Should it Stay or Should it Go?
What Others Have To Say
What Do You Think?
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Comment Options
sbrof
Good question. The only really cool building in the complex is the old hospital building that faces Linwood. Other than that this is a rather uninspiring complex and I wouldn't complain to see it come down... if and only if there was a plan. If someone wants to just demolish it because and leave a huge mess of a vacant lot sitting there for years that would be horrible for the neighborhood.
Also while it isn't inspiring, the complex probably has a good useful lifespan left and demolishing it early would be environmentally irresponsible and a waste of money (probably some of it public), resources and energy. A real a toss up in my mind.
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urbansoul
I say Uniland build a second condo tower on the site....just to say SO THERE to all the idiots next door to the Park Lane. Heeeeeeeeeeee
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MJWorthington
A condo tower here would be very nice. The view up the parkway is priceless. surround it with New Town homes along Linwood and Delaware? Recreate the circle green area.
Make best use of the existing parking ramp to minimise surface lots.
New Town homes along Linwood and Delaware?
Whatever long term demo plans are, make sure the hospital has the funding secured to remove them if and when necessary.
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cdubmoo
It should go. Nothing of architectural interest here. And if you convert to living space in my opinion the building would look like the projects. Old-styled rowhouses, three storey tall, would be nice on this historic circle. If you are looking for density, another UniLand tower would be the way to go. The only hiderance here would be the price tag of the demolition, but the influx of oung professionals to updated housing should help the area.
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Irishkwh
I live on Lancaster and I hope that they take the Hospital down, along with Bry-Lin too. Then make a plan to build nice Homes, townhomes or condos. No Rental properties! I would even love the idea of mansions going there and they could have there garages on Linwood. Bring some wealth back into the city.
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NBJOHN
Canisuis, Medaille or Buff State need more space???
Here you go....
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BuffaloRitz
knock it down and bring back the mansions...better yet build that hotel that they were going to build on elmwood.
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jstraubinger
If you think about it for a moment, Canisus College has slowly been moving westward. They already have a presence on West Delavan, Lafayette and Harvard and Horton Places. Whether it is a new entity or Canisus or a combination of the two, some demolition of existing structures will need to be done to reduce the density of the current footprint. I don't think that the property will languish for long given its proximity to some of Buffalo's biggest tax payers. I also think that the Millard joining the Medical Corridor and bringing more staff to that area as well as some new buildings will contribute to the overall momentum of the BNMC and spinoff development.
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Dan
New mixed use development modeled on high density new urbanism/traditional neighborhood development projects completed in Portland and Seattle.
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sbrof
I like the idea of some new Row houses. I think we could really create some unique, sustainable housing, integrated PV, waste / storm water treatment. Green Roofs, Alleyway parking. Something that would give something that people can own, be proud of, improve the city, and offer an option for home buyers. not everyone wants to live in a housing type that is going to suck ALL of their money to heat and maintain and with modern materials I can guarantee you wont have to worry about hearing your neighbor anymore than you do on a typical tonawanda or kenmore street.
There are several parking lots associated with this complex also that could give room for college expansions or new construction also.
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ElmwoodBoy
Put together a Request for Proposals and offer it to the development community. See what their ideas and financing would allow.
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chris69
That was my comment exactly BuffaloRitz
I think large portions of Millard Fillmore should be demolished and those 3 story townhomes (similar to those rowhouses on Delaware) would be great...
Build a second Gates Style Tower on the site of the Hospital or perhaps follow the Dulski and consider reskinning the exterior and perhaps add balconies to humanize it adding a little curve to the building.
There is also room for the Elmwood Style Hotel and Conference Center which could serve both Canisius, Medaille and Buffalo State
I would also be nice to reconnect Lancaster to Linwood and put townhomes alont the street
Id say we have an excellent opportunity for mixed use and multiple purposes.
Whatever the future plans are...the primary importance needs to be to the benefit of Linwood, Oxford and Harvard being re-integrated into the Delaware community.
