A dorm on the river. 300 apartments in NW Boise. What’s coming in Boise, Garden City

Nick Rosenberger, Ian Max Stevenson, Angela Palermo, David Staats
·6 min read

The latest proposed developments, housing and other construction projects, and new businesses in Boise and Garden City, Idaho:

Boise State’s new dorm

Boise State University has started to build a new residence hall on a prime piece of campus real estate.

The six-story dorm at 1815 W. Cesar Chavez Lane, between the Albertsons Library and the Centennial Amphitheater, overlooking the Boise River and the Greenbelt. It is expected to open in August 2025 and to house 450 first-year students.

“It’s going to be one of the truly great places to live in our city,” said Jeremiah Shinn, vice president of student affairs at Boise State.

Boise State University broke ground on a new 450-unit residence hall for first-year students on Sept. 18 at 1815 W. Cesar Chavez Lane. The proposed hall would replace an existing parking lot between Albertsons Library and Centennial Hall.
Boise State University broke ground on a new 450-unit residence hall for first-year students on Sept. 18 at 1815 W. Cesar Chavez Lane. The proposed hall would replace an existing parking lot between Albertsons Library and Centennial Hall.

Each floor would have multiple spaces that would act as “front porches” and help students build a sense of community, according to a news release from the university.

“This residence hall has been designed to highlight the surrounding area and provide easy access to outdoor spaces adjacent to campus,” spokesperson Mike Sharp said in the release.

The hall would have three wings, two with six stories and one with five. All student rooms would be on the second floor or higher with shared bathrooms on every floor. Students would share each unit with roommates.

Boise State University broke ground on a new 450-unit residence hall for first-year students on Sept. 18 at 1815 W. Cesar Chavez Lane. The proposed hall would replace an existing parking lot between Albertsons Library and Centennial Hall.
Boise State University broke ground on a new 450-unit residence hall for first-year students on Sept. 18 at 1815 W. Cesar Chavez Lane. The proposed hall would replace an existing parking lot between Albertsons Library and Centennial Hall.

Layton Construction, a national firm with a Boise office, is the general contractor for the $58.5 million building. Boise State plans to fund it through university reserves and a $43 million bond sale, Sharp said, and then pay off those costs through the hall’s rental income.

The rent would be comparable to the rent in the university’s Honors College and Sawtooth Hall building, which costs between $13,253 and $14,365 per year per student.

Unlike that campus building, however, this one will be owned by the university, rather than a private company.

Big apartment complex in NW Boise

A large scale, high-density development with nearly 300 apartments is moving forward in Northwest Boise.

Stephanie Hopkins of the Boise firm KM Engineering submitted an application Sept. 7 to update the site plan for the proposed 296-apartment Westlock Village development at 9474 W. State St.

The village would be on the northern side of State Street across from Foothills Christian Church and about one mile south of Winco Foods. Most, but not all, of the land is vacant.

The development would cover about 11.5 acres, according to architectural renderings.

The developer, Meridian-based Kinterra Property Group, would build six four-story apartments buildings and one three-story apartment building as well as a dog park, clubhouse and pool.

The Boise Planning and Zoning Commission plans a public hearing at its 6 p.m. meeting Monday, Oct. 9, at City Hall.

A 296-unit apartment complex called Westlock Village may be going up in Northwest Boise at 9474 W. State St. across from Foothills Christian Church. The development would include five apartment buildings, a clubhouse, pool and dog park. This rendering shows one possible apartment building from the front.
A 296-unit apartment complex called Westlock Village may be going up in Northwest Boise at 9474 W. State St. across from Foothills Christian Church. The development would include five apartment buildings, a clubhouse, pool and dog park. This rendering shows one possible apartment building from the front.

Apartments at Harris Ranch

Thirty apartments in a building called The Murray may be coming to Harris Ranch in Boise’s Barber Valley.

Dave Evans Construction submitted an application Aug. 31 to build the three-story, 41,800 square-foot building at 4430 E. Haystack St. near the proposed Dallas Harris Elementary School.

The apartments would feature two studio units, 11 one-bedroom units, 13 two-bedroom units and four three-bedroom units. Dave Evans Construction proposed 58 parking spaces and 38 bike spots.

Harris Ranch may see another 3-story apartment building going up near the proposed Dallas Harris Elementary School. The 30-unit building would add to the growing neighborhood’s portfolio of housing options.
Harris Ranch may see another 3-story apartment building going up near the proposed Dallas Harris Elementary School. The 30-unit building would add to the growing neighborhood’s portfolio of housing options.

Stores in Barber Valley

More businesses may be on the way to the Barber Valley.

Ryan Montoya of Freestone Capital LLC submitted an application Sept. 5 for a 10,300-square-foot retail building at 3176 E. Barber Valley Drive that could host four businesses. The project is being designed by the Boise-based firm Babcock Design and would include exterior patio space.

The development would continue to build out the rapidly expanding Barber Station area wedged between Golda Harris Nature Preserve and Marianne Williams Park.

