Tags - BoDo, City Club of Boise, City of Boise, Commercial Real Estate, Construction, development, Downtown Boise, Mark Rivers
Developer Mark Rivers wants to drop a “bomb of development” with his $200 million Library Blocks mixed-use development that will stretch south of BoDo to the Boise River, and he hopes city and business leaders will follow suit with other well-defined, sustainable neighborhoods in Boise. He noted in a speech to the City Club of Boise today that the Treasure Valley is expected to be home to more than 1 million people by 2020, which has the potential to produce additional urban sprawl that will affect air quality, traffic and quality of life.
“If you think you can stop this growth, it’s coming,” he said. “We have to be smart with how we react to their arrival. Infill development is the answer clearly.”
Rivers, whose development firm Brix & Co. spearheaded the $60 million BoDo retail hub south of Boise’s downtown core, laid out a vision of what city leaders should do over the next five to 10 years to sustain the valley’s economic vitality and quality of life. He offered four major suggestions:
Dramatically expand the role of BSU in the community, which he described as a potential “economic powerhouse.” He cited the University of Utah’s tech transfer program, which led to the creation of 17 companies last year. “We spun out none,” he said. “We don’t have any programs like that.”
Make plans for a streetcar system a reality. Mayor Dave Bieter’s plan to build a $40 to $50 million trolley system within four years could lead to the creation of more neighborhoods with a “sense of place,” such as BoDo or the future Library Blocks neighborhood, he said. “We need to be thinking of our downtown as pods,” he said.
Take advantage of the residential market downturn. “Be ready for when the market turns positive again,” he said. “We should not be sitting back on our hands and waiting for the market to turn and starting from a standing stop.” He suggested that city leaders spend time in “training camp,” for example, by forming a working group to identify downtown properties that could be acquired at deflated prices and developed as neighborhoods and to explore public/private partnerships.
Build on the heritage of entrepreneurism and innovation in Idaho. He cited the state of Maryland’s recent announcement of a $1.1 billion, 10-year investment in biosciences and said, “We’re competing with the state of Maryland. We need to find ways to make investments. … We have a mistaken view here in Idaho that investment in corporations is somehow corporate welfare.” Rivers said Idaho could build on a legacy of business investment in alternative energy and agriculture/foodservices technology. “We need to have the cluster mentality.”
16 Comments
Rivers is a visionary asset to Boise at a time when they're in dire need of it. Hopefully, he understands the surest path forward will require full, constitutionally-protected, home-rule powers for Idaho towns, cities, and counties. Our current (legislative) political class is dramatically threatened by this idea...which would be hilarious, if it weren't so tragic. Idaho is the ONLY state west of the Mississippi without home-rule.
Comment By Bill Monday, July 21, 2008 @ 10:55 PM
"Out current (legislative) political class is dramatically threatened by this idea"
Really?
My impression has been that the legislature is simply trying to avoid excess taxation.
Comment By Cuhulin Monday, July 21, 2008 @ 11:11 PM
How do you figure that? of the 6 states that border Idaho, 3 have no income tax, 2 more no sales taxes...all are home-rule. I sure trust my ability to influence local leadership than those rural bozos in the statehouse under the control of the lobbyists (IACI, Farm Bureau, etc) that absolutely hate home-rule.
Comment By Bill Monday, July 21, 2008 @ 11:21 PM
I'm not saying they are right. I am saying that this is what they say -- not that they are dramatically afraid.
Comment By Cuhulin Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 12:17 AM
Oh but they are. HR transcends mere tax policy, but goes to the heart of 4 things vital to Idaho's economy in this new age: power, speed, transparency, & accountability. We're stuck now under a regimen of slow, oblique, micromanagement...things the 'New Economy' hates, and refuses to empower.
And despite any specific a priori cause, the fact Idaho has lost 4 of her top 6 corp HQs in recent years, and scored a 49th place in Bloomberg's "wealth friendliness" analysis, should be big red flags.
Everyone reading this should checkout Geo. Mason University Prof, Dr. Bryan Caplan's seminal piece, "The Idea Trap"; it's what Idaho is stuck in with our imperial Legislature. Thanks.
There is nothing potential about the effects if we double the population-our air and water will degrade and sprawl will emerge.
