Two Moscow developers presented ideas for a new development on the corner of Sixth and Jackson Street during the Moscow Urban Renewal Agency meeting Thursday.
The first proposal, presented by Blaine McMahan of Big Sky CM/GC and Robert and Lauri Uhrich of RGU Architecture and Planning, suggested ideas for a mixed-use facility, featuring retail centers, such as a daycare, on the ground floor with three stories of apartment rentals above. McMahan said the apartments would be primarily single-bedroom rentals with a few two-bedroom options, aimed at University of Idaho students.
The second proposal, presented by Rusty Olps and his partner Austin Storm, suggested ideas for a five-story mixed-use facility, featuring a consignment store similar to the Storm Cellar on the ground floor, with three levels of studio apartments in the middle and a level of office space at the top. Olps said there are also rooftop plans to “crown the building with an interactive green space.”
These proposals were due to the urban renewal agency by Dec. 21, 2018 after a request for proposals was sent out Sept. 8, 2018. Ultimately, three proposals were accepted and expected to be presented at the meeting, but one developer recently withdrew their proposal.
After the presentation of proposals, community members were permitted to voice their opinions. A main problem addressed was lack of parking spaces. Although both proposals meet city requirements for the number of parking spaces needed for the apartments, Moscow citizens said they are concerned the parking is realistically insufficient for local needs.
“It has to have adequate parking,” said Steve McGeehan, the board’s chair. “You want development downtown of course, but you also have to be realistic that people are going to park there.”
The Sixth and Jackson site is within the agency’s Legacy Crossing district, a 169-acre urban renewal district aimed at revitalizing the area. McGeehan said the agency acquired the property on the corner of Sixth and Jackson Street in 2010 with the long-term vision of extending UI’s Hello Walk through the property.
“If you look at it from an aerial view and draw a diagonal, in a perfect world, you could have a continuous walk all the way from the Admin. building to that corner,” McGeehan said. “It really is an opportunity to promote a linkage between the University of Idaho and downtown,” he said.
McGeehan said there is a set of guidelines which the proposals needed to meet. The developments need to be aesthetically pleasing, mixed-use ideas that provide adequate parking and fit in with city zoning requirements.
In 2015, the urban renewal agency accepted a proposal from Sangria Downtown, LLC, for a mixed-use development with a restaurant (Sangria Grille) on the ground floor and apartments above, said Bill Belknap, the urban renewal agency’s executive director.
However, the business eventually withdrew due to construction costs.
The urban renewal agency will review the two new proposals and vote during the next meeting, 7 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 21.
McGeehan said if everything works out and a proposal is selected, construction must begin within six months of closing after the developer receives financing. The construction must be completed within 18 months of closing, McGeehan said.
“That’s a very rough timeline,” McGeehan said. “That’s the best intention, but stuff gets in the way. It’s our responsibility to review and rank proposals, but it’s the city’s ultimate property.”
Jordan Willson can be reached at [email protected]