For ages civilizations have sprung up near water because of its sustaining powers, but in recent history the Idaho Falls banks of the Snake River left something to be desired.

Dane Watkins, who grew up in Idaho Falls and worked in his family’s Snake River Equipment Company on River Parkway, decided in the early 1990s to transform the stretch between the Red Lion Hotel and Broadway, reminiscent of the way things were when he was young and even before. Watkins had visions of people dining outside, admiring the falls and shielding their faces from the sun with colorful umbrellas. His brainchild would be a new phase of
Eagle Rock, he said. But before that could happen, he had to clean up what the family business had left behind.

In 1992 renovations began. Watkins wiped out the grease from the industrial dealership, knocked out windows, redid floors and plumbing and added Georgetown brick to the exteriors because it reminded him of the old days in America. The result was Eagle Rock Station, a strip of shops Watkins calls “a work in progress,” featuring local restaurants and companies. “We wanted to capture some of the old part of Idaho Falls, which was Eagle Rock. We knew it would be successful because of the emphasis on the falls,” he said.

The original “horseshoe” strip includes Rutabaga’s, Brownstone Restaurant, Whitewater Grill and several small businesses. Chili’s and Applebee’s have filled nearby blanks. Quiznos and Jalisco’s set up shop, making the area a restaurant center of Idaho Falls, Watkins said. Commercial Tire will open a store across from Applebee’s, and the recent addition of The Caboose, located in the parking lot just north of the Brownstone, and its shaved ice comes after five years negotiating with Union Pacific. “You can’t have Eagle Rock Station without something to do with a train,” Watkins said.

River development is booming, and one largescale project is Taylor Crossing on the River. Twenty-five years ago potato farmer Lorin Walker
ate his lunch from a lunchbox and looked across the Snake River at a landfill. Old fridges and cars were heaped on the opposite bank, but Lorin could visualize a future reception center with water lapping just outside. He called his brother Rollie and told him to come look. Rollie listened to the dream, smiled, and said, “Let’s do it.” Almost 20 years later with their dream still intact Lorin walked into HK Construction, the firm that owned most the
property where Taylor Crossing now stands, and bought the land on the spot.

He and Rollie purchased remaining chunks of nearby ground, and now the Walkers, as McNeil Development, are developing the Taylor Crossing on the River project on the west side of the Snake from Broadway to Pancheri. The company has constructed seven Georgian-style buildings and will begin their eighth and largest once the city approves the plans. The upcoming structure, with retail shopping and restaurants surrounding a three story atrium, will be built
west of the eagle fountain on the roundabout. But Lorin said Taylor Crossing isn’t all about the buildings; it’s about tapping the five senses. Details like
European-style, bricked-in canals and ponds with stepping-stones for the young and young-at-heart invite visitors to look closely and take part. A natural greenbelt at the water’s edge will include a legacy walkway with bronze statues depicting influential Idaho Falls citizens like Kate Curley and industries like cattle raising will serve as a major education piece for children and tourists, Lorin said. Corporations will sponsor River Gardens at Taylor Crossing, 150-foot lengths of the path with dense flowerbeds. Three restaurant pads lie near the river, and patio dining and waterway rides will be available. “Our passion is to do something different, not just more of the same. Our greatest achievement is being able to inch forward doing what we think is something
that will last and have meaning for our children and future generations. We are trying to do what doesn’t exist,” he said.

Other McNeil Development projects include a Marriott Residence Inn hotel where the Consolidated Wagon and Machine warehouse (that once housed the Army Surplus warehouse) now awaits demolition, and 200 condominiums to the south. The condos, which will be open for presale at the end of September, will feature river views in one direction and courtyard views in the other.

A separate high-rise condominium building with retail and office space on the first two floors will be constructed east of the hotel in the future. Another extensive riverfront project is Snake River Landing, south of Pancheri Drive. In 2001 Ball Ventures purchased over 400 riverfront acres between Pancheri and Sunnyside to develop into Snake River Landing, which will be a multi-use development including commercial office spaces, shops, private residences, public parks, restaurants and a pedestrian trail system. Approximately 135 acres are earmarked for residential development with twin homes, townhouses, condominiums and upscale apartments in neighborhoods that include a clubhouse, pool and other amenities. A community lake and community or recreation center are also in the plans.

The first building of Pier View, the project’s first phase, should be complete this week. Six years in the making Ball Ventures has kept their plans hush-hush
until solidified. The Pier View district will include offices, retail stores and restaurants. Occupants who have announced plans to occupy Snake River Landing include First American Title Company, Ball Ventures corporate office, Potandon Produce offices, Hard Hat Steakhouse and Grill and Iggy’s Sports Grill.

“Bottom line — this is my hometown and it is extremely important to me that this project have the necessary resources to ensure that it is done right,” said Allen Ball of Ball Ventures. “I wanted to create a place that everyone can feel a part of.” According to Idaho Falls mayor Jared Fuhriman, the crown jewel will be a city park built on 9.4 acres north of the Sunnyside bridge, donated by Stafford and Woody Smith of the Smith Group. The land features cascading
water and will be a convenient and inviting place for tourists to visit, Fuhriman said. Although the property could have been used for a personal project, Stafford - Smith said his family wanted others to benefit.

“There’s an opportunity to leave a legacy here, and there aren’t very many communities blessed with something as beautiful as the Snake River running through them. We thought that should be shared,” Smith said.

The first step in any project is finding property, and that’s where NAI Commerce One comes in. Company executives comb through town, eyeing prime real estate, searching out property owners and procuring property. Their next step is matching locations with companies that seem a good match for Idaho Falls.

“We find the need for something, and then we approach the people that fit the need,” Shane Murphy of NAI said. “We have an end goal in mind. We’re always
vying for the tenant. If you don’t have a tenant you don’t have anything.”

The company works also works as a liaison between developers and tenants, removing personalities and helping both parties get what they want. NAI has secured the land — 14 acres total — south of the west-side Wal-Mart and will announce their development plans, including the names of a hotel and two restaurants, near summer’s end when deals with tenants are confirmed, Murphy said.

NAI also played an integral part in marketing and representing Snake River Landing’s first phase. Other current projects include a Hilton Garden Inn on the river near The Sandpiper and a shopping center on Broadway including Sally Beauty Supply, Starbucks Coffee, Mountain States Wireless, Avis Rent a Car, Game Stop video game store and Ruby River Steakhouse.

Renaissance Partners is one group joining with NAI Commerce One to grow Idaho Falls. The two developed the land between Broadway and Pancheri for
Super Wal-Mart, Fairfield Inn and Olive Garden. Renaissance is also involved in the Ruby River and the strip center projects.

Most recently NAI, in conjunction with Renaissance, signed a lease with Shari’s Restaurants to build a restaurant next to Kicks 66 convenient store on Broadway, NAI business manager Steven Keim said. NAI acquired the property and finalized the deal with Shari’s, and Renaissance will build the building.

Development is a work in progress, and developers will continue to keep their plans under wraps until finalized. Watkins said he has plans that could materialize someday, like a bridge connecting the east and west banks of the river and a 23-story hotel based on a retro rendering sitting in his office.

While developers compete for the best land, tenants and projects, Watkins said companies have the same goal in mind: Improve Idaho Falls.

“We all benefit from it. It takes different people to do it. It’s a group of people and that’s what makes it fun — everybody does their part,” he said. “We compliment what the others are doing because it makes this a better place for people’s families.”

Story by Rebecca Long Pyper. Originally posted at: River City Weekly