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City Cast Boise

Local governance is full of words that can make the eyes glaze over. Supplemental levies or the name of an obscure commission might escape us while we 

 remember the name of the current sixth most popular presidential candidate. Local civics isn’t always sexy, but it does shape our days — especially when government and business collide, as they do in urban renewal.

The process of urban renewal functions differently in every city, but during the latter half of the 20th century a time-based tax system became popular across the U.S.

Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC)

 is Boise’s urban renewal agency. To create an urban renewal district, CCDC selects an area of the city and assesses its total property value as a base. From then until the end of the renewal district’s timeline, all increases in property taxes go back into the district for improvement projects.

In most states, this process is called tax increment financing. In Idaho, it was written into law as “revenue allocation” to avoid using the word “tax.”

CCDC’s Board of Commissioners works with tax dollars, but they’re not elected officials. The mayor selects the board members and Boise City Council approves them for five-year terms. Mayor Lauren McLean also serves as the secretary and treasurer of the commission, and the other members are higher education officials, investment bankers, and architects.

, half of which were formed in the last five years.

Increasingly, CCDC is working its way outward from the downtown core to strategically improve corridors like State Street and coordinate with other existing projects like those surrounding the Boise Airport.

River-Myrtle Old Boise District (1995 - 2025)

Urban renewal can be a double-edged sword, especially if developments sweep out old buildings in favor of new ones, gentrifying and pricing out locals. In the mid-20th century, such 

urban renewal swept out Boise’s Chinatown

Historically, many of Boise’s urban renewal efforts have focused on downtown Boise. Zion Bank’s 8th and Main building stands as the tallest building in the state, but it only reached such great heights after 

decades of failed attempts at a downtown mall

, an open pit in the center of the city, and resulting sprawl to the suburbs.

ten-minute documentary shows how the Boise Redevelopment Agency

, which later changed its name to CCDC, tried to adapt to the shifting downtown landscape for decades.

How Do Urban Renewal Districts Work in Boise?

What's being decided in Boise City Hall and why it matters. We monitor local elections, political news, and Boise City Council.

Local Government, and How to Play a Part

Local Civics

Remember the days when you could easily drive anywhere in Boise in under 20 minutes? Those days might be gone and 

. So, what are the roads that should be avoided in the short term? And what’s the answer to Idaho’s growing traffic problem in the long term?

! According to data from the Compass Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho (COMPASS), average commute times only increased slightly between 2010 and 2018. The problem is that an average doesn’t tell the whole story. If you’ve ever commuted by car, you know that any slight delay — be it construction, accident, or weather related — can have a large impact on your drive. Add Boise’s growth into the mix and it’s easy to see why traffic continues to get worse.

Currently, Ada and Canyon Counties see an average of 1.8 million passenger vehicle trips per weekday. COMPASS projects that in 2050, that number will go up to 3 million. And the cost is two-fold: A 2018 study by INRIX found that each person in the country loses 

Bad traffic on the interstate is almost expected, but when it comes to bad driving experiences elsewhere, Franklin Rd., Victory Rd., and Chinden Blvd. come to mind. And there’s one that might take the cake — I can hear many of you screaming it at your screen: Eagle Road. Not only is it the busiest non-interstate highway in the state, it also has some of the most bustling intersections. So, which of these routes should be avoided?

The more I review traffic counts and conduct my own “on the field” research, the less it is about what roads to avoid, and the more it becomes about 

to avoid them. Unfortunately, the answer is most of the time. But if Boiseans must get places and don’t have an alternative to driving, what’s the solution?

Managing traffic as Boise continues to grow is an important task with difficult decisions at every turn. The idea of widening roads to ease congestion sounds reasonable at first, but research shows that it often has 

The next best solution could be public transit, which also requires funding and political will to build. It’s especially true in Idaho, where the state legislature does not directly help fund public transportation and leaves it to cities to pull from their general fund. Valley Regional Transit, which does not receive state funding, is partnering with COMPASS to study the options between more lanes, faster buses, or a light rail. We’ll share updates as the study progresses and when it reaches the public comment phase.

Until then, I’ll be daydreaming of a light rail.

As Boise continues to grow, traffic is getting worse. So, what are the best ways to avoid congestion, and can public transit fix it?

How Bad is Boise Traffic (and How to Avoid It)

Boise's Worsening Traffic (and How to Fix It)

What Boiseans have been wondering. We break down why things in Boise are the way they are and how they work.


Boise, Explained

One possible solution to the lack of affordable housing in Boise is tiny homes on wheels — accessory dwelling units that are 400 sq. ft or smaller and are built on a mobile platform. The problem: mobile tiny homes are not legal in Boise. So, why are they still being built and will the city soon make them legal?

Why Are Mobile Tiny Homes Illegal in Boise?