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mmiller
I think it should be mixed senior housing/assisted living and nursing home complex. There will be a shortage of facilities for seniors in the upcoming years.
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chris69
That was my comment exactly BuffaloRitz
I think large portions of Millard Fillmore should be demolished and those 3 story townhomes (similar to those rowhouses on Delaware) would be great...
Build a second Gates Style Tower on the site of the Hospital or perhaps follow the Dulski and consider reskinning the exterior and perhaps add balconies to humanize it adding a little curve to the building.
There is also room for the Elmwood Style Hotel and Conference Center which could serve both Canisius, Medaille and Buffalo State
I would also be nice to reconnect Lancaster to Linwood and put townhomes alont the street
Id say we have an excellent opportunity for mixed use and multiple purposes.
Whatever the future plans are...the primary importance needs to be to the benefit of Linwood, Oxford and Harvard being re-integrated into the Delaware community.
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Bizzles
¿Yo me enfrío o lo soplo? ¿Yo me enfrío o lo soplo? Si me voy va ver peligro Si me quedo es doble Me tienes que decir ¿Me debo ir o quedarme?
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SLEEPL8
I love the suggestion "bring back the mansions" ...as though the are in storage somewhere and we just need to dust em off, throw em on a truck and put them back. I agree that this could be a good location for the Elmwood hotel proposal. If Uniland fills their tower perhaps this would be a good site for a second one. Being a realist however, Im going to predict that the structure will sit empty for 15 years at least and will eventually be demolished for surface parking.
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Spaulding97
MMiller, that's probably the worst idea ever. Ya, let's bring in more old people into the city. DUH!
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Biniszkiewicz
Demolish it. Build new high end residential, whether townhouse or tower or free standing. this is a high profile, high dollar, high demand site. No need to subsidize anything here (beyond the hospital merger subsidies). Few locations exist in the city suitable for new expensive housing (where those of means are willing to live). Here is such a place. Focus on the norhteast quadrant of Gates Circle also (the hospital sits on the southeast quadrant). Across the street (norhteast) now sits a big parking lot for the hospital and some medical offices, among other things. That's the ugliest section of the circle. Too bad Uniland didn't buy the northeast quadrant of Gates Circle instead of kitty corner to it. Hopefully someone else will take advantage.
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Spaulding97
It's got great potential, especially if the tower across the street gets built. That being said, it would be awesome if a whole modern mixed complex could go in. Up scale shopping, restaurants, hotel and residential. Hey, it works in other cites.
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sbrof
Could this be Buffalo's Champs-Elysées? =p
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mmiller
Spaulding, I wasn't planning on bussing old people in from other areas, I was talking about the ones that are already here. :)
What about Gates being used as part of the biomedical campus?
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sbrof
It would be cool to get something else very modern across the street from the proposed gates circle condo's, except something with retail, restaurants, more housing to create almost like a neighborhood downtown or at least a modern node. The only thing it would be missing is a subway station rising out of the sidewalk. ;)
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zen
If this complex isn't the prototypical "sore thumb" I don't know what would be. Knock it down, demolish it, blow it up whaever it takes, then come up with ideas. Personally I always thought the area could use a Medieval English styled restaurant.
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Buffalopundit
I don't care what they do, as long as they protect everyone's "air rights". Whatever TF that means.
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wizardofza
I predict this complex will sit and rot for at least 10 years. As I've stated before, Buffalo doesn't really have the market to support such a large-scale redevelopment project. At this point in time, the EV is just starting to see a trickle of small infill projects happen. This will be the trend for the foreseeable future, not megaprojects.
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bison716
I agree with a few of these ideas... Build a grand Hotel or High-end Condos (Tower), or if its possible ($$$)... build a large complex (art-deco style) of high-end retail, restaurants, townhomes, with two 10 story condos on each wing and one huge grand 25-30 story tower with mixed hotel, condo, office, 1st floor high end dining & spa in the middle facing the circle! Place a park and eating area right in the middle of the complex with an art deco fountain surrounded by a huge body of water (more on that later). Create under ground parking, and fill up walkways with trees and gardens everywhere. Place benches, shades and canopies and in the winter months freeze the body of water surrounding the fountain for ice-skating! imagine this complex and the Uniland tower across the street... just dreaming a bit I guess. Hopefully dreams will come true in our great city. We can only hope!
