Ahlquist partners with ICCU on downtown Boise skyscraper

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Ball Ventures Ahlquist and Idaho Central Credit Union liked working together on ICCU’s Eagle View Landing building so much that they decided to do it again, this time in Boise.

The two companies are partnering to construct a 16-story mixed-use building on 5^th and Bannock in downtown Boise, where ICCU currently has a building.

“(ICCU CEO) Kent Oram is an amazing guy,” Ahlquist said. “We’re good friends. He came to us and mentioned it was something they wanted to do, and what we can do together.”

Discussion has been underway for nine or 10 months, he said.

“We’ve taken it a little slow, considering all the changes it should be and can be. It’s coming together very nicely.”

Change is hard

Currently, the project is in the process of gaining entitlements, or legal rights conveyed by approvals from governmental entities to develop a property for a certain use, intensity, building type or building placement.

“It’ll take us several months to get through entitlements,” Ahlquist said.

Part of that process is talking with the owners of the neighboring parcels.

“We’ve talked to most of the neighbors,” Ahlquist said. “Anytime there’s change, it’s always hard.”

Not the biggest

The 16-story building will have several uses. The ground floor will consist of an ICCU branch, an urgent care facility and the entry to medical offices. Above that will be several levels of a parking garage. Then there will be several floors of Saltzer Health medical offices, several floors of general office space, finally topped with condominiums. There will also be another three-story tower of 39 units of multifamily housing.

However, the current designation of 8^th and Main, also built by Ahlquist, as Boise’s tallest building is safe, he said.

“I was tempted,” Ahlquist said. But ultimately, the height of the building was determined by its best use, he said.

“It came to the size it should be pretty easily,” he said. “We think it’s the right size for the area.”

No hole

Assuming that the entitlements process is completed without a hitch, the project is scheduled to start in the spring and will last about 18 months. The first step will be to tear down the existing ICCU building, but construction of the new building is intended to start shortly thereafter.

“We’ve had our fill with holes,” Ahlquist laughed, alluding to the “hole” at 8^th and Main that was there for years as proposed projects came and went. “We’re done with that. There will be a small hole for a short time for the foundation, but that’ll be it.”

The building is being designed by the firm of Cushing Terrell.

COVID-19 not a factor

COVID-19 coronavirus has not been a factor in BVA’s construction projects thus far, Ahlquist said.

“We’ve gotten really lucky,” said Ahlquist, who is also a medical doctor. “We were at the stage of construction where all supplies were on site.”

Consequently, the company hasn’t had much in the way of slowdowns caused by delays in shipping, he said.

In addition, the construction crews have been following social distancing protocols, as well as protocols for safety and hygiene.

“We have not had an outbreak on any of our sites,” Ahlquist said. “We’re very grateful for that.”

Eagle View Landing

BVA, partnering with Brighton Corp., is also constructing a 125,000-square-foot five-story office building for ICCU at the corner of Eagle and Overland roads. Like most of ICCU’s other construction projects, the building was designed by Lombard Conrad Architects.

Ahlquist had been planning to develop this lot, formerly a corn maze, for a long time, noting at one point that he had drawings for it that were 15 years old. ICCU acquired the 52-acre parcel in 2018 and announced later in the year that it would partner with BVA to develop it.

The ICCU portion of the building is scheduled to be completed in the fall of 2020.