Tiny homes are allowed in Boise as long as they are built on a permanent foundation and meet 

. When tiny houses are built on a mobile platform like a trailer or chassis, they are considered a private recreational vehicle that cannot be set in a residential zone.

Building mobile tiny homes can be significantly cheaper than building them on a permanent foundation. The mobility also doesn’t require an owner to sell if they decide to relocate.

In an effort to find affordable housing solutions, the city of Boise has partnered with the nonprofit LEAP Housing for 

a pilot program that is building and gathering data

 on these specific structures. The purpose of the pilot is to evaluate whether the zoning laws should be changed to make mobile tiny homes legal.

The pilot program, scheduled to last 12-18 months, recently expanded and is 

looking for an additional five to 10 participants

Bart Cochran, founder of LEAP Housing, says the organization has a goal of building 1,000 affordable housing opportunities by 2026.

Learn More About the Mobile Tiny Homes Pilot

In an effort to combat the affordable housing crisis, Boise has partnered with LEAP Housing to evaluate whether to legalize tiny houses on wheels.

The Boise Pilot Program Building Mobile Tiny Homes

The Valley Regional Transit spent months gathering public input for 

, and now it’s ready to make changes. In a nutshell, the updates will include more buses and a change to several routes. But what does that mean for bus riders?

Given the operating costs and limited funding, VRT originally planned service cuts, but as the planning process unfolded they realized there was opportunity for increased service — a 14% increase in overall service, to be exact.

“The overall coverage area is declining a little bit, but there are going to be faster services on more routes than there are today. They hope that will actually mean that more people are gonna be riding the bus.”

While some residents might end up further from a bus stop, VRT data says the number of people within a quarter mile from 15-minute bus service will increase by 34%, and 

the number of people within a quarter mile of 30-minute service will double

VRT’s partnership with the ride-hailing app Lyft will allow some residents within two miles of a bus stop to 

call a ride to or from that bus stop for $2

. Residents in Canyon County and Eagle County can also use the VRT On Demand app to book a ride near your origin and destination.

Along with service updates, VRT is also planning to upgrade physical bus stops to include things like screens with live route schedules to improve the riding experience.

Listen to our interview with Idaho Statesman reporter Ian Max Stevenson for more on 

What VRT Changes Mean for Boise Bus Riders

Boise is saying “ew” to yew. The new zoning code approved by the City Council last month included the 

, an ornamental shrub that’s been commonly used for landscaping Boise.

In short, it’s very toxic. The needles, seeds, and most of the berries it produces contain taxine alkaloids that can slow the heart until death. It only 

, but the main problem is that an alarming number of Idaho wildlife has died after consuming yew, including in the Treasure Valley. The ban is an effort to keep humans and wildlife safe.

Don’t worry, the city is not going to punish you. They simply want to help Boiseans replace existing yew with a safer option. There is currently no plan for how the city will do that, so here are a few options if you want to start replacing a yew plant in your yard.

Not sure what yew looks like? Here’s a helpful video from the Idaho Statesman about 

Note that touching the plant is safe, just be sure not to ingest any parts.

To remove, start by pruning big branches so it’s easier to access the main trunk. You can then dig it out with a shovel or by wrapping it with a rope and pulling at the base of the plant. Yew can re-sprout from the roots, so make sure you remove them.

The dead branches of a yew are still toxic, so throw them into the garbage.

If you’re a dog owner, there are many other things around Boise that can be toxic to dogs, so we put together a helpful guide.

Things That Are Toxic to Dogs

The decorative landscaping plant yew is now banned in Boise. Here's what to do if you have an existing one.

Why Boise Banned Yew Plants

Get to know the natural side of Boise: the plants, animals, weather and more that make our city unique.

Boise Urban Almanac

Urban Almanac

Welcome back to the local politics corner! Last week we took a look at the shape of the mayoral race; now, here’s where city council races stand.

As a reminder, these elections are for the first time district-based, rather than city-wide. Districts 1, 3, and 5 currently have designated council members and the other seats are at-large — but no longer!

Because three of the six city council seats seemingly settled this time last year have since been vacated and temporarily filled, or the incumbent won’t be running. This election will be … interesting to watch. It’ll also be changing quickly, but now that we’re five months out, here’s a snapshot.

, the council’s lone Republican, is running for re-election and so far has no challengers.

 against another former Democratic legislator, 

District 3 - Southwest Boise & some Central Bench

 is the current appointee in this district, and hasn’t announced whether she’ll be running.

Chris Blanchard, an urban studies specialist, is 

Greg MacMillan, who previously ran for the third seat, 

 that he was going to wait to see who else was running before making a decision. He hasn’t announced yet, but he’s been regularly updating 

 this year, with a spike in the last couple weeks, so we’ll see if that means anything.

Joe Evans, whose name you might remember from a 

City Cast Boise conversation with Kind Idaho

libertarian perspective to this council seat

 is currently running a strong and unchallenged campaign here.

