Did you obtain a copy of the Purchase Agreement? Pretty sure flood evaluation and environmental studies are part of the due diligence process contemplated in the next six months.

So one acre in the area was appraised at $14/foot and a 10 acre purchase would be $20/foot. When was the $14/ft valuation done and under what circumstances?

EDITOR NOTE–Private source, but you can probably check the assessor office file to see the sale price within the past 2 yrs.

Yes there are flood plain and procedural issues and maybe even cronyism, but…

The biggest issue is the possibility that the 30th St Urban Renewal district will be denied a hefty percentage tax increment funding which would have been used to repair the damage to the neighborhood. This cannot be understated. And no, there will not be spin off businesses due to CWI. Look at BSU’s spin offs… fast food joints and beer gardens on Broadway and tons of derelict rentals in the neighborhood. Golly gee, just what west downtown needs, more derelict rentals.

What damage? Where should I begin?

1) Years of industrial use where businesses externalized some of their costs by dumping their waste right on the ground.

2) Years of zoning changes which have rendered small lots along Fairveiw/Main unsuitable for most uses especially those of a redevelopment nature.

3) Construction of the 1992 Broadway-Chinden Connector which eliminated most of the auto traffic which served the businesses of the area.

4) Decades of the City and ACHD ignoring the streetscape of the area while spending tax money collected in the area on suburban infrastructure.

Point #3 illustrates just how dependent we are on automobiles. I’m still waiting for Mr. Walkability Jeff Speck to come here and elaborate on how the connector’s 1992 extension spurred the renaissance of downtown Boise at great expense to the Fairview/Main Corridor.

No word on bringing Robert Bruegmann here to give a lecture. Why are “stakeholders” so afraid of Bruegmann?

What no one is talking about is the fact that the contract is not contingent on obtaining a bond for construction costs. There is no whay in H+++ they will pass a bond with all the negative publicity. More important, why would they enter into contract to purchase property with out a bond contingency. IN fact they should get the bond first, then find an appropriate property.

all these B.G. stories, and negative comments in response. I would like to point out that all this is a product of the board of directors for CWI, and not in any way representative of the type of positive influence the rest of the school has on the community.

well there Mr. world wide cynic, not everything revolves around BSU. BSU is a business school, and the are in the business of making money, not helping the community. CWI on the other hand, has dedicated vast amount of resources to supporting the disfranchised, such as educating (for free) people who need a GED, or are of refugee status. I think that falls under the heading as something “positive”. Also, CWI offers courses that BSU doesn’t, so mostly there is not “duplication of services” as you mentioned. And if there is a duplication, such as lower division courses, then the cost is almost exactly half of that of BSU, which makes the higher education much more obtainable for Boise’s plethora of proletarians, (again, a positive). Also, most of the buildings that CWI occupy are spread out throughout the valley because they are essentially “Hand-me-downs” from Micron or other businesses that want a tax write off. The proposed purchase of property close to BSU is intended to be a singular location to minimize the spread of the campus. Also, since the Culinary Arts building that CWI leases from BSU is being taken to make way for new football practice areas, CWI needs to come up with another location, which it currently does not have.
Nothing about having a campus near by indicates diminished property value, (other then your speculation). Actually, business that are close to colleges generally see an increase in revenue. Again, another positive.
And since BSU is the dominant college in the area, I’m sure that a capitalist such as yourself would welcome the prospect of healthy competition, even if it is from an organization such as CWI.
Lastly, all your arguments (aside from just the angry ranting) should be directed at the board of directors, not the people working at that college or the college as a whole. There are many people there busting there ass, working long hours for minimal pay to ensure that students get an optimal education, and if you want to trash CWI, make sure you differentiate who exactly your angry with. And if you don’t like they way they operate, then do something about it. Don’t just be another arm chair quarterback.

“everything revolves around BSU”

Never said anything remotely like that but I did concede that competition would be good. But not at the expense of the loss of 100s of thousands in tax increment financing. That is the pointed I have repeatedly made. And not just over the CWI thing, I have made this point going back years. Search the guardian archives.

“Actually, business that are close to colleges generally see an increase in revenue. Again, another positive.”

You mean like fast food joints and beer gardens?

“Lastly, all your arguments (aside from just the angry ranting) should be directed at the board of directors,”

Since when is pointing out facts a ranting? You’re practicing shoot the messenger which is a type of straw man fallacy. FACT: Loss of tax increment revenue. The very reason 30th ST. URD was created was to keep taxes collected in the area for renewal of the area.

FACT: Homes north of State are assessed at and selling for more than identical homes south of State. Do I really have to pull out some comps? If you have an explanation other than the excess of run down rentals then you have not provided it.

Prime example of absentee landlordism: The Bob Rice Ford site, you really think that added to property values in the area? Another famous absentee landlord: The Consolidated Concrete (Quinns) plant site, which is now being made into Esther Simplot Park. As far back as the 70s the neighbors were complaining about that site and Mayor Amyx cut a deal with the Quinns with respect to annexation. All the city planners wanted Class A open space, Amyx gave the Quinns light industrial.

And here we sit 45 years later finally getting the open space. A half a century of blight finally getting addressed.

Hmm, why did Harris Ranch explode with new development while west downtown hasn’t? Why did Parkcenter’s River Run explode with development in the 70s but west downtown didn’t? Blight, that’s why. And blight is 90% caused by absentee landlords.

Given the proximity to downtown and the parking demand CWI would create on this site, why does the parking garage need to be developed by tax payers? Seems like there is an opportunity for private and/or CCDC dollars to build the garage and have the garage users pay enough fee to support the garage. This garage does not need to be in the bond request from CWI.