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coolrobc
...or they could move the VA to Gates and sell the property from the VA to UB.
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bison716
OR BUILD THIS! The Electric Tower Soaring to a height of 375 feet stands the Electric Tower, the crowning centerpiece of the Exposition. A spiral stairway in the center leads up to a domed cupola on which is poised a superb figure, the Goddess of Light, overlooking and dominating the entire Exposition. At the base of the tower, on the east side and west sides, two colonnades form a large semi-circle space opening toward the Court of Fountains.
Elevators carry the visitors to the many floors. At the height of 75 feet is a large restaurant, from which one may stroll upon the roof gardens above the colonnades. From the various floors, visitors may obtain views of the Grounds, the City of Buffalo, Lake Erie, and the Niagara River. The color scheme is a creme white, beautifully trimmed in blue and gold, and entire exterior is decorated with beautiful statues. The entire framework is of steel and was the design of architect Howard Cobb of New York.
OR ANY ONE OF THESE LOST BUFFALO GEMS (I kinda like the "Horticulture Building" too):
http://www.buffalohistoryworks.com/panamex/buildings/buildings.htm
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RonR
I say they keep the 11 story section of the complex that fronts Gates Circle and modify that to Senior Housing. Take the 5 story section next to it and convert it to a small business incubator. This would open up Federal and State funds for this and save on Demo.
Next is to demo the rest of the complex. Removing the building that cuts of Lancaster from Linwood. Cut a cobblestone street behind these two buildings, that would create a corner lot on Linwood and Lancaster. On that corner site, build a parking ramp that can be accessed of Lancaster and Linwood for the Senior Housing. You can also skin the parking structure on the two sides facing Lancaster and Linwood with condos to keep the look of the neighborhood and add extra housing.
Keep the parking structure and open the land south of the newly found section of Lancaster between Delaware and Linwood for a hotel. People would be able to access the hotel from two main streets and parking would not effect the area. In fact, having such a large parking structure already in place would go a long way into getting a hotel to build.
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LastCall
A nice condo with some retail and office space on the site...possibly a small grocery store?
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wsg
I lived on Chapin for years. Millard Fillmore could be the ugliest building in the city (what's the competition?), not to mention inappropriate for its site. Tear it down.
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buffknut
Tear it down. This seems like a marketable site to me. Hi-rise condos (20 plus stories) would offer great views. I don't think this site would sit vacant for too long.
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Gotime
Tear it down. Its too far from downtown for office space. I like the idea of another condo tower. It would make that circle look like Columbus Circle in NYC. I recently got a chance to look out the window of the 9th floor looking down Chapin. Amazing view...you could see the mist from the falls both grand Island bridges, the peace bridge.
Forget about the Elmwood Hotel locating there. Hotels need to be in the core of either downtown or Elmwood. The reason the Elmwood project was so appealing was the location. Placing a Boutique hotel here would be crazy. Then again it might work down the road after the area has been developed (high rises, shops restaurants).
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fleur526
I like the idea of the rowhouses or brownstones, done in a style that reflects and compliments the surrounding area, rather than something more modern looking. The buildings could then be used for housing, offices, shops, etc. Moving the VA there would probably be an easy move that would make sense too.
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RonR
WSG-
While it is not pretty today, simple fixes can go a long way. Cutting out larger windows and placing stone details around the windows can do a lot. You are dealing with a building that looks like crap on the outside but has a ton of money invested on the inside. Simply throwing that away does not make sense to me. Take the cost of demo and apply it to the exterior. Take the money that would have been used to build new and spend on making apartments.