Give Rivers credit for his thoughts, but the foothills and se boise are already suffering from shock and awe strafing runs.
Comment By Joe Blow Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 12:59 AM
I second Mr. Sellers. God bless Mark Rivers for having some vision in this city, but even more than that not sitting on his hands once the vision strikes. Lots of people talk good ideas but Mark has distinguished himself by actually executing on them. Thanks Mark for two great accomplishments already (BoDo, Water Cooler).
Comment By Chris Blanchard Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 11:18 AM
What Mr. Rivers unfortunately does not realize is that most of the people in power don't want growth (unless it directly enriches their pocketbook), diversity or a move to the 21st century.
By keeping Idaho in a resource/ag mode, the "powers that be" continue to be the powers that be. The "in the pocket" Idaho Republican Party is central to the front line effort to keep the status quo. Allowing for home rule would be like turning in one's gun in a one gun town. Never going to happen.
A vibrant, successful Boise is their worst nightmare. The Mark Rivers of this world are just a short term nuisance that will get ignored, frozen out and kicked to the side of the curb to blow out of town with the rest of the tumble weeds.
I wish I was wrong...
Comment By Interested Party Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 11:45 AM
He talks a good game, but execution is questionable if the BODO project is his benchmark. He got an anchor hotel which is architecturally not that impressive, a parking garage which is not designed for more than a 5 ft car and non-human friendly design for his Capitol and Front street access to the project. Besides the new builds are not in balance with the old designs in the area. Their is room for eery taste in the marketplace. I would just hope he would move up from his K-Mart level of design to offer something more inspiring and human friendly.
Comment By tony Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 11:48 AM
Credit Rivers for being about the only business or political leader with a strong vision for Boise that makes sense. He's smart, He sees the big picture. And, he actually puts his money where his mouth is. I heard the speech yesterday in person and, he's spot on for how to make Boise prosper. Hats off, Mr. R!
Comment By JohnHydePark Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 12:00 PM
Tony, you can actually also thank Max Clark (head of parking operations for CCDC) for signing off on the design of the Myrtle Street Garage. They cut so many corners in that garage.
Comment By alphawolf Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 12:27 PM
Who is kidding who? BoDo brought new national retailers to Boise. Redefined our downtown. Provides movies and community events. Let's keep trashing it and, go back to a big, empty decaying 8th Street Marketplace with nothing goin on and a downtown in decline. WAKE UP
Comment By lfd2 Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 1:09 PM
wow, so much negativity in one small space. Sounds exciting to me...if more revolutionary minds like Rivers were at work in this state we might have a transportation system that is on task to handle the growth. I say growth with density will continue to make more sense as workforces centralize and fuel remains in the clouds of reality.
I have parked in far worse garages in LA, SF, PDX, SEA and any other major city in the USA...consider it a godsend considering volume and proximity.
Comment By PS Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 5:29 PM
Rivers for Governor. Its about time Idaho elects somebody who does something, stands for something and, has the courage to tackle anything.
Comment By FRG16 Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 5:43 PM
All good points and many have validity. Boise needs growth and will have growth regardless of the legislature, albeit it may be slower. Architecturally, BODO is weak! The Aspens will help offset the "brown" boxes that so reflect this city's image. If Mr. River's wants to continue his development I'm all for it. I just ask that he spends a little more of his investment on something with a little more architectural appeal than a shoebox.
Comment By A Citizen Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 5:53 PM
The issues not being tackled here are the lack of viable transportation options for the boise area. Boise is competing with other cities that have regional transportation networks already in place. Salt Lake, Portland, Seattle, and Denver are more competitively positioned. Why would a company want to relocate to Boise when there is no infrastucture to support it? Building twenty highway lanes is not an answer for economic development. It has left people more vulnerable to price shocks at the pump and reduced people's purchasing power, while absolutely destroying the beauty of this area through urban sprawl. Eagle road is a poster child of everything that is wrong with the area's approach to growth. The state house is blind to the realities on the ground and are sticking to ideology over pragmatism by not supporting mass transit and local area tax authority.
It's time for Boise to get on the bus, train, and streetcar, which will help develop walkable, livable neighborhoods and attract the necessary economic development for Boise to remain competitive.
Comment By R. Weber Tuesday, July 22, 2008 @ 8:10 PM
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