That plan to build a new stadium at fairgrounds? This is what citizen advisers just said
The 247-acre property that houses Expo Idaho could become the home for a new stadium for the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team, with a hotel, homes and soccer fields.
But the committee in charge of making a recommendation isn’t ready to commit quite yet.
The Expo Idaho Citizens Advisory Committee is considering potential ideas for the land. The committee, which met for the first time in February, was selected to make recommendations to the Ada County commissioners on what they think would be the best use.
The committee heard Wednesday from “key informants,” people with existing ties to the property. They included officials from Garden City and Ada County, representatives of the Greater Boise Auditorium District, and Jeff Eiseman, president of Agon Sports, which owns the Hawks. The Hawks play at Memorial Stadium on the Expo Idaho grounds.
Agon, its sister business, the Greenstone Properties development firm in Atlanta, and Ball Ventures Ahlquist, a Meridian developer, disclosed on Friday, Aug. 21, a proposal to develop the site. Their $400 million plan would include a stadium for the Hawks and professional soccer, multifamily and single-family homes, a hotel, office buildings, restaurants, stores and a parking deck. It would retain the Western Idaho Fair grounds.
But the committee wasn’t ready to hear specifics. In a statement read at the meeting by Andrea Fogleman, co-chair of the committee, Fogleman and co-chair Ed Lodge said they wanted the committee to “continue moving forward with our fact-finding and visioning process ... without undue influence from private interests.”
“We want to thank Agon and their team for their comments about the stadium, which we will consider as we have all comments we have received from the public,” the statement said. “Once the public has indicated what uses they would like to see on the site, at that point, the county will begin the process of considering more detailed proposals.”
Auditorium District has power to provide financial support
Last week, the developers met with the Greater Boise Auditorium District in an executive session. That points to a likely request from the developers for financial support from local government.
Pat Rice, executive director of the auditorium district, said developers said they have budgeted $22.5 million for district contributions, though he does know know what for.
The auditorium district could provide a portion of the project’s funding, as state law allows the district both to build and maintain sports arenas.
Whle the district has Boise in its name, it actually covers much of the eastern portion of Ada County, including the Expo Idaho land that is in Garden City, although it belongs to Ada County.
Like the county, the auditorium district has not been presented with a proposal. Rice said its involvement would depend on whether the district has enough money.
“Our director of finance is starting to put together some financials that would show our bonding capacity,” Rice said by phone. “If we can’t bond, then it’s a moot point for us.”
The district, which collects a 5% tax on hotel rooms, has seen its revenue shrink because of the coronavirus pandemic. Last year, the district collected $8.3 million, up from $8 million the year before. This year, Rice estimates it will collect about $4.7 million.
It takes about $6 million in annual revenue for the auditorium district to cover its total costs and meet all its obligations, Rice said Thursday. It could be possible for the district to sell bonds backed by room-tax revenue for the $22.5 million, Rice said, but with hotel tax revenues down sharply, it may be hard to sell bonds right now.
The decision is up to the district’s commissioners, Rice said.
Speaking Wednesday to the advisory board, neither Eiseman nor Rice provided much detail on the specifics of their plan or how it would be funded.
Eiseman talked about challenges that Memorial Stadium has, including a small footprint and a setup that leaves a third of seats looking into the setting sun during evening games.
The new stadium would likely be taller, he said, perhaps with a club level or suite level behind the first-base line that would block the sun from getting into people’s eyes.
Rice, joined by Kristin Muchow, chair of the Greater Boise Auditorium District, weighed in briefly on what value a stadium could provide to those who live in and visit the Boise area.
What would have to happen for a stadium to be built?
Ada County has received about 400 suggestions since the county began soliciting comments in January.
“Many members of the public wouldn’t mind some development on the site, especially if the fair gets to stay, while others would like to see the site completely imagined and redeveloped,” Brianna Bustos, communications and outreach coordinator for Ada County Development Services, said in an email to the Statesman. “Most people seem to generally want to prioritize green space and recreational opportunities or facilities.”
Ada County officials say they’re a long way away from approving any development.
“We put together the committee to really understand the goals of Expo Idaho, understand the property and hear from lots of competing ideas and start to come up with a path forward and present some scenarios,” Ada County Commissioner Diana Lachiondo said. “The commissioners will review them, because ultimately we’ll have to make some kind of call.”
The land, she said, belongs to the public, making it “critical to get public feedback in an open, public process.”
“This group is certainly welcome to present ideas out there, but so is anyone else,” Lachiondo said. “I’m concerned that the public is going to think this is a done deal. And that really couldn’t be further from the truth.”
What comes next for the Expo Idaho committee
The advisory committee did not indicate what its final decision would be, but members agreed to move into the next phase of planning.
Committee members divided themselves into three subcommittees, each tasked with looking at a different potential use for the land.
The first subcommittee is tasked with looking at agricultural and outdoor educational uses, which could include space for the Western Idaho Fair. The second will look at recreational and event-focused outdoor space, perhaps with a stadium or sports fields. The third will look at a mixed-use “city center” option that would likely have housing and commercial space. With more than 240 acres, it’s possible the land could have several uses.
The subcommittees are scheduled to meet in September, although specific dates have not been set. It is not clear when the entire process will be complete, but the next steps include continuing to get feedback from the public and creating recommendations on what should be done with the land.
Comments can be submitted on Ada County’s website. The Ada County commissioners will make the final decision on what happens with the property.
This story was originally published August 27, 2020 at 5:00 AM.
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