Council continues decision on Hitching Post demolition permit after historic preservation board requested 90-day stay

The Jackson Town Council continued consideration of a demolition permit for the Hitching Post site (demolition permit TEM25-001) after hearing from St. John’s Health, the Teton County Historic Preservation Board and preservation contractors about relocation options for on-site historic cabins.

Paul Anthony, director of planning and building, told the council the demolition request covers multiple structures on the property at 460 East Broadway. Some cabins on the property were constructed between 1945 and 1955 and were identified by the Historic Preservation Board as historic; other on-site structures date from the 1990s and are nonhistoric. The preservation board recommended a 90-day stay on the historic structures to explore relocation or other preservation options.

Hal Hutchinson, representing the applicant (HH Land Strategies for St. John’s Health), and Sean Ryan, director of facilities for St. John’s Health, said they had agreements to relocate six of the eleven historic duplex cabins and that selective demolition (removal of small overhangs or nonhistoric additions) would be needed to move them safely. They said other structures — the lodge, the barn, a shed and several cabins — were in worse condition or not feasible to move.

Susan Erickson, administrator for the Teton County Historic Preservation Board, said the board’s motion focused on the group of structures shown in the board’s materials and did not parse later additions from original fabric in calculated "contributing vs. noncontributing" parts; the board’s stated purpose was to allow time to pursue relocation alternatives.

Councilmembers and staff discussed the practicalities of relocation, asbestos abatement and the requirement that a demolition permit be issued to move structures. Sean Ryan said the asbestos-abatement process was underway and that relocation logistics and storage/site-permit issues were being worked out.

After extended public comment — including preservation contractors supportive of relocation and residents who offered to help receive relocated cabins — Councilman Schechter moved to continue the item for two weeks to allow staff and the applicant to coordinate logistics and permit details; Councilwoman Spiering seconded. The motion passed unanimously.

The preservation board had requested a 90-day stay when it made its recommendation roughly one month earlier; the council’s two-week continuance will allow staff and the applicant to return with clarifications about relocation timing, permit needs and which structures can realistically be moved or must be demolished.