Kaleida Health eyes healthcare 'hub' in Lockport

Ben Joe, Niagara Gazette, Niagara Falls, N.Y.
·2 min read

Nov. 22—LOCKPORT — Kaleida Health plans to set up physicians' offices in the vacated David Cadillac dealership at 6009 South Transit Road. The site plan was the subject of a Tuesday night public hearing held by the Lockport town planning board.

The building now held by Benderson Development is the second property on South Transit that the development company is refitting for a healthcare group. Buffalo Medical Group is opening physicians' offices on the first floor of the old First Niagara Bank administration building at 6960 South Transit Road.

Benderson attorney James Boglioli said a variety of practitioners will occupy space in the Kaleida Health development. The building is in a good location, a "central" location that people can get to easily.

"There's a community that needs to be served here," he said.

Buffalo Business First reported earlier this month that Kaleida Health is planning to centralize its operations with "hubs" in the Southtowns and Northtowns alongside its existing operations in Buffalo. In Lockport, the Northtowns hub will be accessible to residents of eastern Niagara County as well as East Amherst and Clarence in Erie County.

Planning board member Marie Bindeman asked Boglioli about the expected effects on traffic volume and flow.

Boglioli said that, unlike a retail shopping center, which is another possible reuse of the property and one that would cause traffic to spike on Saturdays and evenings, a suite of doctor's offices operating during the daytime Monday through Friday would have no noticeable impact on traffic.

Planning board member Joseph Castle asked about signage. Boglioli said signs would be spread out on the property and visible from the road.

Benderson's site plan includes changes in parking, increased setbacks around the building, and new landscaping.

The planning board did not vote on the site plan Tuesday. Town engineer Rob Klavoon said he has mailed his comments on the site plan to Benderson and is awaiting its responses.