Harren letter: Federal Way land
On Federal Way, on the Boise Bench, there’s a vacant lot that has the most magnificent view of Boise I’ve seen. Bogus Basin, Table Rock and the vast expanse of the Foothills, as well as downtown Boise, are seen in their full splendor. I had always wondered what would be built on this spot — perhaps a grand hotel, displaying Boise’s best scenery, or a fine restaurant, where folks could dine and view the distant mountains. So I was surprised to see a sign advertising the future use of this property — storage units.
Across the street on Federal Way lies a walk and bike path which would be the pride of most cities. The views are magnificent, but it’s hardly used to its potential. You just can’t get there from here. For a full 1.2 miles between Broadway and Overland, there’s no safe way to cross, no overpasses, no crosswalks. With proper vision and investment in infrastructure (i.e. crosswalks), this area could be more than the industrial pit it is currently becoming.
Patrick Harren, Boise
This story was originally published May 10, 2016 at 4:19 PM with the headline "Harren letter: Federal Way land."