Old hospital building to become open space, for now
By Eric Valentine
City staffers are recommending approval of a request by Sun Valley Resort to demolish additional structures within its plan to level the Moritz building, a landmark historically known as Moritz Community Hospital from 1961 to 2000.
Last fall, the city approved the resort’s plan that included demolition of the Moritz building, the Balsam Dorm, the Washington Dorm and the Oregon Dorm. Demolition of the Washington Dorm and Oregon Dorm has been completed and demolition of the Moritz building is scheduled to occur this fall.
According to city documents, the proposed revision to the approved design review would expand the scope of the project to include demolition of the Cedar Dorm, Boise Dorm and the Idaho Dorm buildings. The demolition of these three buildings was not included in the original demolition plan as there was a need to retain employee housing availability there while the two new dormitory buildings were being constructed adjacent to the resort’s horseman’s center.
In addition to demolition of the three additional buildings, portions of existing patios and walkways would be removed, and the area would be landscaped with new lawns and trees. The Planning & Zoning board meets Thursday, Aug. 8 at 9 a.m. in the city council chambers to make it official.
“Right now we’re in demolition phase and once that’s done we anticipate keeping the area as open space until a new direction is decided,” said resort spokesperson Kelli Lusk. “There’s no timeline for that decision right now.”
In the meantime, folks looking for more lawn lounging space will be well-served come next summer. The buildings to be demolished represent several thousand square feet of what will become open space.
The Moritz building has no official designation as a site of historical significance, but it has served the community for nearly 60 years, most recently as an administrative office for the resort. The facility was named after Dr. John Moritz when he retired in 1973. Dr. Moritz was a Nebraska-born surgeon who had served as the resort’s year-round physician for 33 years. The Moritz hospital was closed shortly after the new St. Luke’s branch hospital opened (south of Ketchum) in November 2000.