Buffknut-
Just curious as to what precedent you are going off that any lot in Buffalo would not sit vacant for long? Added to that, if you are starting from scratch you have to deal with the NIMBY nation in this area. What makes anyone think a mid rise condo is not going to run into the same obstructionism 100yards down the road that Gates Tower is not running into today? If some of the complex were to be rehabbed for Senior housing and small business incubators, the other potential components like a mid rise tower and hotel could all be viewed as one. Thus ensuring that they actually get done. At least that is how I see it. What FILL IN THE BLANK elected leader is going to allow bird migration patterns from holding up the photo shoot on a small business incubator or senior housing in Buffalo? I know they suck but they are not dumb when it comes to PR.
Gotime -
Being close to downtown is not always a great thing. Like I suggested a small business incubator would do really well in this location. Why you ask? Well it is within walking distance to both Buff State AND Canisius. Maybe reaching out to Buff State and Canisius can provide some positive spin off on a lower scale that we are seeing with UB? Maybe placing a incubator that allows for Entrepreneurs from these two schools to get a start in Buffalo might actually keep them in Buffalo once they get started.
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buffknut
RonR - it's just my opinion that of all the properties in the city, this seems about the most marketable one there is. It already has buildings so replacing buildings with buildings (hi-rise condos) should not be as difficult as the Park Lane site. I say shouldn't be but then again, this is Buffalo.
I don't think it makes any sense to put any kind of subsidized senior citizen housing here. I also don't want subsidized incubators. Buffalo needs to look like a city & cities have hi-rise condos with rich tax-paying people living in them.
While we're tearing down places and replacing with hi-rise condos, let's tear down Marine Dr Apts and put some 50 story condos there. Talk about a waste of land.....
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RonR
Buffknut,
Before you map out the grand visions of a new skyline for Buffalo, why don't you read up on the rising cost of Steel and Concrete. Two real big things in building tall. Projects across the US are being stalled or scaled back because of the cost of materials. Among all of the other BS that goes into building in Buffalo, it is getting more expensive buy the minute. Just some food for thought. This is one of the main reasons why I say keep the massive structure made of steel and concrete.
When you do the math of cost of materials in the US, the cost of construction in Buffalo and place that into the real estate values of Buffalo, you will see that hi-rise towers are not in the near future unless there are subsidizes of some sort.
In terms of senior housing...well I am not a fan of any subsidized housing but it has to go somewhere...
In terms of incubators and them not fitting the look of a city, I suggest you get out of Buffalo. Small business incubators are a part of every major city. Reason you ask? It is because small business is what makes great cities. They are better employers, more stable in the market and allow for movement and advancement amongst employees.
Those great skylines you want.... Well most of those tall buildings are filled with small businesses. The name may be the largest tenant but the bulk of the tenants are small and mid sized companies. Oh yea...guess who Albany loves to fund in NYC.... Small Business Incubators..... Some more food for thought.
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inferno
Rebuild Home of the Hits there.
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iamBuffalosfuture
build a replica of the pan-am house
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dpbflo
Hotel, and the Frank lloyd wright gas station
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RonR
IamBuffalosfuture
Maybe Al will move his there house on his city wide tour. It's A Bird ... It's A Plane ... It's a tool with a storage shed from the Pan Am......
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nonono
buffnut, right you are.....
"Buffalo needs to look like a city & cities have hi-rise condos with rich taxpaying people living in them."
too many without your keen vision might claim that building height is a product of population density, and i think that the expression 'rich people who pay taxes' is an oxymoron, but great vision!
what about something completely different, like a replica of the Triangle Shirt Waist Building!
we could simultaneously bring industry, child labor and fashion back to our city! yes, what this city needs more than anything is a garment district.
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Dan
The Buffalo Rising Revulsion Village: a lifestyle center anchored by Whole Foods, Expo and Trader Joe's, with tenants comprising a wide variety of upscale, formerly "everywhere but Buffalo" national chain retailers and restaurants ranging from P.F. Chang's and Ruth's Chris Steakhouse to Restoration Hardware and Z Gallerie. All from the fine folks a t Benderson Development.
