New modern town houses could soon be coming to this rapidly changing Boise area
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Boise developers plan 21 town houses and a retail space in the West End.
- Construction may start in 2026 pending city and highway district approvals.
- Nearby projects include affordable units, homeless housing and a new college campus.
Despite a difficult development market and ongoing construction labor shortage, Boise developers are forging ahead to remake the city.
The latest push may just be for a chunk of land that has sat vacant for decades in Boise’s West End neighborhood. The land at 1907 W. Jefferson St., a few blocks south of Westside Drive-In and between 21st and 19th streets, could soon become the home of 21 three-story town houses and a commercial or retail space.
The southern portion of the lot, which is two blocks east of Fairview Park, was for many years a Salvation Army office until it was demolished in 2016. To some newer residents, the vacant lot may be better recognized as the turnaround point for Boise’s Turkey Day 5K race on Thanksgiving.
Architectural renderings show a modern style with brick and wood accents, decks on each floor and rooftop patios. The plans also include garages for each town house, bike parking and common areas.
“Parking will be provided on-site for all town houses with garages and surface parking … and internal sidewalks, open space and amenities will be provided to enhance connectivity for the future residents of the development and general public,” according to a concept plan from Boise landscape architecture firm Rodney Evans + Partners.
The commercial or retail space would include an outdoor patio and seating area.
“The developer’s intent is to find a bodega operator to bring a service/amenity to this area of the West End neighborhood,” according to the concept plan.
The property is owned by Boise River Builders, a company registered to Todd Blackwell, a real estate salesperson with Coldwell Banker Tomlinson. Blackwell did not return a request for comment.
Construction would likely not begin until spring or summer of 2026, though the development would require reviews from the city of Boise and the Ada County Highway District, according to early plans.
The development team held a neighborhood meeting in May with 28 nearby residents, whose concerns included that the project could be too tall and dense, that it could affect bicycle and pedestrian safety, and that traffic and parking in the area could be a challenge.
According to a report from Rodney Evans + Partners, the development meets or exceeds parking and design standards for the area, and the height is well below what the city of Boise could allow there.
The firm said it was continuing to refine building designs to mitigate concerns about privacy, including by adding trees to front-yard areas to create a screen from neighbors across the street.
The development would be the latest in a string of changes for Boise’s West End neighborhood, including a six-story, 96-unit apartment building already under construction on Fairview Avenue that would be reserved for residents exiting homelessness. Boise developer Roundhouse is also preparing to break ground on a four-story, 40-unit affordable apartment project three blocks to the west on 28th Street.
On Monday, developers and investors also celebrated the groundbreaking of a new 10-acre campus for the College of Western Idaho at 3150 W. Main St., roughly three-quarters of a mile to the west. The campus would also include 220 town houses and apartments, a 125-room Homewood Suites by Hilton hotel, 20,000 square feet of retail space and a 640-stall parking garage.
