MERIDIAN, Idaho (CBS2) — It's been 15 years in the making for Boise developer Tommy Ahlquist, trying to develop 80 acres of the former Lowe farmland in Meridian at Eagle Road and I-84.

"This land has been zoned commercial for 20 years. And for 15 years I've been trying to develop it," Ahlquist said. "Twice we had it under contract but it just didn't work out for lots of reasons."

It's working out now, Ahlquist says, as community leaders and development partners broke ground Wednesday and attended a party to celebrate the event.

The $200 million project -- which could be completed in 14 months -- is so ambitious it boggles the mind.

"There will be a 150,000 square foot building, a new hotel, two retail buildings, 50,000 square feet of co-working office space coming out of Covid and 396 apartments," Ahlquist said.

Meridian Mayor Robert Simison applauded the developers: "These are people who love Idaho, they are investing money right here so we can have jobs, where we need jobs -- in the center of the Valley."

And the anchor to this new phase of development at Eagle View Landing will be a Topgolf entertainment venue which has over 70 locations across the United States and around the world.

"I am so excited to be here," said Tanner McKelly, real estate director for Topgolf. "It'll be two stories, 60 bays, great food and drink, two stories and great experiences."

And developers say when this project is done, there won't be anything on par with it in the Valley.

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