:)
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nonono
Question? has anyone in favor of large soaring architecture ever lived in a city outside of your own imaginations? Megalopolises are cold impersonal places, and no one travels from NYC to Dallas or Houston to see more redundant hi-rises. The greatest desire of those who live in hi-rises? Usually its a small private green space or a yard. "Too far from downtown?" " We dont want more old people"? Who are you people? I dont understand these comments at all, not at all.
This used to be rah rah rising right? And we are the vitriolic trolls who are hopelessly negative? I remember when loving this city meant LOVING this city, warts and all. We have an opportunity to revitalize our city in smart new ways that do not slavishly imitate failed models of the past. We can create a city that attempts to work for EVERYONE, where everyone can WORK !
Your dreams are envious, and your visions unimaginative, and inhuman. These suggestions come not from pride in our city, or considered urban realities, but from some grasping desperate insecurity {edit, filth}
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Dan
RonR> In terms of senior housing...well I am not a fan of any subsidized housing but it has to go somewhere...
That's right, because if there's one thing Buffalo doesn't have enough of, it's senior citizen housing complexes.
(Hey, where's the rolleyes smiley?)
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RisingDamp666
The tower portion has a great streetwall and should be apartments, not condos. A condo tower behind that structure, that rises thirty or so stories would complete the site. Just demolish the dreck and maximize the rest. ( And let's hope that a new tower on the site doesn't cast a solar glare toward the Park Lane. Those palid skinned weenies might Lippe off ) Why not push hard to get a critical mass at Gates Circle? A great urban space with high density and high tone could be within reach...so reach.
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gaustad
isn't this a landmark - can't we preserve it, how many people died in this hospital?
If the new condo tower does not go up at the park lane, we can use this land, right? Or would that be encroaching Olmstead circle.
Olmstead would be rolling over in his grave - mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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viking
Leave it as it is, let the State run it as a medical training college, as an extension to the UB medical program. Maybe if we had more medical personnel the cost of care would be reasonable and more of our doctors would be home grown again. A wellness clinic would go along way to lowering our medicare expense by offering early intervention and preventive care.
Think of the expense and time saved, if your doctor had testing and treatment labs on premises, half the problem of medical malpractice occurs in communication between geographically separated medical services.
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Martin
A Delta Sonic would be ideal for that corner!
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Metropolis
Boutique hotel
Million dollar condos
Anything high-end to feed off of the Delaware district success and to integrate the beauty of Delaware and the parkway.
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WeLovePanos
I predict NOTHING will happen here for 10-12 years...
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gaustad
It will be the worlds largest crack house right on Olmstead circle.
Olmstead would roll over in his grave. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm
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Andrew
Bizzles- ¿Qué estás diciendo?
Let Kaleida demolish it with their money then sell the property
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lulu
Medical Training Facility with senior housing.
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redbaron
I don't think it should be closed at all. It's the closest hospital for the majority of the west side and north buffalo. Buff General and Sister's are close but I have always gone to this hospital and will miss it being closed. I had a relative pass away there and another who worked there for 25 years, its part of my life. Wasn't General supposed to be closed a couple of years ago when the staff wasn't getting paid? Why the turn around? Why all of the sudden Millard instead of General? If and when it does close the original building should stay be converted into reasonably priced apartments and all the other bldgs on the site should be demolished so there can be parking and green space.
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RisingDamp666
Demolish it and build a hospital on the site.
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BROKEEPSBLOCKINGME
demolish it build a tower there and let Paladino run the parking ramp...
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hjarvis
What a wonderful opportunity to really take a strategic look at what would best fit into the Olmstead circle environment, aesthetically AND functionally. The circle borders on to historic districts, and should be the merged with them, Linwood and Delaware Park and the cemetary.
This is the chance of a century and we shouldn't mess it up.
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Toad
Here is a novel idea. Rather than have WCHOB demolish more homes on West Utica and Hodge Ave for a 175,000 sq. ft ambulatory center and a 1,000 car + surface parking lot, move the ambulatory center to Gates Circle - Millard Fillmore that is already setup for these types of services and has a parking garage that is not controlled by the City of Buffalo. It is a perfect win-win for everyone.
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