A change to the Downtown Boise landscape will come in the months ahead, as crews install new newspaper boxes throughout the downtown core.
The Capital City Development Corp. spearheaded the effort several years ago, but construction will take place this spring and summer.
You might have noticed disruptions in the sidewalk at intervals around downtown.
Lana Graybeal with the City of Boise said CCDC provided $90,000 in funding from the Central District urban renewal district, which technically terminated in 2018. The Boise City Council will need to approve additional funds, she said.
CCDC will also spend dollars to install boxes in its Westside and River-Myrtle/Old Boise districts. The agency budgeted an additional $100,000 for work in those areas.
“Our Code Compliance and Community Resource team members who work out in the community are often seeing newsstands knocked over and unmaintained,” Graybeal said. “And, we’ve heard from community members about the hazards the current newsstands create for pedestrians, specifically restricting mobility for our ADA community members.”
The city said it will consider a license and permit process for publications to reserve a spot in the new newsstands. License-holders will fill, restock and collect coins from the boxes – and the city will maintain the exterior.
