A new three-story building Enloe Medical Center wants to build on West East Avenue was before the Chico City Council on Tuesday, August 7. The building would house medical offices and a prompt-care center, and share parking with Enloe’s adjacent rehabilitation center.
In an effort to ease congestion at its Esplanade location as well as consolidate scattered physicians and services, Enloe Medical Center is looking to build a new 120,000-square-foot medical office on West East Avenue. According to a March 24, 2018 Chico Enterprise Record article, Enloe has purchased seven open acres between its current rehabilitation hospital, 340 W. East Ave., and the Town and Country Shopping Center at East Avenue and The Esplanade.
Enloe has been sensitive to the high traffic around its Esplanade facility, which bothers many in the CANA residential area. Additionally, according to the article, Enloe physicians and services are scattered throughout town, in about 15 locations. Through the consolidation, it would be more convenient for patients to access their doctors, along with services like X-ray and lab work, at one location.
CANA has always complained that additional expansion of Enloe was only a matter of time. We opposed the Esplanade Tower project over relocating to a former east Chico site. With city growth over the past decade, it was not a matter of whether, but when additional facilities and services would be needed. That said, CANA applauds the hospital’s concerns regarding neighborhood congestion and their decision to move forward with this plan.
A construction start date is targeted for spring, 2019 but State permits and City approvals are needed. The council will have to approve a zoning change and a use permit for the project to move forward.
The Planning Commission voted at its July 19 meeting to forward a recommendation to approve the General Plan Amendment and Rezone but the project needs a final vote of the City Council.
The first hearing before the Council occurred on Tuesday, August 7. The Final Council hearing is scheduled for early September.
Avenue Neighbors,
Through the years Avenue residents have become involved in CANA for a variety of reasons. Initially, and probably most importantly, it was because of the Enloe Hospital Expansion, which, by the way, is still not finished. The CANA website hasan article and rough timeline on the park. Click here.
That said, there many other reasons to stay engaged with CANA…issues that include 2nd dwelling unit problems, parking and traffic, and infill development in the E. Avenues between the Esplanade & Mangrove. The greater the participation of the Avenue’s residents, the greater the impact that you will have on your neighborhood and its quality of life. As a recognized neighborhood organization, the City of Chico has given CANA a voice so we should use it.
With the goal of improving the Avenues neighborhood, the CANA Board of Directors is seeking additional board members who are interested in shaping our future. If you are interested, you can submit your contact information our website or email me at president@chicoavenues.org. John Whitehead, CANA Board President
MONCA, the Museum of Northern California Art, located at 900 The Esplanade, is open Thursday – Sunday from 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM. 4,000 of the 17,00 square feet building that comprise the 90-year-old former Veterans Memorial Hall building has been renovated in the first stage of their remodel. For more information on MONCA including exhibits and events, see their website at www.monca.org.