Twin Falls is moving to capitalize on years of downtown revitalization by inviting private developers to submit proposals for two publicly held parcels in the heart of the city — a combined 3.5 acres of prime real estate that local officials say could anchor the next phase of the community’s economic growth.
The Twin Falls Urban Renewal Agency announced this week that it is accepting development proposals for a 1.2-acre parcel at Second Avenue South and Hansen Avenue South, and a larger 2.3-acre site three blocks away at Fifth Avenue South and Hansen Street South in the Old Towne district. Both properties currently function as public parking.
What Developers Are Being Asked to Build
The Second Avenue South and Hansen Avenue site is envisioned as a mixed-use development combining residential, hospitality, and possible commercial uses. The adjacent street corners represent some of downtown Twin Falls’s most visible real estate, and the URA is seeking proposals that bring long-term residents or visitors to the area rather than another surface parking solution.
The larger Old Towne parcel carries a different vision. The URA describes it as a destination-oriented site suited for entertainment, hospitality, dining, cultural attractions, and event-focused uses. The property is also home to the historic Globe Seed and Feed Building, which the URA purchased in 2022. That structure adds both a preservation consideration and a potential anchor identity for whatever development ultimately takes shape there.
Both properties fall within a Federal Opportunity Zone, a designation that can offer meaningful tax advantages to qualifying investors. In addition, both sites may be eligible for New Markets Tax Credits, and the URA has indicated it can provide assistance funding for sewer infrastructure or streetscape improvements — tools that can help bridge the financial gap for projects that might otherwise struggle to pencil out in a mid-sized Idaho market.
Timeline and Process for Developers
The URA has set a structured process for interested parties. A physical walk-through of both sites is scheduled for July 6, giving developers an on-the-ground look at each property and its surrounding context. A virtual pre-bid meeting is set for the day after the walk-through to allow remote participation and fielding of questions.
Final proposals are due by 5 p.m. on August 26.
URA Executive Director Shawn Barigar framed the timing as deliberate and opportunistic. “Twin Falls has built tremendous momentum through downtown revitalization, economic growth, and community investment,” Barigar said in a public statement. He added that “now is as good a time as any” to push the development needle further.
The agency’s track record lends some credibility to that confidence. Previous URA-supported projects include the 150 Main Avenue Lofts, a residential development that helped establish a template for downtown living in Twin Falls, and the Glanbia headquarters, a corporate anchor that brought jobs and professional traffic into the urban core. Those projects helped demonstrate that downtown Twin Falls can attract the kind of investment that sustains a healthy city center over the long term.
Broader Context for Twin Falls
The solicitation comes as Twin Falls continues to grow both in population and in its commercial footprint. Downtown development has been a consistent priority for city and URA leadership, with the goal of creating a walkable, economically active core that complements the broader Magic Valley economy anchored by agriculture, manufacturing, and food processing.
Converting underutilized surface parking into mixed-use or destination development is a common strategy in cities of Twin Falls’s size, and the federal incentives tied to the Opportunity Zone designation give the city a meaningful tool to attract outside capital that might otherwise bypass smaller Idaho markets.
Residents with an interest in downtown growth and local civic investment may also want to follow broader local government activity, including recent district formation and levy decisions across Twin Falls County.
What Comes Next
Developers interested in either property should plan around the July 6 walk-through and the subsequent virtual pre-bid meeting. The August 26 proposal deadline gives prospective teams roughly ten weeks from the announcement to pull together their submissions. The URA is expected to evaluate proposals and announce next steps following the deadline. No timeline for a final selection or construction start has been publicly announced at this stage.