known, the developer suggested they would apply for Agency participation later in 2019 upon City approval.

Westside URD – Boundary Adjustment – Eligibility Study:  SB Friedman Development Advisors (SBF) presented their Eligibility Report for this URD Plan Amendment to the CCDC Board on May 13, 2019.  After an Agency presentation, the Council accepted the report on June 4 and directed CCDC to move forward with the plan amendment in the coming months. Thereafter the Plan Amendment would need to be reviewed by CCDC and the City Council as well as Planning and Zoning for it to be completed. The Agency and its counsel are working on scoping the plan amendment as well as the public outreach.

ParkBOI – 10th & Front Garage – Agency Owned Property:  The Agency worked with the structural engineering firm KPFF to design the next phase of needed concrete repairs. Project scope includes repairing concrete spalling and heavy corrosion, post-tensioned tendon repairs, and installation of waterproofing membrane. Upon completion of the formal bid process, the contract was awarded to Hellmann Construction. Notice to Proceed was issued August 29, 2019, and mobilization began that day. Anticipated completion date is November 27, 2019.

11th Street Bikeway – ACHD Collaboration – River Street to Washington Street:  11th Street has been identified in plans by the City and ACHD as an important corridor for the west side of downtown Boise. It prioritizes cyclists, pedestrians, retail business, and residents while accommodating existing vehicular use. ACHD is conducting a bikeway planning process for improvements to be made in FY2023 to prioritize 11th Street as a cycling corridor.

Westside Circulator – Preliminary Engineering:  CCDC is partnering with the City to split the costs of preliminary engineering for the Downtown Circulator project. The Agency is re-budgeting preliminary engineering funds to FY2020.  The Agency stands ready to assist and anticipates direction in the near future.

N 8th Street – City/ACHD Traffic Configuration:  A traffic and bike lane analysis performed by Kittleson & Associates and design package by Jensen Belts Associates were presented to the City Council on January 29, 2019. The Council has requested public outreach on the project, and the City and ACHD are working on public outreach plan. The Agency stands ready to assist and move forward with streetscape projects following a City/ACHD decision. The City conducted a public meeting and an online survey to gauge public support of the proposed design. Feedback is being evaluated prior to further discussions with City Council and ACHD.

11th Street & Bannock Street – Westside Urban Park:  City Council approved the Westside Urban Park Master Development Agreement and associated land agreement on June 4, 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 10-story Class A office building with retail space fronting the park which is known as the 11th & Idaho Office Building.  Rafanelli and Nahas celebrated the start of construction with a groundbreaking ceremony on August 5, 2019. The City Arts & History Department has issued a Call-to-Artists to select an artist to produce an iconic and interactive art piece for the park. A Type 4 Agreement that contributes $200,000 to public artwork was approved and executed by CCDC and the City. The design team is concurrently developing ideas for site features to be included in the park. Construction of the park is on track for the 2020 construction season.

Westside Public Art – City of Boise Traffic Boxes – PP Type 4:  The T4 Agreement between CCDC and the City was approved by the Board on February 11, 2019.  Artists were selected and traffic boxes were assigned in March.  Art content has been approved and will now move into the fabrication phase for installation this summer.  Wraps are being fabricated and the installation will begin in a few weeks.