The Ada County Highway District Commissioners have scheduled two public hearings this week on St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center’s request to close a section of Jefferson Street.
The hospital has asked ACHD to vacate –- that is, to abandon as a public street -– Jefferson Street between Avenue B and First Street to make room for an expansion of the hospital’s downtown campus.
“The hearing will occur over two nights starting on Wednesday, June 22, in the ACHD Auditorium at 3775 Adams Street in Garden City, at 6 p.m. The hearing will continue on the following evening, again starting at 6 p.m., with any remaining public testimony and Commission action on the request,” said ACHD spokesman Craig Quintana.
“In considering the request, Commissioners must determine if the proposal serves a public interest after weighing the benefits and costs of relinquishing a portion of the public right-of-way. The hospital would be required to pay market value for the property as a condition of any approval,” he added.
The Boise City Council approved the St. Luke’s expansion in mid-2015, signing off on the plan -- which anticipates the closure of the two blocks of Jefferson to allow for the hospital's growth to the north. Because local, public roads in Boise are under the jurisdiction of ACHD, the Commission will have to approve the vacation for the project, as proposed, to move ahead.
