Red Cliff Development focuses on mixed-use infill projects

By Brad Carlson

IDAHO BUSINESS REVIEW

Red Cliff Development Inc. is busy building or planning six high-density infill residential projects -&#160half with commercial components -&#160in the Boise area.

The projects reflect a shift toward commercial and mixed-use development for Cory Swain, president of Red Cliff, who has built mid-priced houses, duplexes and condos on Boise-area infill sites since the early 1990s.

The current projects “are mostly mixed-use properties,” he said and “all have some type of medium- to high-density residential aspect.”

Swain said Red Cliff pre-sold many of the housing units that it completed recently or is developing, as demand stays strong for investor-owned rental properties and owner-occupied, mid-priced housing.

“We see excellent demand from owner occupants and investors alike,” he said. “We don’t see that trend ending anytime soon. If anything, we see that trend increasing.”

“De-stabilization in major cities,” said Swain, is one factor driving demand for new housing. “We will see Boise continue to reap this as long as housing stays affordable and job growth remains stable.”

Red Cliff, officed in Eagle, plans 44 fourplex buildings and 50,000 square feet of commercial space on the 20-acre former Fiesta RV Park site on the south side of Fairview Avenue between Five Mile and Cloverdale roads in west Boise.

Site work began recently on the $25 million project, called Keeneland Park, which includes commercial buildings to be built next year, Swain said. Commercial space also is planned on Red Cliff’s 5.4-acre Newcastle Heights site, on the east side of Overland Road north of Overland Road in southwest Boise.

Swain said that the $6.6 million project would feature 12 fourplex buildings and 10,700 square feet of commercial space. Fourplex construction is slated to start by the end of November. Commercial building construction is slated for next spring and summer.

Red Cliff plans residential and commercial development in the southwest quadrant of Ustick and Eagle roads in Meridian, on 27 acres set back from the corner. Swain said the $40 million project is in the “conceptual” stage, but “there will probably be some owner-occupied (housing) product and a retail, commercial component.”

Swain said it hasn’t been decided how many homes or how much commercial space will be built at Ustick and Eagle, but the project probably will include townhomes at middle to upper price points. He anticipates infrastructure work starting next year, and construction starting at the end of next year or in early 2007.

Vice President Rob Haggett said commercial occupants at Red Cliff’s three mixed-use sites probably will include service-retail businesses, eateries and some office users.

Red Cliff is finishing Davenport Place, a $6 million project of 17 fourplex buildings on the north side of State Street west of Ellens Ferry Drive, Boise.

Swain said the company aims to start constructing 21 fourplex buildings at the southwest corner of Fairview and Mitchell streets in Boise – in a development called Rosecroft - by the end of November. Red Cliff also plans to build eight fourplex buildings on Wildwood Street in Boise starting early next year, in a project called Plainridge Place.

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