Proposed New Downtown Plaza
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I propose a new downtown core planned and constructed in the blocks south of the current library. All current (low-income residential) houses and the roads crossing the four-block area should be demolished. The entire spot should become an open plaza, and four tall buildings (6-10 stories each) should be constructed on the four corners of this open plaza.
Why?
- Idaho Falls lacks a skyline. These four buildings would stand tall and be seen by visitors miles away. The distinctive skyline would then be used in promotional graphics.
- Bold architecture in a downtown core becomes a source of municipal pride.
- The architecture would be beautiful and distinctive. One building could be a shimmering glass facade, another could be glass rows alternated with stone panels, another could be a curved side, or the buildings could all be small-scale reproductions of other famous buildings. Examples include Dubai’s hotel, New York City’s Chrysler building or Flatiron building, Malaysia’s Petronas Towers, or something like Boise’s triangular building. As long as we are dreaming big here, why not a Frank Gehry building to really put us on the map?
- There are not enough businesses to populate these spaces? The solution is to make the first floors retail shops, the second floors restaurants, the third-fifth floors office spaces, and all floors above become residential condos. One top floor could be a flexible space to be rented for special occasions (company parties, New Year’s Eve balls, 4th of July Fireworks watching, etc.) The buildings would be skinny enough that everyone gets a great view of the river, the greenbelt, the downtown area, the foothills, even across southeast Idaho.
- The plaza framed between the buildings could be a hot spot for workers, residents, and tourists to gather. Food vendors could be licensed in designed spots, a stage area could be the source of music or lectures, and huge flower pots could beautify the plaza. Plentiful benches would provide ample spaces for people to gather and eat, listen to music, or just relax while watching other people, the beautiful buildings, or the river next to the plaza.
- This plaza is across the street from a seldom-used greenbelt section. This section would undoubtedly become more heavily used.
- This location is in close proximity to the old downtown area, and immediately across from the new Taylor Crossing development. We’ve heard reports of a new greenbelt area being constructed south of Pancheri bridge in the old Monroc area (a perennial favorite teenage drinking spot). This plaza would be in a perfect location in proximity to tie together all these other great locations.
- Tall buildings anywhere in Idaho Falls make better sense to be located on the river’s east side. More people are out and about in the afternoons, and the buildings would not cast long shadows across the greenbelt then.
- Finally, these tall buildings would inspire much more development activity in the area around them. Our old downtown would be more likely to be revitalized in their role as ‘Old Downtown’. The Taylor Crossing area across the river would create a larger and stronger ‘new urban’ community. Developers would see the core activities in this spot, and would be more likely to build 2-3 story buildings in the blocks radiating outwards.
If nothing, Idaho Falls needs to start dreaming bigger. Why dream about YOSM (yet another strip mall) when we can dream about skyscrapers and breathtaking urban environments that provide numerous economic opportunities?
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Comments
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0 I think the article is perfect and I have thought how ugly that section of downtown is. Much of it is vacant industrial trash
that we hate looking at. Redeveloping it would be smart. I’m a little leary of the idea of tearing down the old homes.
Think of all the mad occupants. Some of them can be fixed up. You’re right on about the skyline or the lack of it.
Urban sprawl is popular in idaho Falls and building up is something that people fear for some reason around here.
Who knows why? I was talking about this subject to a fellow co-worker and he was worried about tall buildings because he t
hought if they were constructed then people would want to move here and he was afraid of that. What I think is ironic
that I believe there is a city ordinace that you can’t have a building so tall in the city limits yet just outside the city
limits there are two 20-story beer factories that seem to be such a wonderful blessing to the area. I was excited about
the green belt idea to expand the width of it and make Memorial drive by downtown 1 lane. Don’t worry traffic can be rerouted
People complain about the lack of parking and I think it is a real issue. Why don’t we think progressive and build a large 3-4 leveled parking garage like most growing cities have and solve this ongoing issue once and for all. I have lots of other ideas to help the city look more attractive. I have lived in this area for most my life and want to see it evolve into it’s potential.
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0 0 If you have lots of ideas to help the city look more attractive, we invite you to register and write some of your ideas as posted stories on this website. Your idea could inspire some helpful changes.
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0 0 6-10 stories is not tall enough to make a skyline. The Bonneville Hotel in old downtown is about 6 stories high. Each building needs to be 10-15 stories to really be a revolutionary skyline in Idaho Falls. The comment about unhappy homeowners, yes I agree but progress marches on, they are low-income so they could be bought out easily. Nothing wrong with low-income people or areas, but it means they can be paid well for their homes and move to another spot in Idaho Falls (or even back to the residential towers when completed).
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0 0 I agree 100% with this idea. Idaho Falls definently needs a skyline. I think a lot of people are
scared because they think it will block the views of the mountains or will not look good. I
don’t know why people feel this way. I think it will be beautiful. There should definently be
huge flower pots, vines, and tons of trees and gardens through out it. Maybe even a large fountain.
