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Surprise, surprise: Boise proposes expanding the West Side Urban Renewal District
For those who missed last Tuesday’s Boise City Council meeting, Capital City Development Corporation, Boise’s urban renewal agency, is at it again. It proposed an amendment to the Westside Downtown Urban Renewal District which would add 14.1 acres to the

Boise continues its misuse of Idaho’s urban renewal law, this time along the State Street corridor
If Boise’s Capital City Development Corporation has its way, by this time next year, Boise will officially have a sixth urban renewal district. This latest district would span both sides of State Street from Boise’s West End all the way

In its bid to address affordable housing, Boise continues to move full steam ahead — in the wrong direction
The City of Boise has moved ahead with numerous rezoning initiatives, incentive programs, and city ordinances this year in its attempt to make housing more affordable. As housing has become more unaffordable, the city counsel, mayor, and various city departments,

City leaders, supposedly committed to affordable housing, reject student housing project
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean acted as the tiebreaking vote at five-hour long city council meeting on September 29, 2020. The main subject of the meeting: Whether to grant developer Collegiate Development Group’s rezoning request to build a student housing project

Proposed Boise ordinances unlikely to create more affordable housing options
The City of Boise has started to rewrite its zoning code. This makes sense: Over the past 10 years, the Boise metro area’s population has grown more than 20%. It was the fastest growing city in the country from 2017-2018.

Boise’s Sanchez introduces overreaching landlord-tenant ordinance
Some people have noted that Idaho is a fairly landlord-friendly state — perhaps too friendly. In an effort to change that, Boise Councilwoman Lisa Sanchez introduced a security deposit ordinance at this past Tuesday’s city council meeting. If enacted, her

Does the name “Dixie Drain” need to go? Councilwoman Sanchez thinks so.
The Dixie Drain Phosphorus Removal Facility has a very serious problem — at least according to Boise City Councilmember Lisa Sanchez. Sanchez believes the Parma facility needs a new name. Built at Dixie Drain and treating groundwater from the Dixie

McLean reaffirms her commitment to big government in her first state of the city address
Boise Mayor Lauren McLean delivered her first State of the City address on Wednesday. She expressed her deep sympathy for those harmed by government shutdowns, noting, “So many of our businesses needed to close their doors at some point.” No,

Yes Boise, your property taxes will increase this year
On June 12, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean announced her intent on the City of Boise’s website to hold the line on property tax increases. Her statement: “Boise, we hear you loud and clear about needing property tax relief.” The mayor