A new Boise Hawks (Short Season A; Northwest League) ballpark is a step closer to reality after Greenstone Properties reached terms with St. Luke’s Health System on an 11-acre property at the corner of Americana and Shoreline Drive envisioned as the facility site.
Besides serving as home of the Hawks, the new facility is planned as home to a new professional soccer franchise as well. USL has been prominently mentioned in the past, with the MLS’s Portland Timbers mentioned as a potential parent.
“This was a critical piece in putting the stadium and development puzzle together,” said Jeff Eiseman, President & Partner of the Boise Hawks/Agon Sports & Entertainment. “We are grateful for the continued friendship and support of St. Luke’s and are excited about working with the city in earnest on the redevelopment of this new urban renewal district.”
This downtown site had been discussed earlier this year as a potential ballpark site. It’s no secret Hawks ownership has been seeking a replacement for Memorial Stadium, with downtown prominently discussed. And with St. Luke’s Health System putting the property on the market, Greenstone Properties — owned by Hawks co-owner Chris Schoen — envisioned the site as a mixed-use development anchored by the ballpark. The proposed development, as currently planned, would generate more than $200 million in private development and would include multi-family housing, office and retail space, integrated parking and the potential for hotel development. The private development will provide the ad valorem, sales tax and the potential for hotel tax revenue streams to pay off the bonds that would be put in place to pay for the public facilities.
“We are very excited about this milestone,” said Boise Mayor David Bieter. “We appreciate the Boise Hawks, Greenstone Properties, and St. Luke’s Health System coming together to help our city get one step closer to bringing this community amenity to our urban core. Part of our shared vision for downtown, this public space has the potential to be an epicenter for athletics, festivals and community events all our residents can enjoy and celebrate. With retail, restaurants and office space, this multi-use urban stadium and surrounding development will be the cornerstone of our growing River Street neighborhood in Downtown.”
The envisioned ballpark plan, according to Tad Shultz, President of International Stadia Design, calls for the the 14th Street elevation of the ballpark is the Hawk’s Nest, anchored by the central, multi-level tower and a dynamic “nest” structure. An open viewing terrace will run from the nest down the first base line and is conceived as flex space.
Renderings courtesy Boise Hawks.
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