New look for hospital takes shape

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The next big move for Kaleida Health involves re-designing Women and Children's Hospital and building a new facility on the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.

On Tuesday, the health organization gave a preliminary look at what the re-designed facility, created through doctor input, may look like.

Pediatrician-in-chief Dr. Teresa Quattrin noted, "A physician led committee meeting for so long I don't even remember, but over two and a half years."

The conceptual design calls for a 10-story, 430,000 square foot, free-standing hospital to be built at the corner of Ellicott and High Streets. The approval of the Buffalo Planning Board is critical to the project.

"We hope that we have an endorsement from the planning board," said Dr. Quattrin.

>> To see more photos of the conceptual designs, click here

In another issue involving Kaleida Health, the planning board heard from individuals who live near the now vacant Deaconess Hospital, which Kaleida wants to demolish. Some residents who live in the nearby Riley Dodge neighborhood said they haven't been told what's going on.

Tyrone Sullivan said, "We're just more concerned about the asbestos, the rodents, and things of that nature.

It will take about six months to demolish Deaconess. In its place, the Community Action Organization plans on building a new headquarters that will also house the Head Start program.

Kaleida Health spokesman Michael Hughes said, "You have a non-for-profit conveying the land to another non-for-profit. They're going to build housing and some commercial space in there, so from the development perspective, that's a good thing. But when there's demolition involved, there's concerns, and we're trying to address that."

There will be a meeting regarding the demolition at Deaconess on August 16th at St. Martin De Porres Church on Northampton Street.