Sarah

Happy Holidays from Idaho Smart Growth!

December 12, 2018 by Sarah

As we start to tie a ribbon on 2018 and look ahead to the next year, I have a couple of thoughts to share.

We know the U.S. Census named Idaho the fastest-growing state last year, at 2.2%. We grew by nearly 37,000 new Idahoans, mostly in a few metro areas around the state. In numbers alone, it’s not so impressive–sixteen U.S. metros each added more people than our whole state did. But the impact is proportionally more dramatic here. Most of us have come, stayed or returned to Idaho precisely to avoid the challenges of those large population numbers. Rapid population growth threatens the quality of life and the natural beauty that all of us value.

What can we do about it? Many want to build more roads and suburbs for the growth, similar to the metros they are fleeing. Others want to block new developments altogether and live in their own “private Idaho.” Neither approach is practical or sustainable. Or friendly.

At Idaho Smart Growth we know that growth and change can be painful but potentially rewarding. Our work is based on the idea that everyone has a stake in their communities, and that all stakeholders should be engaged in community issues. That means being interested, educated and involved—which is where we’re trying to make a difference. We’re working across Idaho to help people become active participants in how their communities deal with growth, or decline. Below are a few examples of what we’ve been up to, and more information is available on our website.

We know you are interested in this work, too. As Idaho grows, so does the need for Idaho Smart Growth. To keep up, we are dependent on the support of individuals and groups around the state. If you haven’t already, please take a moment to consider whether you can contribute. Check out our donate page to learn more.

Thank you for an engaging and rewarding year! I hope you have a fabulous holiday season and an excellent new year to come!

Scot

Wildfire Planning and Preparedness

December 11, 2018 by Sarah

2016 Boise Table Rock Fire, above, from Harris Ranch; below, aerial view the day after.

Community wildfire planning is a leading smart growth issue of our time.

As Idaho continues its growth streak, development encroaches into areas where wildfires historically occur. Fire is a critical natural process—it’s only a disaster when people or property are harmed. Wildfire planning and preparedness is more important than ever.

This coming year Idaho Smart Growth will join the Idaho Department of Lands, University of Idaho and Boise State University to conduct workshops around the state that will bring professional expertise to local communities to discuss wildfire preparedness planning, share strategies to minimize impacts and planning for post-event recovery.

Creating great places to live means places that are resilient in the face of hazards.
Will you help expand our work with Idaho communities to plan for wildfire?

Photo: top KBOI; above Aaron Hassemer.

The costs of wildfire have never been higher. Your support has never been more important. Please consider a tax-deductible year-end contribution to Idaho Smart Growth so we can do more with Idaho communities on wildfire planning—and the rest of our smart growth activities. You can help shape the future and protect what makes Idaho so special.

Please click to make your tax-deductible contribution. Thank you!

Growing the Grow Smart Awards in 2018

December 10, 2018 by Sarah

Paddy Tillet with Grove Plaza award recipients

Laura Williams, Doug Woodruff, Paddy Tillett and Ryan Armbruster celebrate the Grow Smart Award for the Grove Plaza.

Our cornerstone annual event celebrated its 14th year on November 5th with the largest attendance and a dynamic keynote by Paddy Tillett touching on the significance of planning for the future, while highlighting how far we have come. The tone of the evening was celebratory, with a record number of projects receiving recognition for exemplifying smart growth principles. Check out the full list of awards here.

With the sunset of Idaho’s first urban renewal district, in the heart of downtown Boise, our Grow Smart Awards event created the perfect opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments within the district and the importance of urban renewal as a smart growth tool. The event was held at Boise Centre East and was free to attend this year, thanks in part to Presenting Sponsor Capital City Development Corporation. We hope to continue the trend set this year and grow the event again next year! During the evening’s event, CCDC premiered a special video highlighting the district, check out clips from the video below.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers and sponsors who helped make the event happen. Check out the photo album from the event on our Facebook page, linked here.

Moving Beyond Boise

With 14 years of awarded projects around the state, we have a unique opportunity to bring the celebration outside of Boise as well. This year, we ventured to the Wood River Valley. With half a dozen awards hailing from the region, bringing a Grow Smart Awards event to Ketchum offered an opportunity to celebrate the local award recipients within their local community. Photos below are from the event.

The event provided an opportunity to recognize some of the projects that have made the wood river valley a better place to live, work and recreate. Idaho Smart Growth also presented an award to Dale Bates, 2017 Charles Hummel Award recipient, honoring the role he played in developing the Town Square, the Fourth Street Heritage Corridor and a local residential project.

