Kaleida Health has closed the parking lot at High and Ellicott streets, directly across from the Buffalo General Medical Center. The lot is being closed as crews begin site preparation for construction of the new John R. Oishei Children’s Hospital, a 12-floor, 185-bed, free-standing, modern facility
Site preparation includes fencing the site, implementing a traffic plan, removing the asphalt from the parking lot, and releasing the shop drawings for shoring, steel and outer walls.
Full construction on the new hospital is expected to start in the coming weeks, upon receipt of all required approvals. Kaleida Health is currently in the financing process with its primary lender, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Kaleida Health still has a number of steps to complete in the HUD process, but hopes to complete them in the next 8-10 weeks.
For patients and visitors headed to the Buffalo General Medical Center and the Gates Vascular Institute, the smaller surface lot on the opposite corner of High and Ellicott Streets will remain open. General and handicapped parking is available in the Ellicott Goodrich Garage. Signage and Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus parking ambassadors will direct people to park at that facility.
Patients and visitors may also utilize valet service for a convenient alternative to self-parking. As always, patients can be dropped off directly at the lobby entrances of Buffalo General or the Gates Vascular Institute.
For added convenience, shuttle service is available from the Ellicott/Goodrich parking ramp at the Ellicott Street entrance. Shuttle service will travel to Buffalo General, the emergency room and the Gates Vascular Institute. Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus ambassadors and valet attendants can assist with calling for a shuttle.
The capital campaign to assist in building the new hospital continues to proceed as planned. Nearly $38 million of the $42-million capital campaign has been raised. In addition to this, $2.5 million has been raised to create endowments for some of the hospital’s family support programs including Stones Buddies (for chronically ill children), as well as a neonatal intensive care unit family resources endowment.