Visum Development of Ithaca, NY plans to break ground on its first project of New York this year. The Vanguard at 6th St. and Front St. would replace the current BizPrint location on the busy intersection.
Visum said in a newsletter this month it chose Boise for the project due to many factors common for companies choosing the area.
“In recent years, Idaho and its capital city, Boise have experienced dramatic economic and demographic growth, bringing greater attention to this tertiary market. Part of this growth it’s due to the tech exodus from cities like San Francisco and Seattle and the movement of senior citizens to Idaho.”
BizPrint, now known as AlphaGraphics Boise, will open a new location on 8th St. as BoiseDev reported last week.
What’s in store
In its place, the 8-story building will bring 75 residential units, plus commercial space. The ground floor would also include the residential lobby and a dog wash, as well as indoor storage for bikes.
Drawings for the building show a possible sidewalk cafe and upgrades streetscapes. Some of the residential units have private patios, and a rooftop deck for all tenants sits near the top of the building.
Portions of The Vanguard hang over the public right of way owned by the Idaho Transportation Department and Ada County Highway District and had to receive special permission for the overhangs.
The project does not include any onsite parking, and none is required as part of Boise’s P-1 parking overlay. But it sits adjacent to and relies on a large new 800-space parking garage directly across 6th St. that is part of a future Home2 Suites by Hilton project
The project won design review approval after making a few tweaks, including taking a previously blank facade on the west side of the building and adding windows and brick material.
The Vanguard joins a flurry of residential projects along the Front & Myrtle corridor. Roundhouse’s Cartee started earlier this month, as did Opus Development’s River Caddis. Gardner Co. began work on Park Place Apartments in late summer.
