Obviously I am not talking about Avimor or Drycreek. I agree with you that they are not sustainable but I am talking about the last two decade’s growth in the Eagle, Kuna, and Meridian area that has “sustained” itself very nicely. They have their own schools, hospitals, and shopping districts. They are not exactly the leeches on “Old Boise” that you make them out to be. And have you ever heard of the “tech” industry maybe? Although the industry is cyclical and not doing to well how much money has it pored into our economy and schools? Maybe you should move back to Mayberry.

EDITOR NOTE–…like they did when Van Waters and Rogers dumped all the chemicals under what is now the Town Square Mall.

I’m glad The Egyptian was spared. However, doesn’t it survive in part on charitable contributions?

Yes, The Grove Hotel is hideous and its setback on Front and Capital is criminal. It is still better than the dirt lot that used to be there.

The Hampton Inn is not nearly as hideous as The Grove, and it is still better than a dirt lot or a dilapidated warehouse, i.e., the area across 9th from Bodo.

Dog, I agree, “old town areas” are very popular and maintaining them is a legitimate concern for a city. The keyword is “area.” One stand alone building such as the Foster’s Building does not make an Old Town District.

Yes, exactly, isn’t that what I wrote, although admittedly somewhat awkwardly, I did not have it backwards. My point is, both the Boise Junk House and Goodman Oil, which are vacant eyesores, would have many more properties like them if not for BRA in the 60s. VACANT EYESORES that ARE NOT paying their fair share of property taxes, and isn’t that this forums preeminent foucs? Fair taxes?

Not only are they not paying their fair share, they are peventing surrounding properties from being developed into higher and better uses. That is to say, most developers know better than to try to make a silk purse out of a sow’s ear of a neighborhood.

This ought to get me flamed, but Eminent Domain should be used to take the Goodman Oil property. Yes, Eminent Domain may have been abused in the past, but now its become taboo. Too bad.

We the people of Boise can, other than tax ourselves for alternative transportation, do pretty much anything we want.

We could set a population limit, and then outline acceptable ways to stay within that limit.

White folk, which is the primary inhabitant of Boise, has been in population decline, so the one baby rule probably wouldn’t even need to be considered.

Thousands of examples of no-immigration societies exist. Look at New Zealand, or island nations like most of the nations in the Bahamas. You need to have a round trip plane ticket to visit. For places you can drive to, your car cannot be sold there or remain there for more than a certain amount of time. You are not allowed to initiate city services or get a job there.

This is not rocket science, we could pick and choose from numerous models.