‘Emergency’ Historic District Alters, But Does Not Prevent, Boise Condo Project

Don Day reports for Boise Dev on a condo development in Boise with a backstory. The project, planned for a grassy lot at 132 W. Main Street near Broadway Avenue, would add seven condominium units on three stories.

“The first floor would feature a single condo unit, with covered garage parking behind. The second and third floors would include three condos each. Each unit has a large great room and kitchen and a bedroom with an attached closet and bath, as well as a second bedroom or den,” according to Day.

The project was scaled down in February 2019, according to an earlier article by Day.

Here’s the catch: the mere suggestion that the developer, Bill Hon, would tear down an adjacent building prompted the city to undertake an “emergency action” to implement a historic district in the surrounding area.

“Ultimately, with the historic preservation ordinance in place, Hon elected to apply to build the new condo building on the empty lot,” according to Day.