Residents dream of post-hospital transformation

Jennifer Ricci/Michael Allen
These are the big hopes for the future of the
That follows a deal announced Monday by the Niagara Health System in which a
I’m looking forward to a change for the better,” said Stephanie Bent of Stephanie’s Gifts and Flowers, located across
“I’m sure we’re going to get a lot more walk-ins.”
Marion Brunett, who works part-time at Stephanie’s and lives nearby on
The NHS has signed the hospital deal with Panoramic Properties Inc.-Butera Group, with the purchase price not revealed until the property is transferred in the spring of next year.
Meanwhile, Panoramic’s architect says plans are to save as much of the existing structure as possible. It is not yet known if the units will be for sale or rent.
In the opinion of Andreas Fortis, the 30-year-old co-owner of Fortis Family Restaurant on
The area around the eatery is already pretty rough, said Fortis, whose restaurant advertises it’s been around since 1966.
“There weren’t the problems you’re seeing here now,” he said. “So if there’s anything that could make that better, we’re all for it.”
Eating inside Fortis was Danielle Klignan of
“They actually think (the hospital redevelopment) is a good thing,” said Klingnan, who was born in the hospital.
“There’s a plan, so that it doesn’t just become…..this empty building spot for many years and nothing happens.”
Don Meisner, seen nearby taking his granddaughter home from
“They’ve got to do something with it,” said Meisner, a retired drywaller who lives on