University Place campus primed for boomtime
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Has anyone seen the University Place expansion plans? Maybe I read it in the Post Register, maybe I saw a display on campus, but I recall seeing a master plan for campus expansion. The plans called for several more buildings located north of the Bennion Student Union building. These plans will likely take a decade or more to complete, but a college hound like me was very excited to see this could finally happen in Idaho Falls.
This is a great time for businesses to start building around the campus and serving the student customers. A student there told me the gas station across from campus is always packed. I look around the campus and Freeman park entrance there, and see many undeveloped commercial land plots that have huge potential.
What kind of businesses would do well there? Places that feed students will always be profitable. Two or three cafes spread out could be successful in the area.
High speed Internet access would be a must for the many students with laptops. Copy machines and supplies sold cheaper than the campus bookstore would develop word of mouth among students. A place to relax would probably do well, maybe even a college dance club?
Perhaps even a cheapo theater could be built. I used to visit a cheap $2 theater built in a residential attic in Moscow. It was pretty neat, and so cheap to watch movies. It was not the place to see the newest box office blockbuster, or the best screen or sound system. It was the place to see college cult favorites; hence the niche audience for this location.
Business owners investing around the Idaho Falls University PLace campus may not get rich from the student traffic (they are mostly poor college students, after all), but will have years of extremely interesting experiences interacting with young people and hearing all the crazy ideas that young people in college come up with. The energy exuded by young people can be infectious. These business owners will also derive a deep sense of satisfaction that they ingrained fond memories of thousands of college students and helped make the Idaho Falls experience richer.
That could prove invaluable. (I can’t appeal to your emotional side? Fine, there are plenty of wealthier INL employees and college professors in the area also.)
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Comments
Vote:
0 
0 I think there could be room for a few bars in the campus area. Moscow Idaho (home of University of Idaho) sports eleven (yes, 11) bars in a short three block (yes, 3-block) stretch of downtown. Before anyone says we don’t want a scuzzy bar-row, Moscow’s 3-block downtown with those 11 bars are one of the nicest downtown areas in Idaho. Several bars located close together help all the businesses since bar-goers can easily walk back and forth between them. It is also safer to locate them together becasue again, bar-goers can just walk around instead of driving.
Vote:
0 0 The campus has free Wi-Fi with and computer labs with with free presentation
equipment and software. So the computer rental and cybercafe ideas probably wouldn’t work.
Also the students at the University Place campus tend to be more non-traditional
students. Most are either older or part time students so the bars and college hang out spots
probably wouldn’t get much business.
Just some thoughts.
Vote:
0 0 With the new apartments, Center for Advanced Energy Studies, and the proposed subdivisions that should expand the city limits of IF from the river to 65th north and over to Lewisville Hwy, (including the Sage Lakes development), East River Road will be the main route for the new residents to get into the city. The area around University Place should begin to develop shortly as there will be a need for services within the near future.
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0 0 kambar, those are valid points that would make some of these ideas tougher.
However I would say less than half of the students are older, not most. I think part-time students would still go to these types of hangout-style businesses.
The other thing is that even though the campus offers these things, the students often get burned out by the campus environment. They still need to study, but just want a change of environment. Hence, the library is popular for our local college students. A private business on the edge of campus might also succeed.
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0 0 I believe that I was discussing this very topic with OK4Now a while back and thought that this may be a great location for Walgreens.
One must remember that it is not only college kids but INL workers and other proffesionals that frequent this area.
OK4Now said it best, there aren’t many restaurants in the vicinity and could do very well. (Pita Pit for example.)
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0 0 DNIX - Yes, I do recall a recent discussion about this subject and why Walgreen’s already working on their 3rd store for the Idaho Falls area would be a good fit for this development.
I’m glad Joe highlighted this subject again one year later, as SOOOOO much has happened maybe others will join in with their observations.
