Economic Impact of the Westside Urban Renewal District

Over its 24-year life, the Westside Urban Renewal District helped transform an area immediately west of Boise’s downtown core into a more active, higher-density neighborhood with new housing, hotels, businesses, public spaces and significant private investment.

Established in 2002, the district encompassed approximately 157 acres. Its original redevelopment strategy focused on addressing underutilized properties and surface parking lots while encouraging a stronger mix of housing, employment, retail, hospitality and public amenities. CCDC investments in streets, sidewalks, utilities, public spaces, parking and other infrastructure were intended to remove barriers to private development and create the conditions for long-term reinvestment.

The district reached the end of its revenue-allocation term in 2026. Because the district has only recently terminated, a comprehensive economic-impact study is now underway. That study is expected to be completed in 2027 and will provide a more complete analysis of CCDC’s investment, private development, changes in property value and tax base, and the broader economic impact generated during the life of the district.

Even before completion of that study, however, the magnitude of the district’s economic transformation can be seen in its property values. The Westside District began with a base assessed value of approximately $143 million. By 2026, CCDC reported approximately $807 million in increment value above that base. With the district’s termination, this substantially larger tax base becomes available to the overlapping local taxing districts under Idaho’s revenue-allocation system.

Major Development and Investment

Several projects illustrate the scale and diversity of investment that occurred in Westside.

The Arthur transformed a surface parking lot at 12th and Idaho streets into a 26-story mixed-use tower containing 298 residences, retail space and structured parking. With approximately $140 million in total development costs, The Arthur represents one of the largest private investments in the district and substantially increased both residential density and taxable development on what had previously been an underutilized site.

Hotel Renegade, completed in 2024 at 11th and Grove streets, introduced a 122-room boutique hotel with restaurants, meeting and event facilities and a rooftop bar. Nearby, the former Safari Inn was redeveloped as The SPARROW, transforming an aging motel property into a modern 68-room boutique hotel. Together, the two projects brought approximately 190 hotel rooms and significant new hospitality investment to the Grove Street corridor.

Hyatt Place Boise/Downtown, at 10th and Bannock streets, added approximately 150 hotel rooms and helped establish Westside as an extension of downtown Boise’s hospitality and visitor economy.

Housing was another important component of the district’s redevelopment. The adaptive reuse of The Owyhee converted the historic hotel into a mixed-use property with apartments, offices, restaurants and event space. The Watercooler introduced additional apartments and live/work units on former CCDC-owned property, while projects including Idaho Street Townhomes, The Martha and other infill developments expanded the range of housing available within the district.

Public infrastructure helped support this private development. CCDC’s investments included the reconstruction of 11th Street, improvements to Grove Street and the Linen Blocks, and major improvements to Bannock Street. These projects added new sidewalks, streetscapes, bicycle facilities, landscaping, lighting, utilities and other infrastructure intended to improve access and make private redevelopment more feasible.

The district’s final years also positioned Westside for continued economic activity after termination. North End Lofts at 16th and State added 104 apartments and ground-floor retail in a roughly $23 million development. The Idaho Wheat Commission project represents another mixed-use investment, while CCDC’s 1010 Jefferson project is creating approximately 446 public parking spaces, commercial condominiums and the future Kissler Family Early Education Center. Construction on 1010 Jefferson began in 2026 and will continue after the district’s termination.

A Larger Tax Base for the Future

One of the most important long-term economic effects of an urban renewal district occurs when the district ends. During the district’s life, revenue generated from growth in taxable value above the original base was reinvested in redevelopment activities within Westside. Following termination, that increased taxable value becomes part of the property-tax base available to the overlapping taxing entities.

The increase from an original base value of approximately $143 million to more than $800 million in incremental value by 2026 provides an early indication of the scale of economic change that occurred within Westside.

The forthcoming 2027 Westside economic-impact study will provide a more comprehensive accounting of that transformation, including CCDC investment, private investment, property-value growth, development activity and the long-term fiscal benefits associated with redevelopment.

While those final measurements are still being developed, the physical results are already visible. Surface parking lots and underutilized properties have been replaced by housing, hotels, businesses and mixed-use development; major streets and public infrastructure have been rebuilt; and substantial new private investment has expanded the economic and property-tax base of downtown Boise.

The Westside District’s economic legacy will therefore extend well beyond the end of the urban renewal district itself.