The Department of Veterans Affairs agreed to lease its portion of Doughty Street to MUSC for $1.7 million dollars in a tentative deal that promises to move the university a step closer to realizing plans for a new downtown complex. Securing control of the street is key to MUSC's plans. Its new 156 bed hospital would be built along Courtenay Drive over Doughty, part of which the VA controls. Under the deal, the VA would lease property to the university for 75 years under an "enhanced use lease" meaning MUSC can build structures on the property. The federal government can more easily lease property than sell it. The $1.7 million would be paid out over 8 years. The VA would use the funds for services at its Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center. In addition, the university has agreed to make various traffic improvements around the area so patients will still be able to get to the VA hospital. Closing Doughty Street will remove an important access to the facility. The university wants to construct a $226 million satelite facility that would be the first of a three-stage plan to replace its medical center. However, the university's trustees must approve the agreeement at its May 15th meeting, and then the deal would follow through federal channels which may take several weeks.