CALDWELL, Idaho — The Caldwell Housing Authority is set to relocate the historic Rice House near the College of Idaho into a vacant lot on the corner of Kimball Avenue and Chicago Street.
The house, named after College of Idaho founder John Rice, is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places. Rice served as the mayor of Caldwell, a state lawmaker, and an Idaho state supreme court justice.
Rice died in 1937.
"We'll renovate it and make it a grand part of our community once again," Caldwell Housing Authority Executive Director Mike Dittenber.
CHA received the project opportunity from the College of Idaho, according to project manager Carlos Gonzalez. The building has been vacant since moving to the corner of Oak and College in 1980's.
Broken glass lines the porch, particleboard fills the windows. CHA has a lot of work ahead.
"Yeah, it's old school," Gonzalez said. "Defiantly needs new paint... It's a complete renovation of this house top to bottom."
The house - once renovated - will lease out 5 affordable units, according to CHA. Priority will be given to police officers, firefighters, paramedics, and other first responders.
"Now see that, that I can get on board with," Aaron Guilford said. He lives on the corner of Kimball and Chicago near the new location.
"We do need more safety in this area. I hear cops run by this place a lot. Like every night, there's always a siren that goes by."
The main floor of the house will also open a public coffee shop to give the neighborhood another commercial offering. The move is set for midnight on June 29.
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