The city of Ketchum took a leading role in crafting the event, calling it “A Fair on the Square.” Mayor Neil Bradshaw wanted the event to bridge the accomplishments of the past with a chance to garner public comments on ideas for future city projects. Right in line with Idaho Smart Growth’s mission, in creating the event, Mayor Bradshaw said, “Participation and public input is vital to creating a healthy community and a vibrant town.” We agree Mayor Bradshaw! We look forward to bringing the Grow Smart Awards around the state, with our next event happening in spring 2019. Stay tuned!

Walking Tour

Serving as the formal announcement of this year’s award recipients, Idaho Smart Growth hosted our first Walking Tour and Porch Party. The brainchild of ISG board member Sarah Martz, the event was an opportunity to further highlight previous award recipients and continue to raise awareness of the program.

In our inaugural tour, attendees heard from project leaders and toured the facilities of four downtown locations including: the Veltex building, on the corner of 5th and Main; 10 Barrel, on the corner of 9th and Jefferson; the Afton, on the corner of 8th and River; and finished with a tour and porch party at CSHQA headquarters, on the corner of 2nd and Broad.

: Program Coordinator Deanna Smith led the tour

: Connie St. George presenting 10 Barrel

: Bill Clark presenting the Veltex building

: Touring Freak Alley

The tour called attention to the details jurors acknowledged when reviewing the nomination. It also served as an opportunity to tour several locations exemplifying smart growth that have never been nominated, Freak Alley for example.

“Anyone can nominate! It’s easy and we’re happy to help you! Projects don’t have to be new or current!” says Deanna Smith, program coordinator for Idaho Smart Growth.

Nominations will open for the 2019 Grow Smart Awards in early spring. If you would like more information about the nomination and application process, contact our office.

Join us for our Holiday Social!

November 29, 2018 by Sarah

It’s a holiday tradition! Join us for our annual holiday gathering on Thursday, December 6th from 4:30-7pm to celebrate smart growth, socialize and network. We’re teaming up again with ULI Idaho and U.S. Green Building Council Idaho to promote collaboration on responsible development in Idaho.

Appetizers will be provided and a cash bar serving drinks.

Thanks to CTA Architects and Engineers for hosting us!

The event is FREE, bring a friend! RSVP on Facebook or by emailing office@idahosmartgrowth.org

Thank you to our event sponsors: Bittercreek Alehouse, Holland & Hart, Lee & Associates, McKibben + Cooper, Urban Land Development, and Zhoo Zhoo

Remember us this #GivingTuesday!

November 26, 2018 by Sarah

This #GivingTuesday we want to hear from YOU. Why is smart growth important to you? Do your reasons match up with a way to support Idaho Smart Growth?

We hope to hear from you. Share your giving story using #GrowSmartGiveSmart

Security & Privacy

Your contact information, including email, allows us to keep you informed of smart growth issues in a timely fashion. All credit card processing is handled with 128-bit Secure Socket Layer, SSL, and encryption. If you do not want to join or donate online, you can call (208) 333-8066. If you prefer to donate by check or money order, you may mail a contribution to:

Idaho Smart Growth
910 Main St., Ste 314
Boise, ID 83702

Historic Tax Credits Meeting in Boise

November 14, 2018 by Sarah

Learn about the use of federal and state historic tax credits for historic preservation and what the next steps are in Idaho. Representatives from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Trust Community Investment Corporation will speak

Monday, December 3
2:00 – 3:00 pm
Boise City Hall – 3rd Floor Greenbelt Room

What:

Representatives from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Trust Community Investment Corporation are the leading advocates for improving and expanding the use of federal and state historic tax credits. Representatives from the organizations have a 30-minute presentation about the impact of the Federal HTC, will share the ranges and diversity of NTCIC projects, will explain NTCIC, and will explore the importance of State HTCs, the role of NTHP and what Idaho is doing. A forthcoming one-pager about Idaho’s next steps will be available as well as a statement about its progress.

