BOISE, Idaho — The Ada County Highway District closed the road and sidewalk near the Union Building on Idaho Street between Capitol Boulevard and 8th Street.
According to ACHD, the City of Boise requested the closure Thursday afternoon as a precautionary measure due to the "Structural integrity issues with the Union Block Building." The city of Boise put a notice to vacate the building.
The Union Block Building is one of the oldest standing buildings in Boise.
ACHD wanted to remind people to be safe and not to attempt to cross closed portions of the road or sidewalk.
The building is condemned under the order of the City of Boise, according to Boise's Director of Planning and Development Tim Keane. The city conducted an inspection after the building owner, Ken Howell, proposed a plan to the city about structurally supporting the building.
The city asked for these plans in response to five years of ongoing construction and renovations to the building.
"We’re concerned about those temporary measures and the kind of long-term effects they could have on the stability of the building," Keane said. "We really felt like we needed to close the building just to protect people."
Howell has 30 days to gather the proper permits and 60 days to accomplish the necessary structural changes, according to Keane. The city can take over the project in the event Howell does not meet these deadlines.
"This will move as fast as the owner is capable of moving," Keane said. "If the owner is able to bring us in plans that show that this building will be stabilized in a certain manner tomorrow, we will review it tomorrow."
Moon's Kitchen released an Instagram post and said they will be closed until further notice. They also said many employees are out of work. Moon's and Mai Thai are among the three businesses impacted by the building closure; the two hired Taylor Law Offices to represent them in the event of any litigation.
Original Twitter post below.
"Neither Mai Thai nor Moons Cafe was given any notice that the building was structurally unsound," said Matthew K. Taylor, senior attorney with Taylor Law Office in an email to KTVB. "They relied upon the representations of Parklane and Mr. Howell that everything they were doing would be done promptly, safely, and with the restaurants' best interests in mind. It is obvious that this did not occur in this situation."
Taylor said the businesses learned about the closure from the city, not the landlord. He continued and said closures have happened in the past.
"Moon's Cafe and Mai Thai both had to close throughout the years due to construction material dust, fire alarms, Air Conditioning, plumbing, electrical, and other construction issues," Taylor said in an email.
He continued, "Both businesses have paid significant sums of money for rent during the continuous building problems and delays. The city's closure now forces years of issues to a head between the parties."
Taylor said they are reviewing the restaurants' contracts and options with the landlord.
"Both are hopeful the parties can come to a speedy resolution which is beneficial to all," he said "However, all options remain on the table until that time."
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