Comments on: Growing Numbers of Growthophobes

By: Clancy

Clancy — Tue, 02 May 2006 14:18:36 +0000

“Team Dave” leader Dave Bieter is pushing to populate the south hills with another round of development.” Gaurdian – Ask Dave which developer he has already ruffled the feathers of? I think those 15,000 acres and their owners would much rather deal with the Ada County. Avimor, The Cliffs and other leapfrog development frustrate Bieter because he has no chance at increasing his tax revenue. Notice how he said nothing in regards to the M3 announcement, Dave’s cohort in taxation, Nancy, already laid claim to the taxes. He sees the southern desert has his last chance to get the last remaining bits of land/taxes surrounding Boise.

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 13:46:32 +0000

It is critical that each of us get invloved in defending our quality of life – especially in our neighborhoods. Our city officials really don’t care what they do to destroy the things we value the most.

One great example is how they are manipulating things is the Compass transportation plan. Many of us went to the public workshops only to find that the discussions were all “guided” to specific goals that were already set up.

The new plan will be promoted as having allot of “public input” and that will be a joke – it was more like “public manipulation.”

By: curious george

curious george — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 03:57:12 +0000

When I was in my twenties, newly married, and newly out of school (ages and ages ago) I had the opportunity to choose where I would live – for the very first time in my life. You see, I was born into a military family and had nothing remotely similar to what many call a “hometown”.

Even though my wife and I only had 80 bucks cash-in-hand and a $300 check in the bank that hadn’t yet cleared, we picked up and moved to an out-of-the-way place half a country away. Yup, that’s right – Boise, Idaho.

We put down roots, bought a home, raised a family. Our oldest is now a student at the Univ. of Idaho, and our youngest went to the same elementary school as her brother & and now goes to the same Junior High (and will probably go to the same High School). We’re not into “flipping” property – been in the same old house (our first) for the past 14 years. I get to walk to work when the weather’s good, we walk to church, and we can walk to the grocery store & coffee shop. None of this has changed in the years that we’ve lived in Boise.

Now, I spent the whole first part of my life as the proverbial “outsider” (every place I lived in I was the “new kid on the block” with the funny clothes, funny haircut, and funny accent) and I know xenophobia when I see it. It is the nastiest form of abject hatred that a person can spew. And, it is the most blinding of hatreds – keeping everyone that adopts that fearful stance from being able to see viable solutions to problems.

There is one absolute truth that I’ve learned in life; when a person chooses to live in a particular city – they become citizens of that city, an inseparable component of that place. The rate of growth of that city, the changing shape of that city, or the rapidity of social and cultural change within that city, may be byproducts of an influx of people – but it cannot change the nature of the choice these people made to become members of that community. It doesn’t matter where a person comes from, or how long ago they came from that place. If they live in Boise, they are Boiseans.

If our town doesn’t fit with one of its citizen’s wishes, Pogo put it best;

“We have met the enemy and he is us.”

I applaud everyone that stays committed to making & keeping this town a great place to live – but please remember, we are all in this together (even if some of us are newbies).

By: Joe Moran

Joe Moran — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 22:43:35 +0000

That’s very sad.. when I read what that farmer said a feeling of sadness invaded my emotions. Is unlimited developtment by Big Money with our politicians catering to their greed ( team Dave?) Progress??

Boise is the only city I’ve lived in where I don’t worry about violence or crime or my personal safety. It’s a wonderful place to raise and educate children. I walk through the north end just to look at the beautiful homes and gardens ( Americana at it’s best!). My fellow boiseans, this peaceful way of life has disappeared forever all over America, don’t let ” team Dave and well monied friends” do it to you!!

By: JOE

JOE — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 21:30:47 +0000

Limiting new construction will make housing prices go up faster.

Look, Boise is going to stop growing, fairly soon, so yes, get involved in trying to preserve open space etc. Support someone progressive for the ADA county commisioner board. They’ve got the power.

By: Pat

Pat — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 20:04:58 +0000

It is impossible to either control growth or manage it with those who currently hold Boise City Council and Mayorial seats. They constantly tell us how stupid we are (and uneducated for trying to preserve our neighborhoods) and our quality of life. They profess to be so much smarter than we are.

Now we hear that they want the state to pass laws so they can have “local option” taxes – – so they can tax and spend and tax and spend even MORE!

It is time to prepare to vote them out and stop them – or the blueprint for goofy growth will conitue, we will have a train that goes to an empty, closed Depot and we will have more of LESS quality of life.

By: jec

jec — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 20:03:21 +0000

I see using the native card as nothing more than a schoolyard ploy to “neener-neener” at the new kids in school and is entirely counter-productive. Thank you, Sisyphus, for being a voice of reason.

By: Sarah Wiltz

Sarah Wiltz — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:36:14 +0000

You can let people know we’re having a meeting 7pm Wednesday, May 24th at Hillside Jr. High to talk about the proposed development by Kastera in the central foothills.
(Just north of Hill road from Hillside Jr. High to Bogus Basin Road.) Everyone who lives nearby, uses the hills, or just likes them the way they are is invited.

Our goal is to get a group of very concerned neighbors working together to either stop this development or make it very, very small.

Maybe even smaller than small!

I’ll keep watching this site. It’s good fun.

By: John C.

John C. — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 19:17:48 +0000

Boise growth– Although a former long time resident, I don’t recognize Boise anymore and, when I visit, I usually get lost.

By: T.J.

T.J. — Thu, 27 Apr 2006 16:32:01 +0000

The sale of previously owned homes in Eagle seems to have come almost to a complete stall. There are four homes on the 6th and 7th fairways of the Eagle Hills golf course which have been for sale for many, many months. These homes are 70’s vintage, but have great views. (Some have had considerable remodeling done.) There are at least three homes in the same area that have been bought in the last year or so and turned into rentals. Best wishes to the owners who may find it difficult to market these properties after they have been trashed. It is not that easy to find good tenants in this market.

People coming here from exploding real estate markets naturally think our prices are a deal. They apparently want these huge, hulking McMansions which totally consume the lots on which they are built, most of which have a nice view of the neighbors house 10 feet away. Perhaps they won’t mind the heating and cooling bills, and the increasing cost of commuting to anywhere in the valley, since they won’t be finding work in Eagle or Star.

Our government at all levels has apparently no desire to keep this valley from becoming another LA. The only solution is to call a moratorium, let everyone catch their breath, and rethink how to manage growth, along with issues of air quality and availability of water. (I do not intend to give up my little lawn so that developers from Arizona can cram another few thousand homes into this area. How selfish of me.)