A ‘town center’ for Harris Ranch, with food hall and amphitheater? See what’s in works
For residents of Boise’s Barber Valley looking to get out of the house, there isn’t a lot to do nearby. Other than a few restaurants, it’s mostly rooftops.
But that could soon change. Developers want to bring a new “town center” to the neighborhood that they’re hoping could bring in up to $500 million in development.
Developers recently presented their ideas to the Barber Valley Neighborhood Association. They envision an area that has a mix of everything: residential housing, commercial and public spaces.
Leading the project is Southern California developer High Rhodes Investment Group, which is building the Timbers at Harris Ranch apartments. The developers have been working on the idea for more than 15 years.
The Harris Ranch town center would be located between Old Hickory Way and Barnside Way, north of Parkcenter Boulevard. Once completed, the 274-unit Timbers apartment building will be within walking distance. The Timbers is under construction between Wise Way and Old Hickory Way, north of Warm Springs Avenue.
Places for the community to gather
Brad Hillgren, owner of the Irvine company, stressed that the design is still in its early stages and is likely to change. But he already has a long list of ideas and has been working with his architects on how to implement them.
Creating public spaces appears to be the developer’s highest priority. While the commercial and residential aspects would be paid for by developers, the public spaces would be funded through the Harris Ranch Community Infrastructure District. The district funds things like roads and public improvement projects through added taxes on owners of properties in the district.
Recently, a taxpayers group has challenged the district’s legality and called for its abolition. Hillgren said that dispute will have to be resolved for the town center to be built.
The northernmost of the three blocks, north of Parkcenter Boulevard, would be a “Main Street” that Hillgren hopes will have a Hyde Park feel to it, with restaurants, offices, and shops. The block would feature a plaza with a town square reminiscent of a European piazza, where people can gather to eat, shop and see neighbors.
“These have worked for centuries with retail and dining on the ground floor with commercial and residential up above,” Hillgren said.
The middle block would have a pedestrian-only “strolling street,” with more food and shops. That area would include another public space that Hillgren called the “the front porch.” It would be an outdoor dining space outside of a food hall.
On the southernmost block, adjoining Warm Springs Avenue, would be the community commons. Hillgren said this may be an area with a farmer’s market or food trucks. It would lead to the village green. At the village green’s center would be an amphitheater with a band shell in front of a large lawn.
“When you don’t have a concert going, people can throw footballs and Frisbees and picnic,” Hillgren said.
On one side of the amphitheater would be a children’s play zone with a jungle gym and climbing rocks that would be made to feel “natural” and blend into the landscape. On the other side would be pop-up stands and the Dallas Harris Riverfront Trailhead.
Efforts would be made to make the area more visually appealing. This could include planting more trees, a painted silo and an entrance archway.
Hillgren noted that the developers wouldn’t be able to implement all of these plans at once. In the meantime, he wants to put in temporary uses to activate the area, like a community garden, sledding hill or archery range.
Gary Veasy, secretary of the Barber Valley Neighborhood Association, said he believes this is something his area has needed for some time. He is excited by the idea of not having to drive as often.
“We’re a really strong pedestrian and cycling community,” Veasy said. “And I think there’s gonna be some really great opportunities for you to, instead of getting into your car, bike down there or we could walk.”
Commercial commitments and more residents still needed
Depending on which developers and business owners are interested, buildings between all of these spaces could be townhouses, apartments, a hotel, restaurants, stores, offices or other campus buildings. The town center buildings and homes would be a mix of rental and owner-occupied units.
“This is not the kind of development (where) you build it and they will come,” Hillgren said. “This is one where you have to go out and get them to say yes, and then you build it for them. It’s herding a lot of cats to the starting line.”
Bringing more people to live in the area surrounding it would be one of the most crucial aspects of the project. The town center could add up to 600 new housing units, Hillgren said.
“What is really important is to make sure we get enough density on it to support the commercial spaces, and public space to make it the place for Barber Valley,” he said. “The challenge is there aren’t enough rooftops out here. When you start to go out past a mile, a lot of acreage is beautiful hillsides, and not people with American Express cards. So it is not what a lot of retailers look for.”
Hillgren said he is hoping to submit plans to the city in early 2022. The approval and hearing process, as well as finding tenants and buyers, would take additional time. Best-case scenario, the developers would break ground in the second half of 2023. Hillgren expects there to be three or four construction phrases, and each construction phase would take 20 months for all construction to be completed.
Sally Krutzig covers Treasure Valley growth and development. Have a story suggestion or a question? Email Krutzig at skrutzig@idahostatesman.com.
