07/22/2026
UPDATE: The City planning office has confirmed that the requested container building is not a temporary structure, so this application must go through the formal review process.
What does this mean? If the applicant chooses to move forward, they will be required to hold a public neighborhood meeting, with posted notice and neighbor notification requirements.
This is ultimately what we hoped to achieve: to have the existing process followed, which gives neighbors the opportunity to be heard - regardless of whether they support or oppose the project. Most people living in the North End do so because they enjoy the lively mix of residential and commercial, along with our neighborhood center in Hyde Park. Maintaining a livable balance - not eliminating change - is an important goal, and having neighbors able to participate in the City’s planning process is key.
Whether you agree with it or not, the North End is a designated historic district, which does have code requirements that differ from non-historic areas. City code applies to everything within city limits; historic overlay zones have additional code that must be adhered to. This covers things like requiring use of materials that are historically appropriate such as smooth wood siding rather than wood grain or vinyl; wood windows rather than aluminum or vinyl, property setbacks, etc. The North End is not the only designated historic district that must abide by this code. Boise has ten designated historic districts currently, six of which are residential. The most recent (East Main Street) was added in 2018, and as newer neighborhoods age, additional areas become eligible should residents take up the charge to have them designated as historic.
For more information on historic districts, visit the City’s website: https://www.cityofboise.org/departments/planning-and-development-services/planning/planning-a-project/planning-process-overview/historic-preservation/historic-districts/
🚨NEIGHBOR ALERT🚨
Hollywood Market Yoga, located at 1319 N 8th Street, has made significant changes to a previous expansion application with the City, and there is currently no formal review process scheduled - meaning neighbors were not notified, and only have until MONDAY, 7/20 to submit written feedback.
NENA feels this circumvention of public process is allowing for back-door approval of an application that originally received significant neighbor pushback.
THE PROJECT: Hollywood market Yoga would like to expand their business to include a coffee shop cafe space. The original project presented in the neighborhood meeting over a year ago included a new building with rooftop deck. More than 20 concerned neighbors attended this meeting; a typical neighborhood meeting garners 2 or fewer.
The new proposal, which currently is not scheduled for public review, asks to place a storage container “temporary” building to serve from on the existing outside patio.
NENA has requested a full review in front of the city Historic Preservation Commission.
Concerns include:
🚩 Neighbors are unaware of the changes to the application and unaware of the 7 days to comment deadline.
🚩 The lack of hearing in front of the HPC or P&Z commission.
🚩 Parking in a very dense part of the neighborhood. Multifamily housing exists on three sides of the existing business with little to no off-street parking. Many of the homes within a block of the business also do not have off-street parking options and struggle to park near their homes at certain times of day. These homes are sometimes occupied by older neighbors who would not like to have extra pressure for the existing parking in front of their homes.
🚩 This area is an exceptionally dense part of the neighborhood, with smaller lots, many small & affordable apartments, with working residents with cars needing to park on the street. The impact of this new project is that now there will be traffic from not one, but two unrelated (except by ownership) businesses.
🚩 From a historic perspective, the aesthetics of this project and the precedent this could set are concerning. Will anyone with a corner lot now be allowed to start outdoor vending and public, for-profit gathering spots in their backyard? Are food trucks now allowed in back and side yards? Precedent setting is important.
🚩 There is considerable concern for the immediate neighbor to the south on 8th Street. The walls of their home are just a few feet from the location of the proposed shipping container restaurant & food court, complete with noise, smells, garbage, and other non-residential activity starting early each morning. This is a significant concern for property value and quality of life.
It is important to note that nearly two dozen neighbors who participated in last year’s public review process expressed support for the existing business as-is but were not in favor of expanding the business to a café or coffee shop.
🚨🚨🚨WHAT YOU CAN DO: Neighbors can comment until July 20th by emailing City Planner Madison Lockhorn at [email protected].
