Caldwell board picks developer for downtown hotel project

Caldwell’s urban renewal agency has selected a developer for a long-discussed hotel project in the city’s downtown core. The Caldwell Urban Renewal Agency Board approved deChase Miksis as the preferred developer for a site west of the intersection of Main Street and S. 6th Avenue. The decision was not unanimous, as board member and city council member Chuck Stadick voted against accepting the proposal.

The proposed development consists of two buildings totaling 73,295 square feet. The design includes 88 guest rooms, a restaurant and bar measuring 4,300 square feet, a fitness and wellness area of nearly 3,500 square feet, and an outdoor courtyard. Parking for the hotel would include 37 on-site spaces, 17 on-street spaces, and additional spots available through agreements with nearby properties.

The board evaluated two proposals during its request for proposals process. The alternative plan from Borum LLC suggested a mixed-use building starting as half multi-family housing and half hotel rooms. That proposal included a mechanism for rooms to convert from housing to hotel use over time depending on market conditions. The board chose the deChase Miksis plan, which focuses exclusively on hotel use.

Assistant Economic Development Director Ofelia Morales stated that the city had considered a boutique hotel for the downtown area even before she joined the staff five years ago. Morales explained that a hotel brings overnight guests who spend money on local businesses and activities. She noted that a boutique format could reflect Caldwell’s agricultural heritage, historic roots, and regional food and wine culture.

Dean Pape, principal of deChase Miksis, presented the proposal at the board’s October 26 meeting. He noted that his company initially considered two size options: 88 rooms or 112 rooms. The final proposal specifies 83 guest rooms, comprising about 14 suite-style rooms and 69 standard rooms. The proposal allows for flexibility to increase the room count during the design phase.

Morales clarified that selecting the proposal is not the final step in approving the project. The urban renewal agency must now negotiate a disposition and development agreement, or DDA, with the company. The developer estimates it could take three months to finalize this agreement. Following that, the company anticipates a 12-month design and permitting process. Construction could begin in June 2028, with completion expected in summer 2029.

The project remains subject to the city’s standard review processes, including planning, zoning, site development, and engineering checks. The site for the boutique hotel is identified in Envision Caldwell 2050, a plan outlining potential development opportunities that the city council adopted in August 2026.

Funding for the project is not yet determined. Both deChase Miksis and Borum LLC indicated their projects would require public funding to be completed. The deChase Miksis proposal estimates a total investment of $24.6 million for the 88-room version and $30 million for the 112-room version. Pape said the company would likely need to finance the public infrastructure built alongside the hotel, similar to its approach with the Tilian apartments project.

Caldwell City Attorney Mark Hilty noted that the developer will likely want a commitment for public funding included in the DDA. He identified bonds, such as local improvement district bonds, as potential funding sources. Hilty warned that board members cannot currently commit city funds. He suspected the finance director would report that the city does not currently have, nor will it have, the millions in urban renewal funding needed for this specific project. Hilty stated that without a clear funding path, the DDA likely would not be approved.

deChase Miksis has developed several projects in the Treasure Valley. These include the 21st Avenue Hotel near the Caldwell county fairgrounds. The company also renovated the Averyl Tiner building in downtown Boise into the Avery Hotel. Other local projects by the firm include Thomas Logan, The Lucy, The Martha, and the Ash and River Townhomes.