A prime piece of real estate in downtown Twin Falls is facing two very different prospects.
The Idaho Youth Ranch was located in the center of the historic core. The store closed down earlier this year, and the Twin Falls Urban Renewal Agency bought the old building on Main Avenue for $470,000.
Two companies are eyeing the property and have big plans for the site.
According to the Times News, one proposal, called Project OneSixty, would see the 1905 building razed and replaced with a new, four-story facility at a cost of about $5 million.
A representative with one of a group of companies considering the tear down option says the old Allen Mercantile Co. building isn’t worth saving, due to structural issues. The new building would be a mix of retail space and offices on the bottom and apartments on the top two floors.
The other project would restore the two-story building to its original state circa the early 20th century. The revamp by Paramount Property Development comes with a nearly $2 million price tag. Paramount has a history working with historic properties; their proposal envisions a mixed use ground floor with apartments above.
The city’s Urban Renewal Agency meets April 9 to vote on whether either of the options should be pursued.
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