City Will Bring More Than 300 New Apartments to the Lusk District

Today, the City of Boise announced plans to redevelop approximately five acres in the growing and eclectic Lusk District, home to a mix of residents, including students, long-time community members and visitors. The innovative partnership with Boise State University and JF Development Group LLC (J. Fisher Companies) establishes a framework for this transformational mixed-use redevelopment project that is innovative in design, environmentally sustainable, and most importantly, brings more affordable homes to our community.

The city currently owns and manages over 300 apartments throughout Boise. A third (110) of those are between Capitol Blvd. and Lusk Street, at 1025 S. Capitol Boulevard and 1028 S. Lusk Street. These apartments – referred to collectively as Capitol Campus – provide some of our community’s most deeply affordable housing. Because these units are deteriorating, the city is planning to redevelop these properties in a way that aligns with the neighborhood’s vision to create a space that all can enjoy, while ensuring the current tenants remain stably housed.

The proposed redevelopment, reimagined with the community’s input, will include more than 300 apartment homes at varying price-points, including deeply affordable housing. It will be designed to integrate with the unique characteristics of the Lusk District and include retail space and improved access to public transportation.

The university’s portion of the site, located at 855 W. Royal Blvd., is currently used as a commuter parking lot. It, too, will be planned, designed, and developed by J. Fisher Companies in a way that benefits neighborhood placemaking and the student experience.

Additionally, the City of Boise, will consider the purchase of the University Park Apartments, currently owned and operated by Boise State University, at the upcoming August 29, 2023, Boise City Council meeting. These apartments, located at 860 W. Sherwood St. also in the Lusk District, will be turned into permanent supportive housing, which provides housing alongside support services, for families with children exiting homelessness. If the purchase is approved, the City of Boise will take possession of the apartments in summer 2024 so that current student residents keep their housing through the school year. Families will call University Park Apartments home in late fall/early winter 2024.

“The cost of a good place to live in Boise puts homes out of reach for many in our community. Partnering with J. Fisher and Boise State University on a comprehensive development plan for Capitol Campus, the University Park Apartments, and other adjacent properties owned by the University will allow us to bring more housing to our community, including for those who need access to deeply affordable housing and those who need Permanent Supportive Housing,” said Mayor McLean. “I am thrilled to bring our shared vision to life to create housing that is innovative in design, environmentally sustainable, and captures the history and sense of place offered by the Lusk District. Most importantly, it will bring more than 300 homes at much-needed price points to the heart of our city.”

“The development of this site will directly benefit our students, who are our highest priority,” said Drew Alexander, Associate Vice President for Campus Operations for Boise State University. “This project has the potential to add much-needed amenities for students and the wider community and will strengthen the Lusk District as a vibrant neighborhood near campus and downtown.”

J. Fisher is also the development team that is working on The Franklin located in the Central Bench neighborhood. When completed, The Franklin will bring approximately 200 apartment homes affordable to residents earning $31,680 a year or a family of three earning $40,680 or below.

“We are thrilled to partner with the City of Boise and Boise State University on the transformation of the Capitol Campus and the Lusk District. This site represents a generational opportunity to positively impact the growth and opportunity for Boise residents across the spectrum,” said Jake Wood, partner in J. Fisher Companies. “Our aim is to help Boise ‘create a city for everyone,’ and this will be a great project to add to that shared goal. We look forward to the creative collaboration with Boise City, Boise State University, and the community at large to make this project the best that it can be.”

Next Steps

Mayor McLean and Boise City Council will receive several contracts related to the redevelopment of Capitol Campus and the purchase of the University Park Apartments for their review and approval at the August 29, 2023, Boise City Council meeting.

If approved, the City of Boise, in partnership with the J. Fisher team, will kick-off a series of community engagement events to work with the residents, businesses, and students  in the Lusk District to collaborate on a shared vision for the neighborhood.

For more information on this project, please visit: www.cityofboise.org/capitol-campus