Redevelopment of Boise’s Lusk District was initiated in the fall of last year. Though still early in development, the city’s vision for the district is beginning to come into focus.
The project, initiated in August 2023, is a joint, public-private partnership between the city of Boise, Boise State University and Utah-based developer J Fisher Companies. J Fisher Companies recently launched The Franklin, an affordable housing project born from a land trust partnership with the city that seeks to address the ongoing need for affordable housing. The Lusk District project — located east of Ann Morrison Park — will similarly aim to address this need, while advancing the city’s broader goal to turn the area, as characterized by the district’s master plan, into a “distinct downtown neighborhood.”
The wider transformation of the area was laid out in 2013 with the city’s master plan for the Lusk District. The broader vision entailed expanding upon the housing options in the area and bringing together small businesses and varied retail opportunities for a “true urban neighborhood” environment. Today the area is inhabited by local businesses like Dawson Taylor Coffee Shop, Lost Grove Brewing, Boise Bicycle Project, as well as a number of modern apartment complexes.