Ballpark developer buys bar near possible downtown stadium site

Wheels are in motion to snap up land around a possible future Downtown Boise ballpark.

An entity controlled by Greenstone Properties has purchased the land under The Symposion Bar in Downtown Boise. The watering hole, which calls itself “the neighborhood bar without a neighborhood,” sits alone near the Interstate 184 Connector.

HBCBP LLC closed on the parcel in recent weeks, according to Ada County Assessor records. State of Idaho records show Kelly Thomas of Atlanta, GA is agent of HBCP. Thomas is the director of project development for Greenstone Properties.

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Near a ballpark?

Greenstone has not publicly admitted where it may attempt to locate the Boise Sports Park other than to say the western portion of Downtown Boise.

A large block of land is just to the north of the Symposion that could potentially accommodate a ballpark. LocalConstruct of Los Angeles owns the site, which acquired the land through a trade with the City of Boise. The land is subdivided and the city still owns a potential road corridor.

In an earlier attempt to construct the Boise Sports Park, Greenstone said it would also develop condos, restaurants, parking and other facilities around the stadium. Land adjacent to a ballpark site, like the Symposion, could be useful for those purposes.

HBCBP only owns this single parcel in Ada County, according to a representative of the Ada County Assessor’s Land Records. The entity previously owned a small parcel on Broadway Ave. at Beacon St., which is near the site of a prior attempt to build a ballpark. HBCBP later sold it to another party.

Greenstone Properties did not return a request for comment.

Change at the Sympo

Victor Cocotis, who founded ‘The Sympo’ as regulars called it, died last year. He opened the lounge in 1975. Seceretary of State records continue to list him as the owner of the business. The bar used to be located amidst a collection of warehouses and other small buildings – most of which have been demolished over time.

The fate of the business is not clear. Managers at The Symposion did not return a call requesting comment Tuesday.

Another ballpark attempt

Greenstone is making its third attempt at a site for a ballpark in Boise, after efforts near Boise State and at Americana and Shoreline collapsed. The project faces multi-pronged opposition, including a bill in the legislature which could create challenges for a proposed public funding mechanism, and a possible citizen initiative vote.

The Boise City Council appeared poised to put the stadium project to a vote, before an interpretation of Idaho State Code indicated a citizen vote could not be held in an odd-numbered year.

Greenstone’s sister company Agon Sports owns the Boise Hawks and would relocate the team to the new ballpark if built. It also said it would bring a United Soccer League team to Boise if it can secure the stadium.