This downtown Boise alley was closed due to ‘structural integrity’ concerns. What to know

The Ada County Highway District closed part of the alley behind the troubled Union Block building downtown, over concerns with the alleyway’s “structural integrity,” the agency said on social media.

The city of Boise condemned the Union Block building last November and earlier this year took over repairs because of inaction from the owner, the Statesman previously reported. Boise requested the alleyway’s closure as a precautionary measure.

“Drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians are reminded to comply with all signs and should not attempt to go through the closed portion of the alleyway,” the Ada County Highway District said on X, formerly Twitter.

The city of Boise and the Ada County Highway District did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The alleyway stretches from 8th street to Capitol Boulevard between Idaho and Bannock streets. Because of the closure, the Ada County Highway District stopped metered parking on the south side of Bannock Street to make space for business deliveries. There is no obstruction to area businesses.

The Ada County Highway District previously had closed the sidewalk, on-street parking and right-most lane of traffic next to the Union Block building, according to Statesman reporting.

Boise’s chief building official Jason Blais told the city council in January that there were large cracks, temporary shoring posts bowing under weight and that in some areas the facade had separated from the exterior of the building.

Ken Howell, who owns the building, sued the city of Boise in January saying that the building was condemned with “no basis in fact, notice, or justification.”

Most recently in the lawsuit, Howell and his lawyers filed documents on Aug. 21 objecting to an inspection and site visit by the city of Boise and asking the court to intervene. The inspection was to determine the repairs necessary to reopen the sidewalk and street, according to court documents.

“Mr. Howell is not about to let the city go on another unsupervised fishing expedition to see if it can retroactively justify its reasoning for closing the Union Block Building in the first place,” a lawyer wrote to the city of Boise in early August.

It’s unclear if the inspection happened.