Agency discusses Sixth and Jackson expectations

MOSCOW — The Moscow Urban Renewal Agency is adjusting its expectations for the Moscow Sixth and Jackson streets property based on previous failed attempts to develop that site.

During its meeting Thursday, MURA held a wide-ranging discussion about how to approach developing that vacant corner lot.

Problems with the unstable soil prevented developers Carly Lilly and George Skandalos from going through with their proposal to build a mixed-use building on that property. They learned the soil would not be strong enough to support the tall multistory building they wanted. MURA ended its agreement with them in March.

On Thursday, MURA members discussed the type of building that could be feasible.

“To me, it seems like a waste of space to have a one-story building or a two-story building on such a prominent location,” Tom Lamar said.

Drew Davis pointed out that a tall building requires more parking, which would likely be cost-prohibitive. Building a parking garage, for example, would likely cost $30,000 per stall, Davis said.

He said the building would be “kind of locked in” at three stories or less.

Sandra Kelly said a smaller building could still work as long as it is “something nice that represents our community.”

The agency also discussed how to incorporate the Hello Walk into the project. One of the goals for developing the Sixth and Jackson streets property is to build a continuation of the University of Idaho’s Hello Walk pathway that connects the campus to downtown Moscow.

Figuring out where to place this pathway also proved difficult for Lilly and Skandalos because it limited the amount of space available for the building and parking lot.

That is why MURA members say the path likely won’t bisect the property in a straight line. Lamar said the path will probably have to “meander” around the property instead. Since the Hello Walk has been a goal of Moscow’s for decades, Nancy Tribble said it may be a good idea to educate the public about this issue at a City Hall meeting or at the Farmers Market.

MURA is also working to resolve soil remediation, voting Thursday in favor of a clean-up effort with the help of Alta Science and Engineering.

According to Alta geologist Brett McLees, there is a product Alta can use to lower the levels of ammonia in the Sixth and Jackson soil. McLees said the product, called “Dynamic Duo,” would be poured into the ground and convert ammonia into nitrates. The nitrates would then be treated at Moscow’s Wastewater Treatment Plant. This effort will be fully funded by the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality.

Kuipers can be reached at akuipers@dnews.com.