BOISE, Idaho (AP) - A property sale in downtown Boise has re-energized hopes for a downtown stadium.
St. Luke’s Health System has agreed to sell 11 acres to Greenstone Properties, a development company whose managing principal, Chris Schoen, is the managing partner for the company that owns the Boise Hawks minor league baseball team, the Idaho Statesman reported (https://bit.ly/2out1EG).
Greenstone hopes to build a stadium on some of the St. Luke’s property. Residential, office and retail space would go on the rest of the property.
Officials say the Hawks would be the stadium’s primary tenant. A minor-league soccer team may also play at the stadium, as could Boise State University teams. The venue could also serve as an event venue for concerts and festivals.
Owners of the Hawks have tried to replace Memorial Stadium, where the team currently plays, for years. The 30-year-old stadium in Garden City doesn’t have modern facilities and leaves athletes and fans baking in the summer sun on uncovered stands.
The St. Luke’s-Greenstone deal isn’t final. St. Luke’s spokeswoman Anita Kissee said it is a “non-binding letter of intent.” Many details about the deal have not been finalized.
Though the deal isn’t final, the agreement appears to be step one for getting the stadium built since St. Luke’s chose Greenstone over other groups, including the state of Idaho, that were interested in buying the hospital group’s property.
Schoen did not return request for comment.
City Councilman Scot Ludwig, who has acted as a go-between for Greenstone and St. Luke’s, told the Statesman in February that he hopes Greenstone breaks ground on the stadium next summer.
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Information from: Idaho Statesman, https://www.idahostatesman.com
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