Idaho Falls Development Chatter 07Q4
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This is the first in what I hope is an active quarterly series about commercial, residential, and industrial developments. We have hosted previous attempts to discuss real estate and business developments, but they always focused on a particular development or issue. This became awkward when we tried discussing other developments, and trying to develop discussion threads on every possible development is improbable. Monthly restarts are probably too frequent, and annual restarts are too infrequent. Hopefully quarterly is the magic balance to healthy and active development discussions.
This discussion is for talking about what what went good and bad with old developments, new developments, proposed developments, and describing “fantasy developments”. Feel free to discuss specific single-business developments, area developments like Snake River Landing, industry developments like Haiku, or residential developments like neighborhoods and apartment buildings.
Idaho is growing fast, and Idaho Falls seems to be at the head of the state pack. It should be interesting to have this discussion forum for expressing what we like and don’t like around southeast Idaho. Feel free to reference some development-related articles by publications like IQ magazine or the River City Weekly, but please link to their specific articles if they provide free access.
So what developments are on your mind?
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Comments
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0 
0 That Part 2 page linked above also has a neat top article on a new Idaho Falls airport hanger.
The hanger is huge and designed to cater to private planes. Read: rich folk. The folks at Aero Mark are building it, and they say they get a lot of corporate jets in here. Some visitors are inspecting their existing chains in our area, and others are scouting our area for new business opportunities.
Apparently the hangar will be a premium facility, to match the expected clientèle. I hope to get in there for some pictures when it is finished, because they are doing some kind of “nostalgic, military look” for the exterior.
Kudos to Aero Mark for taking this leap forward, which should prove foundational to our area’s development. The airport area developments should consider this richer clientèle, what kind of welcoming experience do we want them to have as they land in Idaho Falls, and as they drive away from the airport into our city?
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0 0 If a small company does not need great customer parking access, the bank on the southwest corner of Skyline and Grandview is for rent or sale. It’s got some unique architecture, could be interesting for something like a small tech firm. It was not so great for customer access though, being on that busy corner.
The lot across the street from the bank, on the southeast corner, had a business which looked like a home, but they had some kind of law enforcement bust a few months back, then the building and lot got razed to the ground. It would be nice to see the city purchase part of the property for a dedicated right-turn at that intersection.
Reminds me, the old Arnold’s (best fries ever) on the corner of Lincoln and Ammon roads has been razed, and they are putting in a nice new Maverick, with a nice dedicated right-turn at the intersection.
I would like to see Idaho Falls mandate that most new busy intersection remodels require dedicated right-turn lanes.
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0 0 The lot across the street was a Massage Parlor at one time and It was busted many years ago , not months ago.
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0 0 I’m sure you know what you’re talking about, but I’m pretty sure I recall just this past summer or spring seeing a bust at that location on the news. I recall because I was at a friends house who lived around the corner, and we all remarked how we thought it was a home not a business.
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0 0 Perhaps you are right. I know it was a Real Estate office, then sat vacant till they tore it down
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0 0 Last week’s River City Weekly had a great story on the local Java Espress stands. The company has perfected the architectural/organizational/offerings model for this business niche, and are planning to make it a franchise!
I wish them luck with that, it would be awesome to have a national franchise based in Idaho Falls. I enjoy their coffee whenever I can, but the wait times sometimes discourage me. Hopefully their new four-window model makes the consumer experience go faster.
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0 0 That house on the corner you guys are talking about was most recently, within the months before the razing, a halfway house for people age 18-20something who had been in state custody up til they were 18 and were now being released to the outside world. It was meant to be a transitional step for them to begin life as an adult in the outside world. The only “bust” I know of there was a guy who tried to commit suicide and had to be tasered by the cops. There could have been others though.
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0 0 The PR reports Idaho is trying to lure gun manufacturers to our state. Apparently we already exempt firearms from “a special tax” whatever that is?
Is this something Idaho really needs or just wants? This report indicated the firearms market is growing, but last week I read that hunting is declining as a sport.
