County Leaders Push for Behavioral Health Beds at New LDS Hospital
Salt Lake County leaders are pressing Intermountain Health to include expanded behavioral health resources within the design of its new hospital planned near downtown Salt Lake City. Salt Lake County Mayor Jenny Wilson and seven members of the County Council issued a letter to the Salt Lake City Council on Tuesday. The correspondence specifically requests that the new facility maintain or increase the number of psychiatric beds and crisis stabilization services currently offered by the existing LDS Hospital.
LDS Hospital serves as a primary provider for inpatient psychiatric care, withdrawal management, and crisis services in the region. The county officials argue that the replacement facility must reflect the urgent local need for these resources. While the group acknowledges that the City Council primarily manages land use and zoning, they are asking the city to leverage its position to influence the final hospital programming.
Aligning Development with Regional Health Goals
This request stems from broader efforts to address homelessness and criminal justice outcomes in the area. Last week, Mayor Wilson announced a new plan involving 25 distinct recommendations to change the county’s approach to these issues. The initiative draws heavily on strategies implemented in Florida by former judge Steve Leifman, which focused on behavioral health interventions to reduce jail populations and recidivism rates.
Council members suggested that integrating these health resources into the new hospital aligns with these regional initiatives. Carlos Moreno and Sheldon Stewart were the only council members who did not sign the letter. The request comes at a pivotal moment in the development process because construction has not yet commenced on the site located at 754 S. State Street.
Uncertainty Over Development Agreements
Salt Lake City Council Chairman Alejandro Puy noted that while the city approved a rezone for the hospital project in 2024, the associated development agreement focuses on physical design elements rather than specific service provisions. It remains unclear whether the city can or will modify the existing legal agreement to mandate a specific number of behavioral health beds.
Discussions regarding such a change have not occurred within the council. Still, Puy acknowledged the acute crisis on local streets and the necessity for more healthcare infrastructure. He expressed hope that both Intermountain Health and University of Utah Health would expand capacity, while calling for state support to cover Medicaid requirements. Intermountain Health released new site designs earlier this month, with more project details expected later this year as the facility moves toward a scheduled start date in 2027.