Comments on: Growth Trumps Open Space, Beauty

By: bert farber

bert farber — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 16:59:25 +0000

It’s a nice pitcher, that’s for sure, but I don’t see no cajones.

By: Robert

Robert — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 10:18:04 +0000

Rod,
I thought Hawkin’s said ( Fill my bank account and I’ll follow you any where.)

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 20:58:02 +0000

A wise man (his name was Hawkins and he moved to Colorado) once said: “Bigger isn’t better, better is better.”

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:44:14 +0000

I enjoy the outside seating as well Sisyphus. If we were in any central or south american city It would be obvious how a business would get such a variance. It’s called La Mordida! Simply put, you pay some official to get what you want. Put someone’s kid through school or some type of “favor”. I am just wondering who got the “mordida” to allow restaurants to take up 80% of the sidewalk? As nice as they are!

By: Treva

Treva — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 18:06:14 +0000

I remember when Baxter’s Foundry and the Yanke Machine Shop were located on the west side of Capitol Boulevard. They weren’t very attractive. The old Dixon’s Seafood building is still there. I can’t remember what else was located on the street. I expect there are pictures somewhere that would identify what was there in the late forties and fifties. I would like it if you were to post comparitive pictures, Guardian.

By: LocalJoe

LocalJoe — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 15:13:18 +0000

While I usually find Dave either too negative or too paranoid (sometimes both) he is correct on this one. For the city father’s to have given away the view corridor down Capital Blvd. is criminal.

Anyone know who was in charge when this was done?

By: Tom Ryder

Tom Ryder — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:58:50 +0000

Guardian — Downtown Boise has many detractors and you are one of the most vocal. I am biased and won’t carry on a futile argument with you and your bloggers. However, I would like you to consider removing the beautiful photo at the top of your web site. You make some valid observations periodically about funding of infrastructure in Downtown, the lack of some amenities and the poor planning on Capitol, Front and Myrtle. You even make some very informative suggestions about traffic circulation and valley congestion.

So why is it that one of our most observant and discriminating professional photographers uses a Downtown skyline scene to hype his own web site. Please, please use one that more appropriately describes your vision of the Treasure Valley…maybe of shot of the Capitol Building under construction…

EDITOR NOTE–Before you go home and kiss your wife, please consider that some folks see the GUARDIAN masthead as a sign of progress and beautiful buildings. Others see it as a sign of what happens when growth and development are allowed to infringe on a lovely natural background and obscure the capitol. The GUARDIAN, while opinionated, is many things to many people–just like the picture.

By: Sisyphus

Sisyphus — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 14:38:39 +0000

Yeah Cyclops but with a little planning they can hide the traffic better in a city of 20 million than we can in a city of 200,000. And geez Cyclops, the downtown bistro seating is an amenity I enjoy.

By: Kim

Kim — Tue, 20 Nov 2007 13:00:54 +0000

Wow, you’ve obviously been living here too long. You’re spoiled! Sure, there are some amazing cities out there you can compare Boise to, but that’s like looking at your wife and wondering why she isn’t a supermodel.

Honestly Dave, do you really think you could get a supermodel?? Boise is a wonderful little city with a terrific greenbelt and park system. Appreciate it just a little, eh?

EDITOR NOTE– One of us is missing the point. I agree on wonderful little city. My point is that Capitol Blvd. has been “intruded upon” as we try to fill every inch with pavement or rooftops and cram big buildings into small spaces. Also, my wife IS a supermodel.

By: CYCLOPS

CYCLOPS — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 22:24:28 +0000

Guardian, you wax nostalgic at “what was”. There is a common factor with both of those beautiful places you captured visually.
If you look just to the left of the grand monument on La Reforma Blvd., you will notice bumper to bumper traffic that moves at about 6 miles an hour most of the time. That beautiful shot of 9th. of July Blvd. must have been taken around 9 AM on a Sunday morning while the entire country was in church, because the traffic there also “sucks”!
Team Dave marched in the “talking heads” from Salt Lake and Portland to tout the rail systems that they have developed. Guess what? Their traffic “sucks” too!
The common factor here? The traffic sucks! As long as team Davey is here, the CCDC will continue to rob the tax base, the buildings will get uglier, and the sidewalks will get more narrow. And let’s not forget the “quaint european atmosphere” that is brought on by the sidewalk dining downtown. I wonder who approved the change from a few bistro tables outside, to fenced off areas that take up 80% of the sidewalk?
Bottom line, we deserve what we get!