District 5 - Downtown, East End, some North End

The council’s most veteran member (though she’s only served since 2017) 

Holli Woodings announced that she won’t run for reelection

. Will she join the mayoral race? Go back to the Legislature? Do something else entirely?

Unanswered questions aside, her decision leaves a vacant district five seat that just months ago promised a tough race between Woodings and former incumbent Elaine Clegg. And so far, no one’s running to claim it.

District 6 - Some North End, Northwest Boise

 has announced an intent to run for this seat.

, we currently have three districts with no competition in 1, 4, and 6. Some other loose ends: As of yet, at-large incumbent Patrick Baegant hasn’t announced a campaign, and hasn’t received any donations. Former city councilmember Lisa Sánchez has received donations, though it’s not clear yet in which district she’ll run.

current city council campaign finance reports

 for yourself, and we’ll keep you updated as things change!

Who's Running in Your City Council District?

construction zones in downtown Boise right now

businesses in the area are getting frustrated

. Here’s a look at a large project that will bring 

several closures, with a first-of-its-kind payoff: Rebuild 11th Street

 is being led by the Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC) to convert the street to a more accessible, vibrant, and central part of downtown. It launched last spring, partially in advance of the 

explosion of apartments planned in the 11th, Jefferson, and State Streets area

11th Street between Idaho and Jefferson Streets was closed through most of the winter, but is now open. The street is driveable, and there are new raised bike lanes on both sides of the road.

From Front to Idaho Streets, 11th Street has been under construction and full closure for a couple months. Crews worked on the underground canal and the geothermal system, and are now beginning to move further south.

The original timeline for this project was that it would be finished last October, but it doesn’t look like construction will be finished for at least a month.

There are plenty of construction zones in downtown Boise right now — so many that businesses in the area are getting frustrated. Here’s a look at a large project that will bring several closures, with a first-of-its-kind payoff: Rebuild 11th Street.

Boise's Rebuild 11th Street Project, Explained

What's Going On With Boise's Rebuild 11th Street Project?

Boise woke up to a shiny new approval from city council

for a plan to increase the city’s walkability.

The 

, and is one of Boise’s most important amenities. But the city is working to expand its pathways further up the river banks and throughout the city.

Enter the 

. It’s a years-long project that we’re probably not even in the middle of yet.The main goal of the plan is that, after the development of over 110 miles of new pathways, the percentage of Boiseans living within a ten minute walk of a path will increase from 10% to 76%.

That means that there could be a newer (or at least nicer and safer) pathway coming by your place!

But it’s a massive investment of a projected $26.7 million. Yet the jobs, local business revenue, cutback on vehicle exhaust and pollution, not to mention the health benefits of walking or biking for transportation, all solidly outweigh the cost, according to the city.



One of the highest priority projects (among which there are dozens) is the Ridenbaugh Canal pathway. It’s a good example of one of the projects, so let’s break it down to get a sense for what it’ll look like.

Across the city, the plan aims to use existing canal banks to build pathways — this is one of those.

The Ridenbaugh path will start at Cole Road by the Boise Towne Square Mall.

Running east, it will cross Milwaukee Street, coming within a couple blocks of Florence Park.

It will then cross Maple Grove Road, and end at Five Mile Road after paralleling Franklin Road for a while.

This brings the pathway within a few blocks of Horizon Elementary School.

If I lost you there, don’t worry — it’s on page G-3 of the master plan.

The Boise Pathways Master Plan Looks to Increase Walkability in the City

 the city’s first commission-drawn council map last week.

In 2020, the Idaho 

 with over 100,000 residents to elect city council members by district. Previously, city council seats were elected city-wide, and were 

disproportionately held by wealthy North and East End

 residents.

The map drawing was a long and arduous process, with twenty different iterations being considered over the three-month process, all aimed at keeping populations between districts as equal as possible.



 — of which there are dozens — into different districts.

split eleven of the city’s 34 neighborhood associations

, saying that their suburban district should not extend south beyond I-84.

five of the six current council members will face a fellow member

districts two, three, and four will need brand new candidates

city planning

How Do Urban Renewal Districts Work in Boise?

Boise's Worsening Traffic (and How to Fix It)

The Boise Pilot Program Building Mobile Tiny Homes

Latest articles

How Do Urban Renewal Districts Work in Boise?

Boise's Worsening Traffic (and How to Fix It)

The Boise Pilot Program Building Mobile Tiny Homes

What VRT Changes Mean for Boise Bus Riders

Why Boise Banned Yew Plants

Who's Running in Your City Council District?

What's Going On With Boise's Rebuild 11th Street Project?

Latest articles

What VRT Changes Mean for Boise Bus Riders

Why Boise Banned Yew Plants

Who's Running in Your City Council District?

What's Going On With Boise's Rebuild 11th Street Project?

The Boise Pathways Master Plan Looks to Increase Walkability in the City

Local Civics: The New City Council Map