Let’s see, first there is Steed Construction, from Boise, building their own building in the area(unless they sell it for some reason). It could appear they are putting a regional office in a prime location for future building.
Of course Steed has worked with Ball Ventures on many projects, including the current Hilton Garden Inn construction and many hotels in the Boise/Meridian area.
So who knows what may be just around the corner.
CAES has broken ground and is receiving national attention. How many additional univerisities or students may be involved, let alone job growth and spin offs, are difficult to predict. But, all reports say there will be more jobs, a growing population and more interest in CAES.
Then, per chance Idaho receives 1-3 of the GNEPs assignments, the growth in jobs alone is projected up to 8K (if all 3 components of the GNEP is located in Idaho). There is no guarantee ID will be the receipent, although rumored to be on the short list. Maybe even one aspect of GNEP - such as R and D going to one of the two proposed ID sites would bring thousands of jobs.
With more jobs and more population, more support services are needed in every sector. Given what I’ve seen already announced for the area and other plans of which I’ve been made aware, I think most businesses could do well
in a new development.
Then there is ISU. Well, I’d better stop while I’m ahead.
Vote:
0 0 What is the target time for GNEP placement to be decided? This year, or next? Or more?
Vote:
0 0 June, 2008
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0 0 I wonder why there isn’t anyone trying to set up some good restaurants near ISU and INL in-town facilities. They could make a killing and there is relatively no competition for a dining dollar. A friend who has a franchise on Hitt Road told me that he was looking into it but land was about $250,000 for a small plot….it seems that this isn’t too much considering the amounts places like Olive Garden or Ruby River paid for lots on W. Broadway.
Vote:
0 0 So Mike would your friend open a second location of his franchise, or a totally new franchise?
Let us know if he wants suggestions. I think that area was similar to Hitt Road in the late 90s, about ready to burst open with all sorts of businesses and services.
But, the first bldg. permits and buildings are just starting this year. So this is the time to buy the land and build a business so constumers will come.
Vote:
0 0 A campus bar (or actually bar located on the edge of campus) could be very popular.
Vote:
0 0 Yes, I agree with you Joe.
I have had two people living outside of the area (one out of state) asking where a bar/club with a younger scene could go in Idaho Falls.
My suggestion was closer to University Place, not the river. It won’t happen in T.C.
It may happen in SRL, if certain sub-developers see the need. But, I think it could be successful now close to University Place.
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Vote:
Ok, Ok, if any of you have read the chat box you know that Joe has told me I have some great business ideas. It may be Joe is polite. But, this idea in particular seemed to get a “round of cheers.”
How about building a mom and pop’s pub near University Place? I am not an expert on ID liquor laws, but I think food has to be served for a liquor license. Maybe a license isn’t needed, if it’s just brews? I dunno - does anyone want to enlighten us?
But, what I really think would be useful, besides restaurants, would be a Day Care and a full-service grocery store. That would include a drive through pharmacy. One may ask how could the residents support a grocery store enough to make it feasible? Well, we are talking about growth. But, think about it. Would you rather drive for a while and then have to go into a grocery store on your way home to get whatever? I good grocery store could have a coffee bar, much like Fred Meyers will have, and a soup bar etc. Perhaps Seattle’s Best coffee, or Tully’s or someone else might like to enter the coffee race in Idaho Falls. Can there ever be too many Starbucks? Even for those who don’t drink coffee, Starbucks has great food (and apparently some stores are developing a breakfast sandwich line to be expanded to other stores later). Think of a WiFi cafe close to University Place.
So back to the grocery store/pharmacy. When you’re missing something at work or at the office, how much could be picked up at a good full-service grocery store? A dry cleaners would be great. And, a copy shop or some place that finishes posters, banners and RENTS computers/presentation equipment etc. might go. And looking at my puppy, what about a good veterinarian, or at least a good groomer who might provide “doggy care” by the hour? Those are just some thoughts to get your creative thoughts flowing.