The flower pots and some of the architecture should be very European(Italian, Roman). Cities
with that kind of architecture tends to draw a lot of people to it. A lot of
people think that when cities grow they become ugly. This won’t be the case. This can and will
be beautiful if it is done and advertised right. I think if there are lots of gardens in the plaza
it will definently be appealing to people and they will accept it. Also, Idaho Falls needs a
nickname. If we have beautiful gardens, and combined with the gardens at Taylor’s Crossing,
Idaho Falls can have the nickname “The city of flowers” or “The garden city” cities with nicknames
that are related to this like Portland, Boise, Spokane, etc. attract a lot of tourists and people
want to go there because it sounds very pleasing. If we want this project to move forward, lets
get working on it now. I think there are a lot of people who would like this to happen, and who
would be one our side. Like The Grow Idaho Falls Committee, Frank Vandersloot, and McNeil
Development.Yes, there probably will be complaints, opposition and some angry people. But if
a city doesn’t continue to move forward then it will move backwards. This will do wonders for Idaho Falls and
will make the city a greater and a more beautiful place.
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0 0 I don’t know that Frank VanderSloot can work with the Grow Idaho Falls commmittee. I think there may be some personality conflicts there.
But, that doesn’t mean Steven hasn’t advanced this idea. I’d love to have a garden of roses or other flowers, much like Portland does with the roses and Northern Washington (Skagit County, I believe) has the tuip festival. Does any one know an expert in gardening that might want to get invovled and even sketch what plants and trees could be planted by each other? Closer to the river, I don’t know if that changes what basic covering plants vs. flants toenhance beauty , along with trees etc. could be planted.
There could even be fruit trees. Does anyone know anything about the community garden thing and how it works? Maybe for people who theoretically were to live in the towers, they might want to grow their own veggies etc.
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0 0 Is this a real plan or just “blue sky” for the time being? I know Rollie Walker (his wife, actually) has bought six lots in the Lava Street area since the beginning of the year, but from what I’ve heard any sort of work there is on the back burner until Taylor Crossing is finished, which is going to be a few years.
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0 0 Great question Rondo, I think this was just a ‘blue sky’ idea, but lots of people think it’s awesome when they hear about it.
If we think about IF’s future of an expanded university place, the existing greenbelt and historic downtown, Memorial drive’s plans, Taylor crossing, the monroc dvelopment, and the sunnyside interstate exit area development, it leaves the low-income residential blocks south of the library as a ‘black hole’ in terms of continuity.
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0 0 I think that this takes away from the small town feel that many people love in Idaho Falls. You want SkyScrapers? You want a skyline? Move to Salt Lake. Move to New York. Don’t say that our scity wouldn’t be good enough without this “sky line”. That would just make us anothyer stupid city. People don’t want a big city, that’s not why they’re attracted to the city. They’re attracted here for the everyone knows everyone else feel of our small farm town.
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0 0 In case you haven’t noticed, Idaho Falls is becoming less and less of a “farm town” every year. There are very few farming plots left within the actual city limits.
Also, creating a skyline wouldn’t create a “new york” feel to Idaho Falls - it would add to the urban appeal of the downtown area. Nobody’s talking skyscrapers (did you read the details of the plan?), they’re talking business plazas that would attract new employers (new jobs and city revenue).
I don’t understand the logic of your objection.
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0 0 Idaho Falls is definatly a farm community anymore. It’s more of a medical/business hub now.
I don’t know if Idaho Falls could support 4 10 story towers, but I’d love to see that.
Well…It might be able to since it’s metro is around 150,000. It’s retail metro is around 250,000.
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0 0 *Definately NOT
If Ammon would stop sprawling all over the place, we could most likely build up insted of OUT.
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0 0 There seems to be something going on as far as rehabilitation of this area, although south of the “proposed” plaza. I have noticed in recent weeks new facades are being installed next to the climbing gym, and a sign that says something like “mini-bazzar” has suddenly appeared. Next time you are driving down Capital, take a look and see for yourself.
Also the ground behind Sonic and Jiffy Lube has been torn up for quite sometime. Anyone have any info on that?
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0 0 Hey….its comming….the skyline, the multi-occupancy buildings, all of the bigger city items……just not where this article proposes……just watch the new exit 116. Has anyone been paying attention to the west side of the river near pancheri? The recent land deals in this area involve amazing amounts of money.
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0 0 Jester,
Do you mean a new highrise, mixed use area will be at exit 116? Is that the Sunnyside Regional Shopping Plaza, or whatever the correct title is?
Yes, I’ve been watching the land prices. AMAZING AMOUNTS OF MONEY!
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0 0 I heard today these homes in this exact location are being quietly purchased, and expect to be all sold within the next four years.
I also heard the developer buying all the properties may be considering an eminent domain-style maneuver to get the property forfeited in the name of a much higher value commercial property replacing the current low-income housing.
Looks like someone read this and ran with the idea, let’s hope they do some real high-rise buildings instead of another over-priced office park.
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0 0 Well, I do know the Lorin Walker reads this site and earlier Rondo mentioned that Rollie Walkers wife has been purchasing land. And I also seem to remember in another article something about engineer work for McNeil on a 21 story building.
Could be coincidence, could be something completely different, we shall have to keep our ears open on this.
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whew, slow day, time to all start commenting again!
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Another footbridge from this new plaza location across to the Taylor Crossing development would solidify the physical connection and make it more convenient for people to cross back and forth easily.