Is there a difference between skilled manufacturing workers and gun enthusiasts? I just hope we do not give away too many incentives to lure a manufacturer here, and wash out any benefits we may have gotten.
What do you think our chances are to lure this kind of manufacturer to Idaho?
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0 0 I read a public notification for another urban renewal district in this morning’s PR (page A6), and I thought of some questions from it.
First, why does Utah Avenue become Crane Dr when it crosses Pancheri? Taylor Crossing has made Utah Avenue important in our city once again, and Snake River Landing will likely make Crane Drive important, also. Why don’t we avoid the inevitable confusions to tourists and rename Crane Drive into Utah Avenue? We have enough troubles in our city with other instances of streets changing names for no reason than they cross a magic line. Let’s nip this problem early and rename it.
When I first glanced at the proposed zone map, I thought it was just Roger Ball’s property, which would not be appropriate to turn one person’s property into a renewal district. However, it appears to stretch south along Yellowstone to include the sign company, Max Ker property, and even a little south of that eagle rock RV place. Ball does not own all of that property, right?
So is the idea to wipe out those buildings and redo the entire area into another over-priced office park, or will we finally get some mixed use (high density residential and retail?) and some green spaces?
Any ideas on what this proposed renewal district will cost or entail?
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0 0 I was visiting a friend yesterday and talking about local developments.
He is more pessimistic about Idaho Falls’ “supposed growth”.
For example, he says Idaho Falls touts their Ruby River Steakhouse and Starbucks as proof of our growth, while Pocatello gets industrial players. Idaho Falls got a few minimum wage/tip jobs while Pocatello got a single employer responsible for 200 jobs starting at $15/hour.
Does my friend have a valid argument that Idaho Falls’ growth is weak when salaries are compared?
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0 0 That’s a good point!
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0 0 I suspect that Pocatello has taken more initiative to offer tax breaks for businesses. I seem to recall that one industrial business going in down in Poky purchased alot land from the city for $1.00 with the caveat that they develop it and provide jobs to the city.
In the short run it would seem business gets the upper hand; however, over the long haul that kind of ingenuity will pay for itself in recaptured tax revenues and other development to aid emerging businesses in the area.
I look back to the City of IF’s problem getting paperwork in for the Sunnyside Grant….the bureaucrats were asleep at the wheel and disinterested in saving the city money. It seems like Pocatello is alot more active. I also recall Richard Stallings advocated to the Poky City Council to hire a lobbyist to seek out tax breaks, grants, and other businesses. They pay the guy $180,000 a year to bring in business. Looks like it is finally paying off for them.
Maybe Idaho Falls City Council should get off their duffs and start looking at this model?
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0 0 1 - What is the new building going up behind the Bennion student union building?
2 - Idaho State Journal reported today on two new hotels opening in Pocatello, and they said that brings the total to 15, and 2 more are predicted in the next year.
How many hotels does Idaho Falls have open today, and how many are opening in the next 3 months?
Thanks
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0 0 An interesting letter to the editor today, questioning why Idaho Falls freely gave $300k for a skateboard park, but refused to kick in anything for the disabled kids/handicapped accessible playground.
Sure the city “donated” the land, which was just about the worst and oldest playground in the city anyways, and the new playground increases city property value anyways so I don’t see how we gave very much at all.
The LTE writer pointed out that despite this arrangement, skateboarders still have to be told to not ride on the handicapped-accessible playground, and signs have to be put up. The writers kind of insinuated the skateboarders were responsible for the recent vandalism, but we don’t know if that is true.
This makes me feel ashamed that our city has not kicked in money for this playground, but freely gave to the skateboarders. Plus I think about the accessible curb problems we’ve been having for years now (and still don’t have solved), and I wonder about how Idaho Falls is treating our disabled citizens.
Did the skateboarders have to raise any of that $300k themselves the way the handicapped accessible park organizers did?
