Idaho Falls should annex north and east
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I drive to work from the foothills to the westside every workday, I mainly use Lincoln Road or Iona Road. There is alot of residential growth in that area, and the use of these roads reflects that. These roads are rundown, and are in need of repair. I understand that these areas are in Bonneville Countys’ jurisdiction.
However, I feel that Idaho Falls should take an interest and start to annex toward the east, and slowly, or not, turn these two-lane pot holed roads into 5 lane arterials. I do believe that this is in the best interest of the city and as far as infrastructure goes, this is needed.
I believe that the city should start with the small stretch of Woodruff between Lincoln Rd. and US 26, possibly creating a blighted area that will allow for improvements such as gutters, sidewalks and a new 5-lane stretch of highly traveled road.
After this, or at the same time, they should continue east along Lincoln Rd. annexing as they go and continuing widening that highly traveled stretch. Idaho Falls has the possibility of annexing all the way to 45th East (Crowley Road), and gaining a good amount of population now and much more in the future. This area has been refered to as, “No mans land”, but I see it as part of Idaho Falls, not Ammon.
They could turn the old sugar beet factory area into a nice park with the smokestack remaining and create a small historic area. There is no more Lincoln, Idaho, as far as I know, but could be a historic part of Idaho Falls, therefore preserving the legacy that Lincoln, Idaho played in transforming the future of Idaho Falls.
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Comments
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0 
0 I wonder if anyone knows who owns that old sugar factory? Sure would be nice to know what they plan on doing.
I have seen construction crews on Ammon Road south of Lincoln, tearing up that ground for another subdivision. I believe that field used to grow corn, and is right next to a cow farm, which stinks horribly by the way. (Speaking of bad planning). I really believe that Lincoln Road is IF’s pathway to being able to annex eastward, I am just not sure the city would want to take on the project of cleaning up that mile of road. I do feel that either IF or Ammon need to do some annexing and start improving these areas. And starting with the east-west bound roads into IF would be my first choice. Maybe the county would like to take care of its own roads for a change? LOL
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0 0 Dnix0112 - Good post. Any ideas who may be interested in developing Lincoln Road westward into what is now I.F.? Perhaps that person, people, group etc. may have some pull or power when it comes to getting Lincoln included in I.F.
I agree it would be a smart move. I.F. population would increase to reflect a more accurate amount of residents and city services would be available to developers. But, mostly, to me - and it may just be me - Ammon growth seems totally OUT-OF-CONTROL! So I’d rather see I.F. attempt to annex this section of land into the city. Also, it makes it more natural to annex other parcels north of the city that are just sitting there.
Since you seem to be in the know about these things, is it generally easier to get commercial plans through Bonneville County or the City of I.F.? I won’t ask about Ammon, as they seem to want to take anything (but I might be wrong).
Thanks!
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0 0 BoredGirl has a point about physical limitations of widening roads when houses are in the way. However, the homes are set back unusually far on that stretch of Lincoln in most cases, and the few that are too close for a 5-laner could be bought out like the larger Sunnyside expansion has done.
I agree it’s a logical place for IF to annex if we want to grow. If we don’t get that area, in 50 years I see IF being limited on the east end by Ammon and Iona. If we ever want to get a beltway freeway loop around Idaho Falls, the north part of it will likely run through this area also.
I hope they don’t demolish those sugar factory towers. Those have been part of our landscape for years, and are part of our history now. I think the park idea is awesome, and those towers could serve as pre-installed sculptural art for the new park.
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0 0 No doubt there are a lot of improvements needed east of Idaho Falls. But annexation means City taxes, which are about 1% higher than Bonneville County. (Folks, we really need property tax reform in this state - to bring us into the 1970s.)
Consider that some people would be forced to move out of that area if it were annexed, because they could not afford to double or triple their tax bills. How many county citizens are in a position right now to add a hundred bucks to their monthly mortgage payment?
I am not wanting to stand in the way of progress or anything. I am actually in favor of annexation. But I would like to see property tax reform first. Otherwise it will be a tough sell for the current residents of Ammon and Lincoln.
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0 0 I wondered about the higher property tax issues. Third Party, how many (what percent) of the people who wouldn’t be in a position to pay extra taxes, do you think would be willing to sell? After all, the land has the value both as an arterial way and for commerical development.
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0 0 Some of the property owners on Lincoln between Hitt and Ammon Roads are already part of Ammon, a fact accomplished by annexations by that city a few years ago. Any redevelopment of Lincoln would involve both cities. But with Lincoln Road’s cottonwoods a dying breed, I’d hate to see more of them go just for the sake of commuters. And I think you’ll find more pople identify with Lincoln than you think. Maybe there’s a way to route traffic around Lincoln to the north, leaving Lincoln road the quiet, shady, two-lane road it is.
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0 0 MisterFweem, I really like that idea to route traffic north or south of Lincoln.
I wonder if there would have to be some commercial spaces added to help pay for the new road.
Has anyone been to the Gateway mall in SLC? Holy cow, it is intensely new urban. Can you imagine that type of open design implemented on the ‘quiet, shady, two-lane’ Lincoln?
A new park at the sugar towers, new commercial spaces, and new residential spaces would definitely integrate that area into the community of Idaho Falls.
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0 0 I’ve been to Gateway. I’m not sure it would feel the same having a open design like Gateway on or near Lincoln. After all, Pioneer Park and adjoining neighborhoods are still in the area. While it’s safe during the days and movies are safe until about 1:00 a.m., lots of Gateway Residents (Condo Owners) complain about the shot fired after dark. Sorry to give you the other side of Gateway.
It would be cool to have an open area to shop in I.F. Reminds me also of a few shopping centers in San Diego. Blitzing on the name right now, but near Scripps, if anyone knows. They had large granite or slabs or blocks of cement for folks to sit on. The center was a fountain where kids could wade. It wasn’t big, like Taylor’s Landing, just appropriate for the setting.
Lots of people thought Gateway was nuts to try that approach, given the weather. But, it seems to have worked out well, except for the Cheesecake Factory.
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0 0 Ugh, I didn’t know about the Gateway’s darkside. No, we don’t want that in IF.
A pedestrian-only plaza could be designed in the center of it, with a playground for kids.
It could even have fountain jets like Boise’s Grove or the Gateway’s fountain area. That would definitely jump start the newest area of Idaho Falls.
I think the weather is a drawback, also, and ours is more severe than Salt Lake City’s.
Here’ a crazy idea: I read an architect I think named Moshe Safdie. One of his futuristic architectural ideas was pedestrian streets like the gateway, but each building had half-roofs attached to their fronts about 15-20 feet in the air. When the weather gets bad, each side lowers their roofs halfs so they meet and can lock in the middle.
Most of the winter would be like that, and stormy times in other seasons.
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The problem with widening most of our roads is that there is no place to widen too. Many of our roads are lined with houses and businesses. In order to widen them, there would be MANY buying and demolishing going on, which may be too much for our city to handle. I do agree that we need wider roads, but due to poor city planning years ago, some of it may not be possible.
Also, I heard that they are planning on taking down that old sugar factory and such down town *behind the rock wall and such*.. but i’m not sure what they have in store for it right now.