BOISE — In the 2024 State of Downtown, leaders tackling homelessness took center stage.
Boise’s annual State of Downtown brings together leaders in business and local government for an overview of how the area has changed over the past year. The focus for this year’s event was Boise’s reputation as a city that maintains a downtown environment that continues to be safe and friendly for all.
“People are asking how we do what we do, how our downtown is so clean, how it’s so safe, how everybody’s so friendly … how we all say hello to each other when we walk by, even if we don’t know each other,” Boise Mayor Lauren McLean said at the event, which was held at the Egyptian Theatre. “I love letting folks know that it’s because of the people.”
Organizers for the event spoke briefly on developments in the downtown Boise area, such as a downtown population that has doubled since 2019 to more than 13,000 residents, or the “Glide on Grove” attraction that brought together 30,000 ice skaters last winter.