Treasure Valley Transformation: Downtown Meridian Development Plans Gain Civic Clout

It isn't just Boise that's changing quickly as in-migration picks up its pace in southwestern Idaho.

1 minute read

May 24, 2021, 10:00 AM PDT

By James Brasuell @CasualBrasuell


Treasure Valley

Charles Knowles / Shutterstock

Plans for a community center on five city-owned parcels will push the transformation of downtown in Meridian, Idaho into high gear.

Autum Robertson reports that the Meridian Development Corporation (MDC) is seeking project proposals for the Civic Block on land owned by MDC and the city of Meridian. The parcels up for development grabs include the existing Centennial Park, a parking lot, and a community center. MDC is seeking a mixed-use development that achieves iconic status for the city's quickly changing downtown. The project area is designated as both an Urban Renewal District and an Opportunity Zone.

Downtown Meridian is growing fast, according to Robertson, with the the Old Town Lofts under construction, new small businesses popping up, and a recently opened unBound Library.

Meridian, located between the two most populous cities in the Idaho (Boise and Nampa, respectively) is absorbing some of the in-migration that has redefined the region in recent years—with growth only increasing its pace during the pandemic.

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