Urban Renewal
Lament Of A Growthophobe (A Rant)
The GUARDIAN created the word “growthophobe,” welcomed new people and businesses if they wished to pay their fair share of taxes and offer good wages. Otherwise relocate elsewhere. Meanwhile local politico mothers and fathers work overtime to attract more population, cars, trains, planes, and buses through “incentives.” They want those of us who live here […]
And The Survey Says…
About 6,000 Ada County residents responded to a survey from the county commishes regarding what to do with the Fair Grounds (EXPO Idaho). A whopping 84% wanted to leave the venue in its current location at Chinden and Glenwood. The survey offered three choices of suggested use of the 247 acres of public land. Respondents […]
Shelter Move Put On Hold
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean issued a statement Thursday which is bound to be received with some degree of hope by NW Boise residents who opposed a homeless shelter on State Street. She joined with the police chief and Jodi Peterson, Executive Director of Interfaith Sanctuary in a decision to put the proposed (and opposed) move […]
Ada Commishes Nix Jail Plan
The GUARDIAN offers kudos to Ada Commishes Ryan Davidson and Rod Beck for not endorsing a plan by previous commissioners to subvert the Idaho Constitutional mandate to seek voter approval for debt to build a jail expansion. Margaret Carmel at BOISEDEV has a detailed account. Under former Commish Dianna Lachiondo, a plan was hatched to […]
McLean Supports Bieter And Community Press
Former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has struck it rich with a development being built by his new employer, the Gardner Co. Under the plan, Gardner will receive CCDC urban renewal loans of $10.2 million for a 110 unit apartment building downtown with a single “affordable rent” apartment. Sounds like the other 109 units are not […]
Bieter Joins Gardner Firm
To the surprise of very few, former Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has found employment with a development firm. According to KTVB NEWSBieter is joining Dave Wali at the Gardner Company, the development firm responsible for major downtown Boise projects like the Zions Bank Building and the underground transportation hub, among others. Bieter was mayor when […]
Bieter’s Lack Of Understanding Should Serve As Signal To New Crop Of Boise Politicos
We have read two post election interviews with Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and it is obvious to the GUARDIAN that he lost the race because he lost touch with his constituents. In a STATESMAN piece based on a letter to a supporter, Bieter was quoted complaining that it was terrible to allow “a small minority” […]
Ada Seeks Ideas For Fairgrounds Rebirth
Ada County Commishes met Wednesday and decided that “horse racing is out” at the fairgrounds. Details at IDAHOPRESS. The GUARDIAN has long advocated creating an agricultural-based historical park on the site which could serve as an educational destination venue. We will roll out our plan which so far has received no reception from past or […]
Eagle May Have Violated Idaho Constitution
Tommy Simmons at the IDAHOPRESS posted a front page story today detailing what appears to be an illegal land purchase on the part of the Eagle City Council and Mayor. In short, they agreed to make installment payments in excess of a single year’s revenue without citizen approval. GUARDIAN editor Dave Frazier has spent well […]
City Election: Many Candidates, Few Issues
We haven’t seen much in the way of controversy in the upcoming city election. There have been plenty of calls for CHANGE, LISTENING, BE KIND, LESS ARROGANCE, RESPONSIBLE SPENDING, but little in specific allegations or cures. Here are some issues we would like to see addressed: –Increase impact fees to slow the growth and make […]
City Library Vote Off, Project “On Hold”
Wiser heads have finally prevailed on the question of an advisory vote regarding the controversial Boise Library project. Ada County Clerk and chief election officer Phil McGrane sent a strongly worded Letter to Mayor Bieter 8.16.19 to Mayor Dave Bieter Friday refusing to place a confusing advisory question on the November ballot along with a […]
Boise Councilors Oversight Failure
If a development near the airport with as many as 22 industrial buildings is allowed to proceed, Boise citizens will be deprived of property taxes and forced to pay for the infrastructure to benefit the private project, thanks to a contract signed by Mayor Dave Bieter. Here’s how it works. Boise City retains ownership of […]
Library Petition Garners Enough Signatures For Vote
The Ada County Clerk’s office confirmed Thursday that enough signatures have been verified to place the questions of an $85 million Boise library and a sports park project on the November ballot. Mayor Dave Bieter released a statement saying, “I respect the citizen engagement behind it and the passion for our community it represents,” Bieter […]
Growthophobe Movement Growing
THEY CREATE WHAT THEY SEEK TO ESCAPE. As the Ada County Assessor sends out property value notices this week, we note the values in some areas are up 20%. That can be good news and bad news. IF you are selling, its good news. If you are on a fixed income chances are your overall […]
Growthophobes Surface At The Polls
Any way your cut it, GROWTH is is costly and not what the citizens of Southwest Idaho want to see. GROWTHOPHOBES have sent their message. Amid cries from overzealous local politicos that “A two-thirds approval is an impossible bar to pass,” we are seeing voters adamantly reject bonds with a two-thirds DISapproval! Canyon County’s jail […]
Insider Nominated Over 230,000 Citizens
That old trope of “independent body corporate and politic” is becoming ludicrous when it comes to Boise’s urban renewal agency, CCDC. Tuesday’s city council agenda includes the proposed appointment of the CCDC chairman, Dana Zuckerman, to the city design review committee. The committee reviews major building projects as part of the approval process on new […]
Political Pandemic Plagues Boise
In March we questioned the functionality of local government, noting all levels viewed citizens as an adversary. Turns out the politicos don’t like each other either! Monday saw the political poop hitting the proverbial fan at a record rate. –Reacting to a citizen petition drive and a new law, Boise’s CCDC urban renewal agency pulled […]
Brent Coles Tells P&Z Not To Rezone Library
Don Day at BOISEDEV reports that former Boise Mayor Brent Coles testified before the Planning and Zoning Commission Monday against a rezone of the area near the library and the Log Cabin Literary Center. Coles and about 10 others opposed the rezone. Commissioners agreed and turned down the application to rezone the area which included […]
CCDC Pulls Out Of Library Project
Thanks to the Idaho Legislature and perhaps the Working Together group, financial support for the proposed $85 to $120 million Boise library project is waning. Monday the Capital City Development Corp. (CCDC) board voted unanimously to withdraw $2.6 million earmarked for the project. The legislature passed a law requiring a citizen vote for major projects […]
Urban Renewal Takes Aim At Vista Neighbors
After Tuesday’s City Council meeting which saw councilors accept the “eligibility report” to form an urban renewal district along Vista Avenue, the GUARDIAN made a startling discovery. Boise City officials are conspiring with the urban renewal agency, the CCDC (Capital City Development Corp.) to map out an assault weapon-shaped attack and commercial property on Vista […]
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