Change is coming to downtown Boise’s State Street, starting with a new YMCA. What to know
After years of planning and tumult, one of Boise’s largest downtown construction projects took a step forward Tuesday as a long list of Idaho power brokers celebrated the groundbreaking of the new downtown Boise YMCA amid a packed crowd of attendees.
Gov. Brad Little, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, family members of J. R. Simplot, Old Boise developer Clay Carley, and Jim and Nicole Kissler of Boise medical supply company Norco Inc. spoke at the event to support a new $80 million YMCA.
Many others — especially those in the development industry and members of the Y — filled seats for a project that, at times, seemed improbable.
“It almost feels unreal,” said David Duro, the president and CEO of Treasure Valley YMCA, in an interview with the Idaho Statesman. “We’ve been working so hard for this moment in time, gathering support from the entire community to make this once-in-a-lifetime project happen.”
The development would build the new, three-story CapEd Downtown Boise YMCA across State Street from the current location and include an indoor track, indoor play space, a creator space, teen hangout area, child care center, Blue Cross of Idaho center and a ninja course, according to Duro. It would also include, and in some cases expand, current offerings including studio space, a gymnasium, swimming pool complex and administration space.
The Y is also collaborating with St. Luke’s Health System to bring clinical and shared spaces focused on community health along with CapEd Credit Union to provide financial counseling and literacy programs, according to a news release. CapEd Credit Union also partnered with the Y to build a 123-seat education center that would double the amount of early child care available in the downtown core.
The new building is scheduled to open in the fall of 2026.
Built in 1968 and expanded in 1985 and 1999, the existing Y has struggled to keep up with Boise’s growth. A 2017 study found it would cost $20 million to repair the building and bring it up to date, according to Duro.
“Our board of directors said ‘There’s no way it’s a good decision to invest $20 million there,’” Duro said. “We need to build a new downtown Y.”
In December 2017, the city’s urban renewal agency, the Capital City Development Corp., bought the old Idaho Sporting Goods store across the street from the Y intending to redevelop the block.
“How perfect was that?” Duro said.
The Idaho Sporting Goods store was demolished earlier this year after over 60 years to make way for the new development. According to John Stevens, vice chair of CCDC and a partner in real estate brokerage TOK Commercial, a land exchange between the agency and YMCA closed earlier this month.
The new Y would tie into a CCDC-proposed redevelopment of three city blocks south of Boise High School. Until recently, the developers’ plans called for over 400 new apartments and 30,000 square feet of commercial space. Those plans were pared back because of high costs.
The Y is still on track, Duro said.
There is still some work to be done. According to Meagan Ellis, vice president and chief development officer, the Treasure Valley YMCA raised $35 million in philanthropic support development and secured $40 million in other financing toward the $80 million goal.
“We still have a significant amount of money to raise,” Ellis said. “We have about $5 million to really build the Y that we envision.”
This story was originally published October 30, 2024 at 4:00 AM.