Who:

The National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) is a privately funded nonprofit organization committed to protecting significant places representing America’s diverse cultural experience by taking direct action and inspiring broad public support. For over 60 years, the Trust has been fostering a deep sense of community, commitment, and passion for saving places. www.savingplaces.org

The National Trust Community Investment Corporation (NTCIC) is a wholly owned for-profit subsidiary of the NTHP. NTCIC enables tax credit equity investments that support sustainable communities nationwide. Since its inception in 2000, NTCIC has raised over $1.2 billion in capital for federal and state historic, new markets, solar and low-income housing credit investments. NTCIC dividends support the NTHP’s many preservation-based community development programs. www.ntcic.com

Speakers:

Kandi Bryant Jackson
MANAGING DIRECTOR, ACQUISITIONS AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT — NATIONAL TRUST COMMUNITY INVESTMENT CORPORATION

As Managing Director, Kandi oversees the Acquisitions and Underwriting Team of NTCIC with a focus on HTC and NMTC investments, which is primarily responsible for finding, underwriting, closing, and initiating the first equity and loan disbursements to a project. She also originates and manages NTCIC’s upper-tier investor relationships. Kandi has more than 20 years of senior level experience in real estate development and finance. As Director at Wachovia, she originated and managed developer relationships through underwriting, closing and asset management of complex transactions, including historic and New Market tax credit investments. As Vice President at PNC and Simpson Housing Solutions (formally KBMH), Kandi originated LIHTCs and HTCs. She managed Simpsons Housing Solutions’ East Coast Division, including originators, project managers, and construction inspectors. As Construction Manager at Bovis Construction, she established on site project development experience for high-profile historic and non-historic new construction projects. Kandi is licensed as a general contractor and general engineer in California and real estate broker in California, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Ms. Jackson received an MBA from Pepperdine University and BA from UCLA.

Renee Kuhlman
DIRECTOR OF POLICY OUTREACH — NATIONAL TRUST FOR HISTORIC PRESERVATION

Renee is the Director of Policy Outreach for the National Trust for Historic Preservation. Since 2004, she has been assisting legislators and advocates across the country with the adoption, expansion, and protection of state-level historic rehabilitation tax credit programs. Renee also works on the campaign to protect and expand the federal Historic Tax Credit as well as the effort to put in place dedicated funding for maintaining historic resources in our national parks. In her two decades at the National Trust, Renee has also held two prior positions within the organization including Director of State and Local Policy and Education Coordinator for the National Preservation Conference. Renee earned an M.S. Degree in Historic Preservation from the University of Vermont and a B.A. Degree in History from the College of William and Mary.

Walk to School Day 2018

November 13, 2018 by Sarah

71 Idaho Schools registered to participate in Walk to School Day 2018.

This is a 82% INCREASE over 2017! Way to go Idaho!

Safe Routes Chart for 2018

Eastern Idaho

Eastern Idaho led the pack with 26 total schools participating, including 20 schools in the city of Idaho Falls. The Safe Routes to School program in Idaho Falls is coordinated through the Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization which has taken the lead in planning for walking and biking in the region. They have a robust Walking School Bus program and use Walk to School Day to try and affect lasting change, encouraging more students to walk regularly.

In addition to urging more kids to join the Walking School Bus program, activities included; meeting at the park and walking together to school, free breakfast at school on Walk to School Day, walking at school if you arrive by bus and more. Activities were led by volunteers at each of the schools.

Moscow

Nora and Bill walking school bus In Moscow 10 schools shared in the fun with 2 charter schools and a private school joining all seven of the district’s public schools. Many students and parents participated. Students could walk to any school from home or a designated location.

Walking groups with supervising adults, called a Walking School Bus, were organized at some locations. There were park and walk locations near each school for children who wanted to walk but live too far away.

The mayor facilitated a walk from downtown and University of Idaho students hosted Walk at School events, where students dropped off by car or bus can could join in by walking around the school grounds before class.

Sandpoint

There was participation in Walk to School Day at every school in the district this year with nearly 1,000 students participating! From parents to community leaders, the day featured students walking to school with an emphasis on pedestrian safety, physical activity, and community connections.

Washington Elementary School had 191 students – their biggest group ever – along with Principal Hamer and community leaders Mayor Shelby Rognstad and Steve Lockwood who made an 8 block trek together. Principal Olson, city officials and police officers, teachers, and parent volunteers joined 100 students walking at Farmin-Stidwell Elementary.

Special bus stops allowed bus students in Kootenai to walk along with Principal Knowles and Idaho Representative Sage Dixon, and drew 75 students. Over 480 students were part of Walk at School events at the rural schools in the district.

Safe Routes to School encouraged those traveling by car to park a few blocks away and finish their journey on foot.

Treasure Valley

Cynthia Mann Walk to School Day Idaho’s biggest program is housed in the Treasure Valley YMCA and serves multiple school districts and communities. There were individual events at schools across the valley run by local volunteers. These included Walk, Ride, and Roll events. Boise city council members Holli Woodings, Lisa Sanchez and Elaine Clegg participated at various locations, as did the police chief and many officers, the fire department and police dog Scout.

