Commission approves 80-unit affordable housing campus at 170 S. 20th Street after design revisions

The Boise City Design Review Commission on Feb. 12 approved DRH24-00448, an 80-unit affordable multifamily development at 170 South 20th Street, voting to accept the applicant's revised plan and removing a staff-recommended future work session condition.

The project is a two-phase development of four, primarily four-story buildings around a shared internal network of pathways, courtyards and a structured parking component. Applicant representatives said phase 1 will construct the eastern half of the site (40 units) with a planned construction start in July; phase 2 will complete the western half. The development is financed with 9% low-income housing tax credits and will reserve units at 30%, 40% and 60% area median income levels, plus four units for permanent supportive housing, the applicant said.

Caitlin (planning staff) presented the staff report, which recommended approval with a future work session to address a small set of design items (notably the extent of fiber-cement on street-facing facades, storefront block frontage and street-facing doors). The applicant team from West of West and the development team explained that the project intentionally uses a higher-quality, custom-pattern fiber-cement batten system designed to provide shadow, modulation and durability while keeping the project within the strict budget constraints of low-income tax-credit financing. The design team illustrated how a solid brick base with a custom batten pattern above will create perceived variation, gateway moments and pedestrian-scaled entries across the perimeter.

Several commissioners praised the project's thoughtful approach to affordable housing, the articulated massing, the pedestrian pathways and the planned site amenities (bike hubs, dog run, central courtyard). Commissioners also noted the project's budget constraints and discussed trade-offs between material choices and affordability. Commissioner comments repeatedly emphasized that the design team had provided a clear conceptual rationale for the facade system and that a high-quality, custom batten treatment could produce a durable, nuanced appearance rather than a cheap, repetitive look.

After discussion, the commission moved to approve DRH24-00448 without staff condition F (the future work session). The motion included the applicant's modifications presented that evening (street-facing entries, repositioned gym/clubroom adjacency) and preserved the other findings and conditions in the staff report. Roll-call votes recorded Stempel (Aye), Marsh (Aye), Aguilar (Aye), Zuckerman (Aye), Verstedt/Erstad (Aye), Johnson (Aye). The motion carried.

The approval allows the applicant to proceed toward permits; staff noted that final construction documents must demonstrate compliance with the approved materials and meet building-code and permitting requirements prior to issuance.