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0 0 Another letter to the editor today said their electric bill (I think they meant it was Rocky Mountain power) started adding “customer efficiency service charges”, essentially punishing customers who conserve energy! If you install the new CFL light bulbs or wrap your pipes or add insulation or whatnot, they add this charge to recoup their loss from what they would have made under your inefficient usage.
How can this be legal? How can the power company know you are doing efficiency tactics, not just reducing your consumption? Can this be confirmed by other RMP customers? Is Idaho Falls power doing this nonsense?
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0 0 Building going up by the Bennion Student Union is the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, a joint effort by ISU/University Place and the INL to provide space for research.
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0 0 Yip, Brian, you are right. CAES has only been one of the top education topics the local media has adddressed repeatedly the last few years. Additionally, the national government and ISU, ISJ etc. have also written articles about CAES.
Maybe to some CAES is nothing big or any reason to wonder what else is planned for Idaho Falls. Sheez, the Post Register wrote one of their first articles about it stating why new jobs would be created.
My original post, which wasn’t complete or edited got removed from this thread. Don’t bother looking for it Joe, I don’t want it posted here now. Those of us who know about development know where those disucssions are actively happening. My other comments will be addressed another way at a different time.
I’m surprised though, Joe, given that you say you are moving for your children to live in a state where education is valued more than in ID. It doesn’t matter how many universities Austin has (hook ‘um horns!). If YOU have missed the CAES info, how will you know about educational opportunities in TX?
Besides, per capita, IOWA is one of the top states in the U.S. for the public education system. And the University of Iowa and Iowa State are highly regarded in many circles. The cost of living isn’t that high in Iowa either, and the population is smaller than that of TX.
However, you should go where it is right for you. My point is there are many states that per capita have a higher educational commitment to children currently.
But, in the Idaho Falls/Ammon area, one always has to remember to break down the stats into age groups. Not a lot of under 3 are in elementary school yet. And some may be dumbfounded what percentage of the population of Bonneville County is under 12 years of age.
Personally, I don’t care why you move or where you relocate to. I’m happy you have the opportunity to do so. It is your choice and I totally support it.
I also agree with you about education in Idaho as it is today, in 2007. But, I also give credit due where credit should be given. Having MIT and other universities work with INL is no small matter. You may appreciate that more from a distance than being too close.
I’m more hopefully Idaho will get it together on education as I actually have seen some reasonable plans starting to take place.
However, if you’ve never lived in another state, or major metro area (besides your stint in Boise - but that’s not really metro compared to counties with 2-5 million residents), I can’t encourage and support you, Joe (and others) enough, to move as soon as you can. Learning what others have chosen to leave for Idaho is important.
Urban life, having shopping carts be the homes of many, major crime, helicopters flying overhead with search lights in your back yard looking for crime suspects are all daily occurances in large metro areas. TX would not by on my personal list currently, given the recent data about the newest and deadliest drug, the new heroin called Black ??? (I’ve forgotten the slang name). I can’t remember the name but I can remember the age of the dead children who took it ONE TIME. The market is children 5-11 years old (per the Dallas PD, who hosted the interagency conference about this drug). You might want to ask some why they are leaving TX as rapidly as they can, as well as the illegals issue and other concerns that people living in TX face daily. I say go learn what life is like outside ID.
Learning how to cope in major metro areas requires certain skills. Making enough $ to enjoy the positives can be a challenge as well. Knowing where safe neighborhoods are, or how to let your kids make friends - all new skills. Ask people who have moved from large cities to Idaho Falls.
Also, I’d be careful around the Houston loop too. I saw that comment today in the chatbox from ???? (sorry, I forgot the poster’s name) talking about random shootings in the Houston Loop. Yes, what that person described is very real as well as how many people pack guns.
I know Joe isn’t going to Houston, which also has it’s positives such as Baylor, TMC etc. I know a family that moved back to Houston for what they could get there they couldn’t get in another area of Idaho. No place is perfect for everyone.