The Boise Police Department led a big group, including some city council members, from Winstead Park to Morley Nelson Elementary where they were greeted with snacks and activities. At Cynthia Mann Elementary there were greeters at the crosswalks and both pathway entrances to the school grounds.

The Safe Routes to School program also sponsored a Bike Rodeo at Galileo STEM Academy where ITD Transportation Alternatives Program Manager Ryan McDaniel helped. Check out the video they created!

In Meridian, Idaho Walk Bike Alliance and the American Heart Association joined in the fun at Hunter Elementary School to highlight the importance of good infrastructure.

Wood River Valley

Mountain Rides organizes a trail ride day in October and concentrates other events in the spring.

Mayor’s Walking Challenge

Moscow Mayor with students There is a natural partnership between Safe Routes to School and other walking events.

Many of the mayors in Idaho who participate in the Mayor’s Walking Challenge use Walk to School Day as part of the challenge, including Shawn Barigar in Twin Falls, Gordon Petrie in Emmett, Tammy DeWeerd in Meridian and Homedale’s Gheen Christofferson.

Pictured is Mayor Bill Lambert on Walk to School day in Moscow’s Friendship Square.

PARK(ing) Day – Thoughts from Idaho

November 9, 2018 by Sarah

2018 Park(ing) Day in Boise, Idaho can be called a success!

With 9 parklets in 6 locations around the city, we had more than twice as many parklets than ever before and 5 new locations including two strip mall parking lots supported by a National Street Service grant. Parklets at Vista Village and the Collister Shopping Center were the main focus of the grant, aimed at re-imagining shopping center parking spaces as community gathering places.

Parklets dotted Boise’s landscape with locations including: Vista Village, Collister Shopping Center, the North End, and downtown locations at DL Evans Bank (9th and Main), along 8th Street and outside City Hall (Main and Capitol). Stakeholders across different backgrounds spearheaded these efforts with parklets created by Idaho Walk Bike Alliance, American Heart Association, Ada County Highway District’s Commuteride, D.L. Evans Bank, Stack Rock Group, the city of Boise’s Energize Our Neighborhoods, Vista Healthy Corridor, North End Neighborhood and Collister Neighborhood.

In a story from the Idaho Business Review about the event, Deanna explained the vision,

[Parklets are] just one more way to rethink our streets. Our streets are a very important asset, and we’re not getting all we want our of our streets.

The article continues with a quote from the original PARK(ing) Day manual,

Urban inhabitants worldwide recognize the need for new approaches to making the urban landscape, and realize that converting small segments of the automobile infrastructure – even temporarily – can alter the character of the city.

What we learned:

Partners are important
Location matters – especially in a parking lot
Get an earlier start to get the word out and alert the media
Give something away
Parking lots have their own set of challenges
Materials available for loan removed a barrier to doing a parklet
Parklets or other pop-ups can be educational but only second to fun

How we measured our impact:

62 ice cream scoops given to those visiting the Collister parklet and completing a comment card
We gained new partners in the community
We shared education about how to do a parklet
We emptied our storage unit of loaned parklet items
Parklet organizers reported positive feedback from the public
Parklets were features in articles in Idaho Business Review and Boise Weekly
Parklets moved beyond Boise as well. ASLA highlighted parklets around the region.

What happens next?

The city of Boise is working towards creating a pop-up park policy to make the process easier and more streamlined for future events. As we work towards a pop-up park policy with the city and ACHD, the more people engaged, the more demand for changing policy!

Boise is in its infancy when it comes to tactical urbanism, but Idaho Smart Growth will continue to help the movement grow by encouraging more people to use pop-ups to activate our streets.

We want the public to see such use of our streets as an everyday occurrence, not just something that happens on park(ing) day. We don’t want people asking, “What’s this event?” we want people to say, “Check out the new pop-up park. Let’s go hang out over there!”

Take a look at all the great photos from events around Boise on our Facebook page!

November Citizens Planning Academy

November 7, 2018 by Sarah

Historic Preservation: Linking Past, Present and Future

Wednesday, November 7, 6 – 7:30 PM. Free and open to the public.
U of I Legacy Pointe Conference Room, Idaho Water Center, 322 E. Front Street, Boise.

Free off-street parking is available in the Idaho Water Center and Ada County Courthouse garages. More information and links maps can be found here.

Presenter: Renée Magee

Renée Magee, an Idaho Smart Growth board member, has worked in historic preservation for almost thirty years. She has worked as a historic preservation planner, served on the Idaho Historic Sites Review Board and now serves on the Idaho Falls Historic Preservation Commission. She worked in Idaho Falls as planning director and assistant planning director from 1989 to 2013. She has also worked in Wyoming, Washington, and Pennsylvania as a city and county planner, city attorney and associate professor.

