First, it served up Big Macs. Then, donuts. Lately, the gay club Lucky Dog Tavern took up residence.
But soon, the building at 23rd and Fairview will give Boise Police a new facility.
“This is such a great location and fits in with the neighborhood, and it will really help the neighborhood having a police facility in the area,” City of Boise Facilities Program Manager Rob Bousfield said.
[Axe throwing, ping pong, craft cocktails and all-star food in the mix for new Boise social club]
Work will start early next year to expand and convert the building for use by BPD’s bicycle division. Ten-twelve officers will use the station as home base. It features a briefing room, offices, report-writing room and locker rooms and bathrooms that are gender-neutral.
Expansion and changes
Work crews will expand the building slightly, adding on to the backside along 18th St. – where the drive-through once stood. A large new entry vestibule will show up along Fairview.
The city also intends to reconfigure the site, with a new secured parking area to the west side of the building, accessed off of 18th Street. The entrance on Fairview will move slightly to align with 22nd Street, after a request from the Ada County Highway District.
The city designed the project so that a future, additional expansion can be added on to the front of the building if need dictates and funds allow, Bousfield said.
The city also plans site improvements, including an upgrade of the streetscape along Fairview Ave., public art feature and landscaping.
Bousfield told city council members Lucky Dog a new location for Lucky Dog has not yet been secured. The city will extend the lease for the tavern while the project works through the pre-build process.
In total, the project will cost the city $3.871 million. The land purchase cost $1.2 million, the building remodel is expected to cost $1.15 million, and site work and other pieces of the project will come in at $1.6 million.
