Imperial Plaza

Independent Assessment

The most important finding for Imperial Plaza is a unit-count correction. An earlier or secondary estimate placed the building at approximately 130 units, but independent review of weknowboise.com, liveidahorealty.com, and the Imperial Plaza Condominium Association's own site consistently supports 68 total residential condo units across 12 floors -- a discrepancy large enough (nearly double the corrected figure) that it materially changes how a buyer should think about the building's scale, density, and likely resale liquidity. 68 is treated as the confirmed figure, and the ~130-unit estimate is flagged as an error not carried forward. On age-restriction status, the finding is unusually solid: rather than relying on directory marketing-category placement alone, the association's own compliance rationale was located -- maintaining at least 80% of residents 55 or older to satisfy the Fair Housing Act's HOPA-adjacent familial-status exemption -- which is a specific, legally-reasoned restriction mechanism and a stronger basis for classification than directory placement.

Who May Find This Community Appealing

Imperial Plaza suits buyers who specifically want downtown urban living -- walkable to restaurants, the Boise Greenbelt, and the foothills -- in a building with no other market-rate equivalent in the Boise 55+ landscape; no other downtown high-rise condo tower marketed to the 55-and-over demographic was found in the Idaho inventory reviewed. Buyers who prioritize a house-and-yard lifestyle, private outdoor space, or attached-garage parking will find the high-rise condo format a poor fit; buyers seeking maintenance-free urban density with utilities folded into one monthly payment are the clearer match.

Homes, Builders & Development History

Imperial Plaza was built in 1964 and comprises 68 total residential condo units across 12 floors, ranging from one-bedroom, one-bath layouts up to three-bedroom, two-bath units. An earlier or secondary estimate of approximately 130 units is not supported by independent review across weknowboise.com, liveidahorealty.com, and the association's own materials, and the 68-unit figure is used throughout. The original developer of record has not been independently confirmed.

Current Pricing & Market Positioning

No confirmed current price range for Imperial Plaza units was found from a source treated as sufficiently authoritative, and this is stated plainly rather than estimated; given the wide span of unit sizes (one-bedroom up to three-bedroom, two-bath), pricing is likely to vary substantially by floor, view, and unit size. As downtown Boise's only high-rise condo product marketed to the 55-and-over demographic, Imperial Plaza occupies a distinct market niche without a direct comparable elsewhere in the Ada County inventory reviewed; buyers should request current comparable sales from a local agent familiar with the specific building.

New Construction vs. Resale Considerations

Imperial Plaza is a fully resale market: the building was completed in 1964 with no subsequent unit additions found, and no active builder sales exist. Buyers should treat every purchase here as a resale transaction and request the specific unit's renovation history, given the building's age and the wide span of possible finish levels across 68 units built in a single era but potentially updated at very different times.

Taxes, Insurance & Special Assessments

Imperial Plaza condo units are subject to Ada County property tax administration on an individual-unit basis, consistent with condominium ownership generally. A confirmed current effective property tax rate specific to downtown Boise condo parcels, or a confirmed current condo-insurance cost range for this building, was not found. Idaho's homestead exemption (reducing taxable value by 50%, capped at a $125,000 reduction) applies to owner-occupied primary residences generally, subject to eligibility; buyers should confirm current eligibility and the current effective rate with the Ada County Assessor directly, and request current HO-6 condo-insurance quotes as part of due diligence.

Community Layout & Lifestyle

Imperial Plaza offers a genuinely distinct lifestyle within the Idaho inventory reviewed: dense, walkable, downtown high-rise living with all utilities folded into a single monthly HOA payment, positioned within easy walking distance of downtown Boise's restaurant and retail core, the Boise Greenbelt, and foothills trail access. This is an urban-density alternative to the detached-home, land-lease, and attached-patio-home formats found at this state's other Boise-area 55+ communities, and will appeal most to buyers actively choosing city-center walkability over a suburban or semi-rural setting.

Shopping, Healthcare & Airport Access

Imperial Plaza is located at 200 N 3rd Street, at the corner of 3rd and Idaho Streets in downtown Boise, Ada County. This places residents within walking distance of downtown Boise's core restaurant, retail, and cultural district, as well as the Boise Greenbelt and foothills trail access. Buyers should confirm current parking arrangements directly, as downtown high-rise buildings of this vintage commonly have limited on-site parking relative to suburban communities.

Age Qualification & Material Ownership Restrictions

Imperial Plaza is independently confirmed as an age-restricted 55+ building. Rather than relying solely on directory marketing-category placement, the Imperial Plaza Condominium Association's own compliance rationale was found: the building must maintain at least 80% of residents at 55 years of age or older in order to comply with the Fair Housing Act's familial-status exemption for housing for older persons. This is a specific, legally-reasoned restriction mechanism, not merely an age-targeted marketing label, and the building is classified as legally age-restricted 55+ on that basis. Because the compliance threshold is 80% rather than a strict 100% floor, a limited share of under-55 residents may legally reside in the building at any given time; buyers wanting full certainty on current occupancy composition should confirm directly with the association.

Tradeoffs & Limitations

Imperial Plaza's building policies include no pets, no smoking, and no short-term rentals, each a meaningful restriction buyers should weigh before purchasing, particularly the no-pets policy for anyone currently owning or planning to own a pet. As a 1964 building, buyers should also expect the usual high-rise condo considerations around building systems (elevators, plumbing risers, HVAC infrastructure) reaching or exceeding 60 years of age, and should request the association's reserve study and any planned or recently completed capital projects directly. The 80%-resident-55-or-older compliance threshold, rather than a hard 100% restriction, also means a small share of under-55 residents may legally live in the building; buyers wanting a strictly all-55-plus environment should confirm current occupancy composition directly with the association.

Comparison With Nearby Communities

Imperial Plaza is a condo/high-rise product, versus Brooke View's manufactured-home land-lease model and Englefield Green's attached patio homes. Buyers drawn to downtown walkability and all-inclusive utility billing will find no comparable alternative in this state's tracked inventory; buyers who want private outdoor space, attached garage parking, or a house-like footprint should look instead to Englefield Green or, for a lower entry cost, Brooke View. The 68-unit corrected count also makes Imperial Plaza meaningfully smaller in scale than either of those two communities.

Current Listings

A connected local agent or the Imperial Plaza Condominium Association directly can confirm current available units, current HOA dues for a specific unit, and current building policies.

How many units does Imperial Plaza actually have?

68 total residential condo units across 12 floors. This corrects an earlier or secondary estimate of approximately 130 units, which independent review of weknowboise.com, liveidahorealty.com, and the Imperial Plaza Condominium Association's own materials does not support.

Is Imperial Plaza legally age-restricted?

Yes. The Imperial Plaza Condominium Association's own materials state the building must maintain at least 80% of residents at 55 or older to comply with the Fair Housing Act's familial-status exemption for housing for older persons -- a specific legal compliance mechanism, not just marketing language.

What does the HOA fee cover at Imperial Plaza?

Reported inconsistently across sources at roughly $450-$550 per month, generally described as all-inclusive of power, water, sewer, trash, heat, air conditioning, and basic internet. Buyers should confirm the current fee and coverage list directly with the association.

When was Imperial Plaza built?

1964. It is downtown Boise's only high-rise condo building marketed to the 55-and-over demographic.

Are pets or short-term rentals allowed at Imperial Plaza?

No. Building policy reported by multiple sources prohibits pets and short-term rentals, alongside smoking. Buyers should confirm current policy directly with the association.