Idaho Smart Growth has released its report on its visioning exercises with neighbors of the historic Marian Pritchett Booth Memorial Home at 1617 N. 24th Street in Boise. The property is owned by the Salvation Army, and currently is for sale by Thornton Oliver Keller commercial brokers. The report, “Marian Pritchett Booth Home Redevelopment Prospects and Vision,” is the result of work ISG performed with the North End Neighborhood Association (NENA) provide the neighborhood and potential developers with an opportunity to explore options for redeveloping the two-block site. The report can be viewed and downloaded here.
The listed sale of the property has caused concern for neighbors, and brought forward the neighbors’ desires to see the original building from 1921 preserved. After the NENA board completed an online survey of North End residents to gauge concern about the project, they hired ISG to create a public process and help define the neighborhood’s vision for the space.
The report presents conclusions from that effort and recommends action steps for the NENA board regarding the Booth Home’s potential redevelopment. NENA hopes the Salvation Army will consider this report and encourage whoever purchases the property to seek NENA’s engagement on a development proposal before taking it to the city.
Smart growth principles include encouraging community and stakeholder collaboration as well as fostering distinctive, attractive communities with a strong sense of place. ISG applauds NENA’s efforts to draw attention to the opportunities presented by the Booth Home sale, and hopes to see similar actions with other interesting properties in Boise and elsewhere in Idaho.