For those who think Idaho Falls and Ammon fail to confirm to zoning, go see Houston, if you haven’t already or didn’t move from there. Having the most expensive neighborhoods essentially next door to the slums doesn’t make sense to me. But, just because I don’t want to live there doesn’t mean it isn’t right for others - I totally respect that fact.
And certain areas of TX, well it’s Mark Cubanland. Always talking about how much money they make, their ranches, oil rigs etc. So I offer my most sincere and best wishes for the “culture shock” I suspect Joe’s family may encounter.
I might be wrong - Joe’s family may talking about their millions or thousands of acres of land, or how many oil rigs they own currently - I have no way of knowing. It’s not a daily topic I hear currently, but it works for some. I do know what many in TX talk about and it sure isn’t the wind in Idaho Falls. 
Unfortunately, I have seen plenty of kids cry because other kids told them they were poor, or their parents didn’t own land and other comments that hurt the children.
I’m just surprised Joe, that YOU didn’t know what the CAES buidling was, given your knowledge and recent review of Idaho’s education system. Besides, how many publications have been reprinted of that ISU photo on the day dirt was broken for CAES? Some of us would like to see more than the 3 standard pictures.
CAES is probably less than 10-15 miles from your residence, Joe. I’m having a little difficulty believing education is the main reason you give for moving, even though I do agree with you that Idaho doesn’t give education enough priority to education yet. And you are in a unique position to know more than many of us.
I don’t know if you plan to go back to teaching Joe, when you move; I’d strongly encourage you not to seek employment in a business or development job, though. Missing the construction of CAES in Idaho Falls? Yikes!
The following paragraph comes from the Post Register’s 12/26/04 edition, “Top 10 local stories for 2004,”
“Battelle also was prepared for the quickest start-up of the Center for Advanced Energy Studies, a collaboration with universities that DOE required of bidders, Magwood said.”
I honestly didn’t search prior to Nov. 2004, so the PR may have had earlier articles. And I lost count after about 25-30 headlines of how many articles or summaries about CAES have been published the past 3 years.
That isn’t to say the local television stations and other media missed the story. No way - local tv and state-wide newspapers covered it. Sheez, it’s in federal reports too. Between the tv stations, ISU Bengal, Idaho State Journal, Statesman etc, there are multiple ways to have learned about CAES, even not having a PR subscription.
ISU hired 3 f/t professors a long time ago when CAES was in its first year.
As for general development or building info and this thread, the people I know, myself included, who have information, we don’t post it here anymore for very specific reasons. It’s out there on other websites.
Abby Gibb seems to be doing a fairly good job of having found the newer sites where development information is shared. Or at least she is coming closer than many.
Peterson’s in Pocatello - I hope I can still find the Utah tv link from the ~ 150 Peterson employees in UT that are being “let go, phased out, or laid off,” due to their “expansion” to Pocatello. Maybe the AP picked up that story, I’ll check.
Hoku in Pocatello - check the stock market. No point discussing Pocatello here as it is clear questions keep getting asked, as one person said to me, “in a baiting manner to see if some of us with information will return to posting it at Idaho Fallz.Com vs. where we post now.” Those who know already know about Poky’s hotesl - big whoop - that is old news, as is who owns them.
I will say I have to back the city of Idaho Falls and Grow Idaho Falls kuddos for not getting suckered into the bidding competition Peterson wanted between Idaho Falls and Pocatello. And props IF City Council/Mayor and Grow Idaho Falls for not catering to what Hoku demanded.
I’d be a little nervous about my job, if I were the person who said ok to buying the 400+ acres of land to lure a business like Hoku, for $1.00 rent over 99 years. Plus, Pocatello bought an addition 40 - 60 acres after Hoku announced their selection for something else Hoku and Pocatello forgot to mention that additional purchase.
Yes, I’d be nervous given the state and national industry analysts are now questioning, the last two weeks, if the plant will even be built, or used, in Pocatello.
Talk is cheap. Facts are facts and often require research. However, facts remain facts. There have been many facts printed, on the tv and elsewhere about CAES.
