Remedial work will start soon on a multi-phased project planned at the former Millard Fillmore Hospital site on Gates Circle. Developers plan to transform the West Side site into a retirement community, apartment complex and community center.The Erie County Industrial Development Agency this week approved a $2 million loan to help deal with environmental cleanup.
"The site has contamination which we have to remediate prior to us getting to the shovel-ready state where we can start construction," said J. Timothy Vaeth, president of TM Montante Development.
Crews must remove ruptured underground storage tanks and perform a number of tasks inside the vacant hospital. Vaeth said the early tasks aren't "glamorous," but are necessary steps before the hospital can be demolished and construction can begin.
"Everybody is probably wondering 'When is a building going to come down' or 'When are we going to see real movement?' That's probably not going to happen until early summer, because we have to do all the prep work inside the buildings," he said.
Vaeth told WBFO it is critical to finish remediation work by the end of 2015 because the developer expects to receive state brownfield tax credits to cover the expenses. The program is expected to expire at the end of the year.
The first building phase could begin in September when crews are scheduled to start work on a Canterbury Woods retirement community. Other phases include a proposed YMCA community center, 500 apartments and a food store. If all phases become reality, the project's price tag could exceed $100 million.