On October 2, the Chico City Council approved Enloe Medical Center’s plans for a medical office building and emergency clinic on W. East Avenue in north Chico. Neighbors spoke in opposition, asking for a sound wall and also for earlier closing hours for the clinic. However, the council approved the project as proposed.
Butte County is purchasing the old courthouse at 655 Oleander Ave. from the State of California. Though it’s commonly called the Butte County Superior Court, it’s officially the Superior Court of California, County of Butte.
The building at 655 Oleander Ave. has been vacant since 2015 when the north county court moved into the new courthouse at 1775 Concord Ave., off E. 20th St., in the Meriam Park project in east Chico.
The State has declared the site surplus, and Butte County, which owns the property on either side, was interested in acquiring the site. On September 25, 2018, the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution to purchase the parcel from the State of California for $830,000.
The plan is to enter into a long term lease and move the Butte County Office of Education’s Instructional Resources Center into the vacant courthouse in Chico in exchange for their current site at 5 County Center Drive in Oroville.
When asked by CANA President John Whitehead if W. 7th Ave., from the Esplanade to the alley, is scheduled to be resurfaced any time in the near future, Chico Public Works Director Brendan Ottoboni responded that… during the Enloe Storm Drainage project several years ago, with the loss of RDA, the City fell short on funding and had to remove this from the scope of work on that project. Ever since then they have been in communication with Gary Nash to address it. They are currently working on finishing the design and hope to get the work done this Fall sometime, depending on the quotes received.
Regarding the Enloe Parking Project, there has been little change in the original plan. Chico is looking at installing metered parking around the hospital. That said, and according to Bikramjit Kahlon, Chico City Sr. Traffic Engineer, the City will be reaching out to a consultant to help with the plan. We are told that they anticipate starting work on the plan in December, 2018.
While there was no specific timeline given to CANA regarding construction of Enloe Park and parking lot, ground preparation of the area is currently underway. According to Bill Sequine, Enloe Hospital, Construction Project Manager, this will be followed by installation of site utilities, and finally, the flatwork.
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.