Boise’s Historic Armory Sold: New Owners Consider Plan For Building, Site

By Don Day, BoiseDev

After decades of disrepair and scores of announcements on potential projects that never materialized, the fate of the historic Reserve St. Armory is in new hands. Plans could add a mixed-use development on the site, while keeping the 1930s-era Idaho National Guard Armory in place. Ada County recorded a sale from previous owner J&M Land, LLC to Alpha-Armory Boise, LLC on July 21st. The project is controlled by Alpha Development Group, a joint-venture of Ball Ventures, Wadsworth Development Group, and dbURBAN Communities.

'Landmark' Property

The armory sits on a 5-acre set of parcels at Reserve St. and Avenue H near Military Reserve in Boise’s East End. Ball Ventures CEO Cortney Liddiard said they are excited about the project. “The armory building and surrounding property has been a landmark in this region for generations and we are excited to be part of its transitioning into a neighborhood and community amenity,” Liddiard said. No applications have been filed with the City of Boise detailing any future plans for the site. Liddiard says he and his partners on the project are working to detail a plan. “While the final plan for the site is still being refined, we anticipate integrating the historic structure as a key component of a vertically integrated mixed-use project with residential housing, creative office space, and retail.” Liddiard said the armory’s central location and proximity to the foothills and community offerings made it attractive. “We are excited to make certain the Armory project integrates into the surrounding area and provides a benefit to the greater community,” he said. Alpha said it would engage with the community for input “as plans progress.”

Three partners on project

Alpha-Armory Boise is a Utah company that lists Kip Wadsworth as principal, according to Utah business records. Wadsworth is CEO of Wadsworth Development Company of Draper Utah, a real estate development firm with projects across the Intermountain region, including a retail project in progress at Eagle & Ustick in Meridian. Wadsworth teamed with Idaho Falls-based Ball Ventures and Salt Lake City firm dbURBAN Communities for the project. Ball Ventures has investments in real estate, hospitality, energy, and more. The company owns significant real estate assets across Idaho, including in the Boise area. It is a related company to Meridian’s Ball Ventures Ahlquist, but BVA isn’t currently involved in the Armory project according to the company. dbURBAN specializes in multi-family housing projects, primarily in the Salt Lake valley.