All over the country, the cost of housing is soaring, while the availability is dropping. Boise is far from the exception here, more like leading the race for housing shortages. But maybe not anymore with the “why didn’t we think of that” idea of converting unused hotel rooms to apartments.
Converting 88 fairly unused hotel rooms in a rundown Howard Johnsons into brand new efficiency studio apartments is the next wave of housing. And during the May 3rd Planning & Zoning Commission hearing the City of Boise approved just that.
Soon to be The Prospect, we’ll be improving the property, adding in more trees and landscaping, BBQ areas, bocce ball, cornhole. And on the inside, doing a full gut and remodel. Rearranging things a bit to get a small sink in the bathroom so that the vanity can become a kitchenette, complete with a refrigerator, cooktop and oven! How do we fit that all into a vanity area? Think small, not mini-fridge small, but small & efficient.
With new finishes and touch-ups through out, these new efficiency studio apartments will be ideal workforce housing for the new Amazon Fulfillment Center just down the adjacent freeway. Or provide affordable housing for the nearby Spectrum Shopping Center, Lowe’s or Walmart, all within walking distance.
With the adaptive reuse of this structure, the cost savings over building from scratch are enormous. Not to mention the savings on raw materials and diversion of potential landfill. Focusing also on resident health, safety and welfare, providing new high efficiency, high rating air conditioning units, seals on doors and windows along with greater sound attenuation, long-term retention of residents being the focus. Installing products and materials that don’t have harmful off-gassing, no formaldehyde, low VOC’s, new Low-E glazing.
As also reported in the Idaho Statesman and KTVB channel 7.