The Barber Valley may gain four more spaces for retail businesses in the growing Barber Station area between Golda Harris Nature Preserve and Marianne Williams Park. The development is being designed by Boise-based firm Babcock Design at 3176 E. Barber Valley Drive.
The Barber Valley may gain four more spaces for retail businesses in the growing Barber Station area between Golda Harris Nature Preserve and Marianne Williams Park. The development is being designed by Boise-based firm Babcock Design at 3176 E. Barber Valley Drive.

Memory-care home on Eagle Road

Boise’s Alturas Capital Partners, cofounded by CEO Travis Barney and Chief Investment Officer Blake Hansen, has opened a BrightStar-brand memory-care home for 12 residents at 5578 N. Eagle Road.

Brightstar is a national home-health and senior-care company in Gurnee, Illinois, that franchises homes. Caroline Moore bought the Boise franchise in 2010 and developed four memory-care centers before forming a partnership with Alturas to develop this and two more BrightStar centers now in development in the Treasure Valley, Alturas said in a news release.

The BrightStar Care-brand memory care home at 5578 N. Eagle Road opened in August 2023. It is the Treasure Valley’s fifth BrightStar Care site. This and two yet-to-come BrightStar sites in the Treasure Valley are being developed in partnership with Boise’s Alturas Capital Partners.
The BrightStar Care-brand memory care home at 5578 N. Eagle Road opened in August 2023. It is the Treasure Valley’s fifth BrightStar Care site. This and two yet-to-come BrightStar sites in the Treasure Valley are being developed in partnership with Boise’s Alturas Capital Partners.

Nonprofit gift store reopens

Dunia Marketplace, a nonprofit gift store, has found a new address in Boise after getting priced out of its longtime home in Hyde Park in March.

The store reopened at 1718 W. Main St. on Aug. 25 after months of searching for a new location, according to a news release from JamieLou Delavan, Dunia’s director.

Greenbelt lighting near Willow Lane

Boise officials plan to spend $1 million to improve lighting along the Greenbelt near Willow Lane and the Willow Lane Athletic Complex.

To pay for the lighting, the city plans to use funds previously allocated for Valley Regional Transit, the local public transit agency. After drafting a proposal to alter bus service next year, transit officials determined that they would not need as much money as they previously thought, according to a memorandum from Mayor Lauren McLean’s office.

Sign for kids who struggle with speaking

A sign to help kids with communication impairments has been installed at a playground on the Boise Bench.

The sign, called a communications board, was unveiled by city leaders at Bowden Park Playground on Sept. 18. The sign uses photos, symbols and illustrations to allow people who struggle to communicate verbally express themselves by pointing to the images.

It “encourages inclusive play” and promotes awareness of augmentative and alternative communication, according to a news release from the city. The release said more signs are planned elsewhere.

This new sign at Boise’s Bowden Park uses what is called augmentative and alternative communication. More such signs are planned elsewhere, the Boise Parks and Recreation Department said.
This new sign at Boise’s Bowden Park uses what is called augmentative and alternative communication. More such signs are planned elsewhere, the Boise Parks and Recreation Department said.

A tunnel-of-trees artwork

A new art project is coming to West Boise.

A Los Angeles-based artist will be awarded $100,000 to build an art installation in Redwood Park at 2675 N. Shamrock Ave., south of West Ustick Road and east of North Five Mile Road.

Art + Contraptions is run by artist James Peterson, who plans to create a colorful sculpture called Passage depicting a tunnel of trees that would be 12 feet tall and 12 feet wide, according to Peterson’s application materials.

“During the day, sunlight filters through the panels, creating playful, colorful shadows,” Peterson wrote in a letter about the project. “At night, the installation is transformed into a dramatic display as integrated LED lighting illuminates the panels from within.”

The City Council voted to award Peterson the funds for the sculpture.

A design for a planned sculpture at Redwood Park in West Boise.
A design for a planned sculpture at Redwood Park in West Boise.

Garden City apartment complex

Garden City may gain 33 apartments near Heron Park and the Greenbelt

Ariah Orr from the Meridian arm of the national architecture and engineering firm EVStudio, submitted an application for the development May 22, and it is working its way through design review.

The apartment complex at 3929 N. Reed St. would feature two three-story buildings, one of which would feature the leasing office and 25 one-bedroom and two-bedroom units. The other would offer eight one-bedroom units, with some having office space for potential live-work units.

Each unit would have an outdoor patio or balcony. Amenities would include a dog-washing station and enclosed bike, kayak and paddle-board storage.

The property is owned by California-based Garden City Willow Reed LLC.

Garden City may see a new 33-unit apartment complex coming to town at 3929 N. Reed St. across from Heron Park and the Boise River Greenbelt. The development was proposed by the architecture and engineering firm EVStudio.
Garden City may see a new 33-unit apartment complex coming to town at 3929 N. Reed St. across from Heron Park and the Boise River Greenbelt. The development was proposed by the architecture and engineering firm EVStudio.

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