Comments on: Growthophobe: Development Requests Absurd

By: dog

dog — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 23:46:46 +0000

Folks,
Look at the upside to growth. The key word is “more” cuz you want it. More corner Starbucks, more WalMarts, more schools to build for the kids, more $2 Dollar Stores (inflation), more cops to catch the bad guys, more fire houses, more convenience stores, more AA meetings, more jails, more srip malls, more Eagle Roads, more Bill Sali’s, more ATV’s,more annexation, more of everything you want to make life here more better. It’s all going to look more like Meridian or Wasilla. Don’t forget your taxes will cost more since you get to pay for it.

Why do you think they put the “more” in Avimore?

By: Razzbar

Razzbar — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 20:35:25 +0000

Go Kart tracks! Ah, I remember when I was a teenager how the valley was filled with tracks. Before the days when ambulance chasers ruined that fun. These were noisy, smelly dangerous toys. Some tracks had faster ones than others, and my friends and I made it a point to exchange notes on which tracks were the best. The best track, but not the best karts, were on the outskirts of Caldwell, and I think the track is still there, in a field off 20/26, on the right as you head in from Boise.

There were also miniature golf courses and trampoline places. Often all three recreations were integrated at the same site. There was nothing like that big swimming hole outside Meridian, but there were lots of small mom’n’pop operations all over.

It’s the trend of the day, fewer and fewer, but bigger and bigger operations as the big boys kill off the little ones. What used to be an everyday fun thing like minigolf and go karts, is now an occasional big deal at the mega swimming hole. Not that the natatorium was that cheap. Wish I could have seen that.

I dunno… it just seems like when a community grows larger, it becomes less of a community.

By: Vulture Capitalist

Vulture Capitalist — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 18:28:27 +0000

Drove past Avimor. I see the potential for a world class Go-Kart track next year.

By: Rod in SE Boise

Rod in SE Boise — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:22:56 +0000

Dave,

I agree with your assessment of the situation 100%. Even in good economic times, growth does not make the Treasure Valley a better place to live. In bad economic times, it is just dumb.

By: The Boise Picayune

The Boise Picayune — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 16:29:31 +0000

Consumer advocates such as the Better Business Bureau regularly advise that “Performance Bonds” be demanded of contractors to insure that the first pieces of mail you receive at your new home or office aren’t liens.

Possession of said bonds by contractors insures completion of a project and /or compensation in the event of non completion and / or poor performance, with the issuing agency exercising uber diligence.

“Performance bonds have been around since 2,750 BC and, more recently, the Romans developed laws of surety around 150 AD, the principles of which still exist.”[1]

America saw the passing of “The Miller Act” in 1935 and the subsequent adoption of “Little Millers” by many States, including Idaho’s § 54-1927.

With such an exceptionally long and distinguished history of protection, The Boise Picayune is at a complete loss to explain why the City of Boise and it’s various quasi-governmental political fiefdoms such as the CCDC haven’t demanded Performance Bonds from developers.

By: Clippityclop

Clippityclop — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 06:02:40 +0000

NOTHING LESS than a genuine, self-respecting performance bond should be accepted! Are you entitling commissioners completely crazy? WAKE UP! Demand it from the developers and guess what? They’ll pony up!!! (Or kiss their inadequately financed project goodbye…) We, your taxpaying/salary paying public are sick and tired of picking up the eventual tab and subsidizing developer profits! That ain’t the free market, boyz, so pull your heads out, red or blue, I really don’t care.

By: Tom Anderson

Tom Anderson — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 02:13:17 +0000

I just drove past Avimor (knicknamed DriveMore) and was thinking about the beautiful valley that they are pretty well on their way to destroying.

When they go bankrupt in a few months, they will leave behind a valley full of half completed roads, torn up land, a few isolated houses, and noxious weeds for as far as the eye can see.

I wander around this valley and see vacant strip malls, building foundations with weeds growing up through them, and endless for sale signs.

Perhaps we should let all of this construction begin with a caveat that the developer will do prison time if it is not completed.

EDITOR NOTE– Gee Tom, I would be happy with just a huge performance bond. Show me the money!

By: Steve Edgar

Steve Edgar — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:51:55 +0000

Looks as though it is deja vu all over again. While it was with regret I had to leave the Ada County P&Z Commission, I would like to refer your readers, new and old, to take a look at my article submitted to Dave and The Guardian on 7/7/07….69 reponses and still a topic we have yet to resolve 13 months later. Lots of talk, lots of concern, no political action. Status quo is an easy way out. If we ignore it long enough it will go away….just like cancer-right? Please, let us all keep pressing the issue.
Steve Edgar

By: The Boise Picayune

The Boise Picayune — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 01:06:49 +0000

Erasing Boise’s very identity we are being led at breakneck speed into homogeneous mediocrity.

And homogeneous mediocrity is not at all difficult to move on from, leaving behind decay that will make said mediocrity enviable.

“Love It or Leave It” may no longer be a infantile retort.

—

It breaks my heart to watch “the goose” so slowly and grotesquely killed.

By: Cyclops

Cyclops — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 22:45:53 +0000

I think Sara is right on! It doesn’t take a genius to realize that our city and conty agencies, and leadership, have factored in substantial levels of growth to feed themselves. I certainly would hope that we would take advantage of this slow down to re-evaluate our future plans relative to growth in the valley. The problem, however, is that these “jamokes” won’t even talk to each other, much less come up with a common goal.It amazes me that a substantial number of our citizens are going “ballistic” that we can’t get the different factions in Iraq to agree on a common goal, but we seem to be perfectly fine with our local elected officials do the same bloody thing. It’s all about protecting your turf!