The Urban Land Institute (ULI) has worked around the clock over the past week in order to create their vision for the reuse of Millard Fillmore Gates which is to close next year. ULI is a non-profit research and education organization that focuses on issues of land use and real estate development. The ULI panel has spent hours researching, interviewing, and envisioning the future use of the property.
The Kaleida Health Board of Directors has created a small steering committee to vet the draft ULI report and to help determine what options are truly viable. ULI’s report is non-binding and recommendations only for Kaleida Health. Kaleida Health will not be involved in actual redevelopment of the property because it goes beyond their mission. Kaleida expects to transfer the complex to a “single purpose entity” that would guide redevelopment of the site.
A full report from the ULI will be made available within 90 days, but the draft report shows a promising proposal for the reuse of the complex. The proposal calls for 150 market-rate apartments, 150 condos, a boutique hotel component with 20-30 rooms, and a 60-bed extended care facility. It also includes 45,000 sq. ft. of medical and professional offices, 15,000 sq. ft. for a grocery store, and 20,000 sq. ft. for other retail.
The proposal calls for the demolition of 380,000 sq. ft. and the restoration of 420,000 sq. ft. of historic buildings on the site. One of the most interesting aspects of the proposal is the extension of Lancaster Avenue across Delaware and through to Linwood. With a site this large the only seemingly viable option is to create a mixed-use complex. If the entire complex was converted to condos the market could become flooded and the neighbors would likely stand in opposition.
New infill buildings with retail on the first floor and residential space above are proposed along the Lancaster Avenue extension. New housing would be added along Linwood in front of the existing parking ramp that would be expanded.
A partial demolition of the main building on Gates Circle has been proposed for a number of reasons. The new design (concept right) is much more pedestrian friendly, it is more architecturally interesting, and the smaller design is more scaled to the area and the circle itself.
Kaleida will be closing its Gates Circle facilities in early 2012 and expects to relinquish the title to the property on January 1, 2013. Redevelopment could start as early as one year later. There will be more opportunities for the community to voice concerns/ideas later this year.
To see the Power Point prepared by the ULI panel, click here.