Old Nampa hospital still up for grabs

The doors have been locked at the old Saint Alphonsus Medical Center on 12^th Avenue since June 19, a fluttering flag in front of the structure the only acknowledgment that Saint Alphonsus Health System is working behind the scenes to find someone to take the keys.

A couple years ago, the state of Idaho considered obtaining the 241,000-square foot, four-story 1968 structure originally built as Mercy Medical Center.  Saint Alphonsus officials were willing to donate the property, but the state declined.

“Saint Alphonsus is continuing to assess options for their former hospital located at 12th Avenue Road in Nampa,” said Brad Hoaglun, Saint Alphonsus’ director of marketing, communications and public relations at Saint Alphonsus Health System, in a prepared statement. “When Saint Alphonsus announced the building of their new hospital at I-84 and Garrity Boulevard, it also announced that the former hospital site could be donated to an organization that would be most beneficial to the Nampa community.”

Saint Alphonsus moved its main Nampa hospital from 12^th Avenue to the new Saint Alphonsus Medical Center Nampa I-84/Garrity on June 19. On Sept. 27, the two-story, 40,000-square-foot Saint Alphonsus Neighborhood Hospital opened in front of the recently shuttered 12^th Avenue hospital.

“Several different entities have looked at the former hospital and some have been in discussions with Saint Alphonsus about utilizing the site,” Hoaglun said. “Saint Alphonsus is willing to donate the building to an entity, most likely a non-profit or government service, which serves the Nampa area.  Saint Alphonsus is not looking to retain ownership of the building or property.”