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Urban Renewal Districts » Central
The Central District essentially is the downtown core. It is the oldest urban renewal district in Idaho, formed in 1965. Federal money provided funding for the agency, which it used to purchase eight downtown blocks, with the original goal of creating a downtown regional retail shopping center. That goal was not achieved, and in 1985 Boise overhauled the Central District urban renewal plan to focus on preserving the existing historic buildings, encouraging a lively mix of retail, restaurant, entertainment, office and residential uses, and creating a safe and attractive pedestrian-oriented environment. The result is the vibrant downtown of today. Other plan components included:
- Design guidelines to ensure high-quality development.
- Creation of a system of public parking garages to free land for more intensive urban development.
- Extensive downtown beautification including brick sidewalks, street trees, planters and benches and major public plaza (The Grove).
- Funding for public art.
- Creation of the Downtown Boise Association, which promotes downtown businesses, sponsors special events and handles maintenance of public improvements.
Major accomplishments include:
- Eight historic buildings renovated or restored
- A four-star, high-quality 250-room/suite hotel
- An 86,000-sq.-ft. convention center
- A 5000-seat arena/event center
- 70,000 square feet of new retail development
- 240,000 square feet of new office development
- 100 residential units, with an additional 100 units under construction
- Five public parking garages, with a total of 2,437 parking spaces
- Over 7,600 lineal feet of brick sidewalks and pathways
- A 31,000-sq.-ft. public plaza
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