The C.P.A. is a collaboration of Idaho Smart Growth and the University of Idaho’s College of Law in Boise and Bioregional Planning Program. Monthly sessions are designed to help citizens become effective advocates on a wide range of planning topics.

RSVP to attend by emailing office@idahosmartgrowth.org. Can’t make it in person? You can attend remotely with this link: https://uidaho.zoom.us/j/236930382

Learn more about the series here or view past session videos on our YouTube channel.

Grow Smart Award Recipients Announced!

October 17, 2018 by Sarah

For Immediate Release: Idaho Smart Growth Announces 2018 Grow Smart Awards
Date: October 17, 2018
Contact: Scot Oliver or Deanna Smith, 208-333-8066

BOISE–Idaho Smart Growth announces the recipients of the 2018 Grow Smart Awards, to be honored at its annual awards celebration on Monday, November 5, at Boise Centre East. This year’s program highlights the importance of urban renewal tools in advancing smart growth projects in Idaho, with a special focus on the Boise Central Urban Renewal District, the state’s first, which sunsets this year. The evening event includes a reception and presentation of this year’s awards, and will feature a short talk by architect and planner Paddy Tillett, of ZGF Architects.

The public is invited; tickets and more information are available from Idaho Smart Growth (208-333-8066 or online here.)

Smart growth strategies help growing communities bring positive social, environmental and economic benefits to all residents, visitors and local businesses. For the past fourteen years Idaho Smart Growth has presented the Grow Smart Awards to recognize projects and plans from around the state that are excellent examples of smart growth “in action.” Award nominations are reviewed and selected by a jury of experts for their application of smart growth principles.

2018 Award Recipients:

523 W Main Street

Renovation and adaptive reuse of two long-vacant buildings in downtown Caldwell dating from the early 1900s. The project preserves some of the city’s history and is a catalyst for new vibrancy, implementing Caldwell’s downtown vision and plan.

Alturas Academy & O.E. Bell Building

Adaptive reuse of the historic 1928 O.E. Bell Junior High School, in Idaho Falls. The 2016 restoration provides a state-of-the-art home for the Alturas International Charter School and retains an existing restaurant.

Fire Stations 8 and 4

Two new Boise fire stations that incorporate pedestrian-friendly design, high-performance sustainability strategies, public programming and open space with public art in their neighborhood infill redevelopments.

Garden City Artisans™ Wayfinding

The project encourages connections among Garden City visitors, residents, artisans, businesses and other amenities through graphic design, signs and maps. Strong collaborations help this community stake out a unique identity.

The Grove Plaza

A catalyst project begun 30 years ago and recently refreshed that has been the center of downtown Boise’s dramatic transformation from a landscape dominated by surface parking and car commerce to a thriving and completely urban capital city.

Leadville Bikeway

Community engagement helped propel this first low-stress bike route in Ada County Highway District’s Roadways to Bikeways Master Plan. Leadville Avenue parallels a heavy-traffic Boise arterial, offering a calmer and safer alternative.

Moneyball for MPOs

COMPASS, the Boise/Nampa metro planning organization, developed this set of performance measures with good data inputs to assist regional leaders in making better and more objective transportation investment decisions.

Mountain West Bank, State and 16^th Branch

Renovation and expansion of a downtown Boise bank that improved walkability, accessibility, sustainability and connectivity while adding to the neighborhood’s sense of place.

Twin Falls Main Avenue

This major reconstruction of Twin Falls’ main downtown street creates public gathering space, a new city hall, more pedestrian-oriented streets and other amenities as a magnet for new mixed-use private investment.

The Watercooler

Downtown infill mixed-use project in Boise, providing 37 apartments and live-work units of various sizes along with a street-level café and pedestrian friendly outdoor plaza at 14^th Street.

Doug Fowler—Charles Hummel Award

This award is given by the Idaho Smart Growth Board of Directors in honor of architect, civic leader and Idaho Smart Growth co-founder Charles Hummel. The 2018 award is for Doug Fowler, developer and civic leader in Boise. Doug is honored for his steadfast work helping the Harris family realize the Harris Ranch development, as well as his longstanding dedication to Idaho Smart Growth and many other related nonprofits.

Idaho Smart Growth is a statewide nonprofit organization that brings people together to create stronger and healthier communities. For more information about the Grow Smart Awards and Idaho Smart Growth contact 208-333-8066 or go to www.idahosmartgrowth.org.