I just had a local blogger, who has his own site about INL, give me a link to a really good source of information about GNEP, CAES and the Advanced Initiatives, Generation IV Nuclear Reactors etc. info. There is a lot of information available on the web, to those who want to learn. And many local residents are hosting those sites. Perhaps some got their idea or determination to start due to Idaho Fallz.Com, I don’t know. I think many of them have been posting prior to Idaho Fallz.Com.
For those who honestly want to know more specifically about CAES, IMO, I’d recommend going directly to either http://www.isu.edu, or http://www.inl.gov. If you have a Post Register subscription, you can search the stories online and get the basics that way as well.
I don’t know how far back the local tv stations archieve their stories, but the information is available at no cost to those who really want it.
So good for CAES that it is appearing on the norizon enough that others are noticing.
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0 0 My reasons for moving are more than one. I’m not trying to “bait” anyone, just talking about local issues since day one.
I guess I’m a moron for not knowing that steel structure was the CAES building. I admit I have not payed attention to it and suppose that means I have not followed any developments in Idaho Falls then.
Is the CAES an undergraduate-oriented program or geared towards post graduate research? Will it be connected to the IF campus such as by going around the SUB?
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0 0 Awk. Ward.
Ok4now should email his personal problems with Joe directly to him instead of posting them. Enough of the passive-aggressive behaviors.
I must be a moron with Joe. I tune out when I hear ‘proposed INL project’ because there are many obstacles to those projects becoming reality.
Idaho Falls can pat themselves on the back that they were too smart to get in a bidding war for Hoku and we in Pocatello can snicker as we go to our high paying jobs. Yup, you pulled one over us. Suckers!
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0 0 Mike - I have to laugh (good naturedly) about your post #13. Your claims of IF city council and others not doing enough to attract new business in are EXACTLY what we say about our city council. Many people here talk about how much better IF is at recruiting business, and I don’t mean dollar stores or call-centers (we have more than enough).
HOKU is getting to be a joke. No one is holding their breath. A little groundbreaking and nothing else seems to be happening. Not even sure they have secured the funding they needed to get going anyway. The topix website has had a little discussion this year on that issue. New hotels? Yeah a few but they won’t always be full. Rodeo week, ISU graduation, Simplot games to name a few do bring the crowds in. Does Idaho Falls have major events like this to fill your hotels?
I still say Idaho Falls has better retail stores, who are busier than ours. Also a better restaurant selection by any standards. Plus you can can support 2 Walmarts and 2 Albertsons, Sam’s Club, Fred Meyer, and a smattering of smaller stores. Not us! Not to mention the GT mall is 20 times busier than ours (note: I do not separate Idaho Falls from Ammon, nor Pocatello from Chubbuck here). Not to say all of these places pay employees top dollar, but they do stay fairly consistent with customers, a sign of a good city economy IMO. The East Center area in Poc is really building up, in anticipation of a new hospital years away from being built, if ever. And don’t forget Ballard sending all those jobs elsewhere. Problem we see here is too many businesses coming in who pay $6-8 an hour, hardly enough to support a family. Just look at Premier Technology moving north instead of building a major facility here. If ISU and AMI weren’t here we’d sink.
I could go on, I guess we’re all harder on our hometown than our neighbors are. It’s all relative as they say, but I really believe true growth and development is in the Idaho Falls/Ammon/south to Shelley corridor. Oh, to own 200 acres there right now! Maybe in 20 years one city will exist from Blackfoot to Rigby?
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0 0 You have some great points there, I’ll have to mention those to my pessimistic friend.
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0 0 I can’t find the name of the drug being essentially given to kids in elementary school in TX. However, I hope those in law enforcement may have heard of it.
I think this was the previous conference about this deadly drug, marketed to jr. high and high school kids. It was called, “Black Cheese.”
That name may still be the name for what the grade school kids are getting too. The name just didn’t make sense to me, given how lethal it is.
