In about two years, the current Women and Children's Hospital campus will be vacant. Thursday night, possible developers are giving us an idea of what they'd like to see on the Elmwood Avenue site.
Kaleida Health released its Request for Proposal documents for the urban campus redevelopment. The group said it had two main intentions when the RFP was sent out. Kaleida wanted developers to define mixed uses of the buildings and show how they saw the project working, while at the same time creating a proposal that was compatible with the existing neighborhood.
There are seven buildings on the campus itself - the Alfiero, the Annex, C and D buildings, the MH building, the Tanner and the Variety buildings. They range between 6,800 to 37,200 square feet, and sit on parcels of land on Bryant Street, Hodge Avenue, and West Utica Street.
In its report, Kaleida Health outlined the characteristics of the Elmwood Village neighborhood. The report calls the neighborhood the "strongest urban housing market, most robust retail district" with the "most magnetic street life." The group says development on the site should promote walkability and be mixed-use. It should also follow Green Code standards set forth by the City of Buffalo.
Additionally, Kaleida says community values should be kept in mind as the area is developed, and parking concerns should be addressed, with the developer working to find creative parking solutions.
Thursday night, five developers who believe they have plans that fit Kaleida Health's requirements will present their work. A meeting will be held at Kleinhan's Music Hall from 5:30-7:30 p.m.
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