Armory sale postponed!
Great news! Committee Chair Laura Shealy learned recently that the City of Boise has moved the proposed late 2008 Armory auction into the spring of 2009. Several factors influenced their decision, and we are grateful to have additional breathing room to explore the site’s future. There has been increased interest in the Amory from several sources in the past weeks and months, and we hope to make good use of the extra time to pursue some promising leads and potential collaboration.
A City of Boise spokesperson alluded to another interesting development:
The city of Boise is currently considering transferring the property to Capital City Development Corporation, the city’s urban renewal agency. According to city spokesman Adam Park, the CCDC would create a comprehensive redevelopment plan for the site before putting the property up for sale.
“The redevelopment plan would have heavy neighborhood involvement,” Park says, who was encouraged by the efforts of the East End Neighbors Association. “We’ve gotten good feedback from the neighborhood already. It’s been a positive process.”
The city has particular interest in the Armory’s potential to diversify the economic base of downtown Boise, where market-rate and luxury development has limited housing options for the workforce.
While we are excited to have new alternatives and options, we are aware of the enormous challenges ahead. This is a first step; our hope is that an open and inclusive process will result in a diverse coalition of community stakeholders who can move the project forward. Thanks to everyone involved so far: EENA, CCDC, NENA, DBA, the City Council and the Mayor’s office. We look forward to new partnerships with the Idaho Nation Guard and those interested in preservation and sustainable development that creates a net gain for Boise.