Yes 100,000lbs. of speeding red light runners several times an hour. Not a cop in sight ever. Probably forbidden by the mayor to issue tickets to gravel trucks.

Guardian should shoot video. Legacy media won’t do it.

I did not express that I did not like GBAD, so please do not assume that with your questioning. I am simply trying to both inform myself these days, and engage with others to learn more and share what I have learned. Sometimes issues and discussions lead to asking different questions, or asking questions in different ways. I try hard to make it a point to stay focused on the facts (when they are made transparent), show how public funds are used, the process, the overlap, etc., so that discussions such as this can occur and citizens can learn from each other, not accuse and slam one another.

I pulled the exact text from the GBAD website and did not intentionally, nor disingenuously, leave anything out. This is how THEY described their origination in 1959, which says nothing about a vote of the citizens being required. Maybe they need to add this to their own website description, as well as include the actual percent for what you describe as “an overwhelming majority” of voter approval. Plus their own website says their purpose was for “a civic facility” – this means one, which they have done.

What your comments (with a touch of accusation) did make clear is this: Boise City having CCDC help fund the library/event center, means that CCDC is actually now doing the job of GBAD.

Which is exactly what House Bill 217 is trying to correct. “This bill is narrowly tailored so the votes happen when the votes were intended to happen and urban renewal is used for its primary purpose, and that is for the infrastructure,” Rice told the Senate.

I will ask this, can you explain what you mean by “my peers” in the state legislature in your comment directed at me – are they not your peers as well? Or simply the State legislature?

“GBAD accomplished its purpose of building a civic facility in 1990 without a direct vote of the citizens. Recently a three-part $47.5 million major expansion has been completed, with a portion of the $29.5 million phase 1 cost being funded through lease financing, as the means to avoid the Constitutional debt limitation and a vote. Citizens should be asking why they are being made to pay for another civic facility, as part of the main library/civic center project, again without a vote.”

I’d like to remind everyone it’s GBAD’s job to build public facilities. If they don’t, then they’re NOT doing the job voters voted for them to do. Remember back in 1959 when an overwhelming majority of Ada County voters voted to create GBAD? Probably not, or you disingenuously leave out that part.

You don’t like GBAD? Then start a county wide initiative to forever disband it. Good luck with that when your peers in the state legislature are trying their best to eliminate that freedom.

Join them for a good time.

The site of this development just happens to be in the recently formed Shoreline Redevelopment District (January 2019) that won’t expire for another 20 years. I don’t think that it is a coincidence that this parcel south of the River was included in that new district. Given all the development the by “free market” in Garden City near the River one has to ask if a redevelopment district was necessary for this condo project to go forward? or is it nothing more than the City‘s Model for diverting about $35 million of property taxes from the Schools, the County and the City’s general fund into the CCDC’s stadium fund?

Assuming a market value of $450,000 per condo the property tax revenue for this project will be around $2,050,000 per year ($450,000 times 300 condos times the 2018 tax rate of .015183%) or ~$35 million over 17 years.

The fast action by the City results in the School District losing out on $10.6 million in property taxes, ACHD loses $2 million, Ada County loses $6.6 million and the City’s general Fund loses $15 million in property taxes plus the $4 million the City plans to donate to the CCDC’s Stadium Fund.

The Plaza area and the Boise Center are both public properties, as shown on their websites. Plus each property owner listed on the Ada County Assessor website shows these publicly funded government bodies. The following 2 text blocks with asterisks are directly from CCDC and GBAD websites:

* THE GROVE PLAZA: This property was owned by CCDC as an urban public park. CCDC transferred The Grove Plaza to the City of Boise after the Central District Sunset.

* The District is a public or governmental entity. In 1959, the Idaho Legislature passed legislation allowing for the creation of auditorium districts in Idaho. Upon passage of the legislation, a district was formed in Boise for the purpose of building a civic facility for the community.

The Plaza officially transferred hands at the end of 2018, but was always publicly owned, and the improvements made to this area were funded through tax increment financing.

GBAD accomplished its purpose of building a civic facility in 1990 without a direct vote of the citizens. Recently a three-part $47.5 million major expansion has been completed, with a portion of the $29.5 million phase 1 cost being funded through lease financing, as the means to avoid the Constitutional debt limitation and a vote. Citizens should be asking why they are being made to pay for another civic facility, as part of the main library/civic center project, again without a vote.

And on another matter: I thought the Grove Plaza was now owned by the City. However, I was collecting signatures for ballot initiatives down there today, and an “Events Manager” came out and told me NOT to get signatures from anyone waiting in line at the ticket booth. She said she did not want people “bothered”.

I will also be interested in realized tax receipts of TreeFort injection. We’ll see if it’s Fake News from City side.

Eyesores at Franklin and Cole sites tell us that projections for growth might be short of mark. Silver lining? Not enough kiddies to build more schools. South Jr HS is half the size of the old building. Many fams fled to Meridian when they could to escape taxes and higher cost of living. I just heard from a local real estate agent that a small Northend home that’s not very impressive is selling for $400K. Bubble machine pricing. Thanks Woodrow Wilson, we soooooo appreciate the FED octopus you brought us.

Yes, I see and hear the F-15s and F-18s. The upside is that they are not F-35 money pits. Part time visits are way better than permanent based.

Leg session almost done. Some good and bad, as always.

Sens. Kelly Anthon, R-Burley; Attorney; Mormon

Steve Bair, R-Blackfoot; Farmer/rancher; Mormon

Van Burtenshaw, R-Terreton; Farmer/rancher; Mormon

Don Cheatham, R-Post Falls; Cop; Homeland Security; Californian

Scott Grow, R-Eagle; Accountant; Mormon

Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs; Rancher

Lee Heider, R-Twin Falls; Flooring company; Mormon

Brent Hill, R-Rexburg; Accountant\banker; Mormon

Todd Lakey, R-Nampa; Lawyer; Mormon

Abby Lee, R-Fruitland; Mormon

Patti Anne Lodge, R-Huston; Educator\vineyard pres.; Catholic

Dean Mortimer, R-Idaho Falls; Construction mgt.; Mormon

Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls; Farmer

Jim Rice, R-Nampa; Lawyer; Mormon

Mary Souza, R-Coeur d’Alene; Retired Nurse; event coordinator; Lutheran(?)

Steven Thayn, R-Emmett; Educator\farmer

Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens; Home remodeler

Chuck Winder, R-Boise; Real estate developer.

EDITOR NOTE–We allowed the “Mormon” reference here because it was brought up during public debate on the floor. It in no way indicates the GUARDIAN sentiments, only an identification placed by the commenter.

Has the School District found a Title Company to insure the title for a new owner or have they gone to court to force the issue? Probably a public relations nightmare of big school district not giving the land back to the families.

My grandfather donated deed restricted land to a rural school district in the 1920s. My father went to school there. When it was consolidated when the former Meridian School District was created, the land reverted to the family and they farmed it for another 60 years.

Any idea on the former Cole and Frankin properties?