Here’s a link to the Dallas PC and a conference they had about “Black Cheese” and which high schools/jr. highs were being targetted the most. http://www.dallascityhall.com/committee_briefings/briefings0407/20070402_PS_cheese.pdf
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0 0 I meant the drug is essentially given by pushers (not schools, parents), for basically the little kids lunch money - $1- $2.00. Sorry for the confusion in the above post.
It upsets me greatly that 5, 7, 9 year olds have died from buying something they had no ability to understand the lethality. I’ll try to find the direct link.
I’m hoping that last link will jog someone’s memory of how the murders, IMO, are presenting this poison to the kids in TX. Is law enforcement in ID not being told about this drug yet?
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0 0 I’m lost on the last 2 posts?
Anyway, this is a story about Idaho Falls development along the Snake River which came out today on channel 6.
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0 0 I agree with the sentiment that we underutilitize our river. This site is litered with several ideas from different people for using the river in new ways.
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0 0 Per the PR, the Idaho Falls city council approved making a new urban renewal district out of the block located south of Pancheri and between the river and Yellowstone Highway. Apparently they will spend $1.8 million to improve the land, such as removing lava rock improving the water main, and burying power lines. An I.F. official said she foresees a bike path, landscaping, two hotels, offices, parks, and restaurants. I would like to see some residential mixed in, such as an apartment building. They mentioned condos somewhere in there, but it seemed more of a hope than a plan.
Can someone explain how this urban renewal district works? I thought they get tax breaks for ten years, but it was explained that their tax dollars go to the development agency which then spends on the aforementioned improvements. Councilman Joe Groberg made a point that the currently assessed taxes will still go to the city, so I guess they are not getting a tax break?
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0 0 Also a major blow to the Pocatello economy with the announcement that AMI Semiconductor was sold to a competitor. Pocatello Mayor Chase is saying he doesn’t think there will be employment losses, but the Idaho State Journal quotes someone on their front page that it’s unlikely for Pocatello operations to continue.
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0 0 Not a clue where to post this, but if anyone is interested the Dillard’s in Pocatello is going out of business at the end of the month and everything is heavily marked down. They are also selling store fixtures, racks for clothes, shelves, etc. I understand they close the 31st. We have gotten some great deals there the last few weeks. Everything is now another 40% off lowest marked price.
Amazing, I hope the Dillard’s here is doing OK. I heard some of the Pocatello employees saying they were moving up here to work. With Qwest, AMI, the Bistro, and now Dillard’s closing I won’t be surprised to see Pocatello transplants headed this way.
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0 0 what happened to AMI???/
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0 0 If you go to the KPVI website and search for “AMI”, several results show up. Here are two recent stories. Basically they’ve been sold and will phase out several jobs. Layoffs now and in the future, with some positions staying.
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?s=8030890
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?s=8037526
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0 0 thanks, reader……
too sad; I know lots of people who work there….
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chill, gato, it ain't worth getting your purty fur messed up
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There were some comments in yesterday’s chatbox indicating some folks weren’t sure of the purpose for this discussion. I guess I was not very clear, so let me get the ball rolling with some examples.
For example, our local River City Weekly published a two-part series the last couple weeks on “The changing landscape of Bonneville County.”
Part 1:
http://rivercityweekly.com/paper%5C092707%5C0927%20RCW%20Page%2001.pdf
Part 2:
http://rivercityweekly.com/paper%5C100407%5C1004%20RCW%20Page%2001.pdf
(kudos to RCW for publishing their stuff online so we can direct readers to original source material , ahem PR)
This series was neat in pointing out that Idaho agricultural land is slowly but surely being converted to commercial and residential building use.
This series caused me to think about Idaho’s agricultural-based economy, and how that base is inevitably dwindling down. It makes sense that we are not converting desert/forest lands into agricultural farms nearly as fast as we are converting farms into developed land.
Idaho’s economy is grounded in agriculture, but agriculture is becoming increasingly irrelevant. Are we prepared for the transition to let go of agriculture? What are we replacing agriculture with? Strip malls and bedroom communities? Is this sustainable?