Amherst Redevelopment

Former Governor George Pataki mobilized the New York State Commission on Health Care Facilities and charged the group with right sizing the health care delivery system across the state.  Known as the Berger report and issued in late 1996, the recommendations included the closing of Millard Fillmore Hospital located at Gates Circle in Buffalo.  The closure is imminent and, as a result, many physicians practices are looking to relocate in Amherst to be in close proximity to Millard Fillmore Suburban Hospital.  In anticipation of the demand for increased medical office space, developers have been purchasing properties in the vicinity of  'Suburban'.

The Amherst Chamber of Commerce has a long standing collaborative working relationship with both Kaleida/Millard Suburban and the Town of Amherst Planning Department and has served as a liaison on many projects over the years between the two entities.  For that reason, we are recommending the creation of a Medical Overlay District to make the development of medical projects more cost effective for developers and tenants.  Our goal is to ensure qualifying properties are zoned appropriately, precluding the need for variances and making the site plan approval process more efficient and timely at the same time as providing the delivery of medical services needed by our residents with no interruption.

We expect to convene a working group of individuals, composed of representatives from the Amherst Industrial Development Agency, the Town of Amherst Planning Department and Kaleida later this month.  We will keep you abreast of our progress and welcome your input.