The City of Boise is moving to add to its affordable housing inventory, offering $1.5 million to acquire a 1.644-acre vacant lot near the Boise Towne Square mall off Cole Road. The property is currently in a due diligence period, with the city aiming to finalize the purchase later this summer.
The lot would be added to the city’s land trust portfolio and developed as affordable housing, continuing an effort to increase income-restricted units across Boise’s neighborhoods. City housing team lead Melinda McGoldrick called it “an exciting location,” adding that Boise is “really committed to ensuring that there is housing that’s affordable for folks within our city.”
Building on Recent Affordable Housing Completions
The Cole Road acquisition follows the completion of two recent city-backed projects. On the Boise Bench, the Franklin project delivered 184 income-restricted units, while Wilson Station on State Street added 102 affordable homes to the city’s housing stock. Together, those projects represent a combined 286 units intended to serve lower-income Boise residents.
Using a land trust model, the city retains ownership of the underlying land while working with developers to build and manage housing on it — an approach intended to keep homes affordable over the long term by removing land cost from the equation for future residents or developers.
Developer Selection and Timeline
Once the property purchase is complete, the city plans to solicit and select a developer, with that process targeted for completion by early 2027. The timeline suggests construction would likely begin sometime after that, though no groundbreaking date has been announced.
The Cole Road corridor location, close to retail, transit corridors, and employment centers in west Boise, makes the parcel particularly appealing from a planning standpoint. McGoldrick’s remarks suggest the city views proximity to services and transportation as a key factor in siting affordable developments.
What This Means for Ada County Residents and Taxpayers
For Ada County residents, the $1.5 million land purchase represents a direct use of city funds toward housing policy — a figure taxpayers and watchdog groups will want to track as the project moves toward developer selection and eventual construction. The full cost of the development, including construction, financing, and any additional public subsidies, has not yet been disclosed.
Boise’s housing affordability challenges have intensified over the past several years, with rising property values and rents squeezing working families and fixed-income residents. The land trust model is one of several tools local governments have employed to address the gap between market-rate housing costs and what lower-wage earners can afford in the Treasure Valley.
Ada County residents interested in community development and workforce opportunity programs may also want to follow efforts like the Boise Bicycle Project’s expanding apprenticeship program for incarcerated women, which reflects a broader push in the region to connect underserved populations with economic pathways.
What Comes Next
The city expects to officially close on the Cole Road property sometime this summer, pending the outcome of the due diligence review. Following the purchase, Boise will begin the process of identifying and selecting a development partner, with that decision expected no later than early 2027. Residents who want to weigh in on affordable housing priorities in their neighborhoods can contact the City of Boise’s housing division or attend public meetings as project planning advances.