Developer eyes former gym site for Boise State housing

A Chicago company plans to build student housing at the site of a former gym near Boise State University.

According to documents filed with Boise’s Planning and Zoning Commission, Royal/Buck LLC proposes to build a three- to five-story student housing building with underground parking at 555 Parkcenter Boulevard at the site of the former Parkcenter Fitness near Division Street. The 2.9-acre parcel would include 107 units of multi-family housing and would encompass a full block.  Royal/Buck LLC of Chicago is listed as the developer and Erstad Architects is the architect. The property is listed for sale or lease.

The project was expected to go before P&Z on Dec. 2, but was deferred indefinitely. A call to Erstad about the project was referred to the developer. Calls to Royal/Buck LLC weren’t returned.

It’s not clear there’s a need for more Boise State housing. University housing is at 96 percent occupancy, said Boise State University Director of Housing and Residence Life Dean Kennedy. The university has 2,400 beds allotted for first-year housing, and suites and apartments for upperclassmen or older students. That’s close to the ideal of having every bed filled, Kennedy said.

Also, after rising for years, enrollment dipped this year. In October, Boise State officials reported enrollment had fallen from 22,678 in 2012 to 22,003 in 2013.

“Regional and national data shows that university enrollment is down and that the students aren’t there to support additional housing,” Kennedy said.

Kennedy added that five new private housing projects near campus are planned or discussed. That includes three off Capitol Boulevard and two in the Parkcenter area, including the Royal/Buck LLC project. About 2,500 beds would be added if each project is approved.

Boise State is not planning any new student residences in the next few years.

“We are exploring opportunities with developers so that when the time comes and our enrollment justifies additional housing, we are prepared,” Kennedy said.