Drivers on Front St. noticed a change in the first full week of the new year. The former BizPrint building at 6th St. went missing. Coming soon: The Vanguard.
Demolition crews started work late last year to remove the 1906 warehouse building. In its place, Visum Development of Ithaca, NY plans an 8-story, 75-unit apartment complex.
BizPrint, now known as AlphaGraphics Boise, moved to a new location on 8th St.
The building does not sit in a historic district, despite proximity to the Basque Block. The Old Boise historic district ends at the alley behind the future Vanguard project. That district, first approved in 1980, provides protection for some buildings deemed “contributing” to the area’s historic character.
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Along with the apartment units, the plan calls for commercial space on the ground floor as well as features like a dog wash and bike storage. The project does not include any parking, as Boise city standards for the property do not require it. A large 55-space parking garage under construction next door will provide parking for residents.
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.