In January, Evergreen Health and CAS announced the purchase of land at the intersection of Kensington and Bailey Avenue to serve as the future home of a new healthcare facility. Today they are showing off the preliminary design for the new building which will replace an existing facility at 3297 Bailey Avenue.
This initial rendering created by CPL, the Buffalo-based architecture and engineering firm selected for the project, was shaped by feedback from the community at various neighborhood events and block club and community meetings, in addition to input from community stakeholders and advisors, and Evergreen and CAS employees.
The building is anticipated to be three-stories, just under 40,000 square feet, and built to the street to comply with the Green Code. The building has been designed to fit in with the Bailey Avenue business district through the use of legacy materials such as brick and by keeping in scale with the Kensington-Bailey neighborhood. At the request of stakeholders, modern design elements such as floor-to-ceiling exterior windows will add transparency to the building and a glow of evening light from the building to the high-traffic corner. There are also plans to engage a local artist to design a mural on the brick exterior.
Evergreen Health and CAS are also working closely with Hallmark Planning & Development, a Buffalo-based minority urban planning consulting firm specializing in community planning, public engagement, placemaking, and commercial real estate, on community outreach efforts.
“To effectively meet the healthcare needs and expectations for residents within the Kensington-Bailey area and nearby neighbors, we have prioritized our community-focused efforts, including meeting with local community members in person, connecting with the community through our project website, distributing surveys, and more, to help understand how the new CAS and Evergreen location can best serve individuals, while also contributing to the revitalization of the Bailey-Kensington neighborhood,” said Ray Ganoe, president and CEO, Evergreen Health. “As an organization, it is our mission to provide comprehensive care services and programs to fulfill the needs of our community. We received tremendous feedback from our neighbors during our first public meeting in April, and based on their feedback, we are excited to share the first draft rendering of this new healthcare facility.”
Since 2003, CAS, an affiliate of Evergreen Health, has connected the community to quality healthcare and supportive services, including HIV testing and counseling, health support groups, nutrition outreach and education, food donations, and more. Together, the two organizations continue to provide individuals and families throughout Western New York with access to medical, supportive and behavioral services, especially those who are underserved by the healthcare system, with Evergreen celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
“Our goal for this new facility is to help make inclusive and judgment-free healthcare available to even more people in our community,” said Kim Brown, executive director, Community Access Services. “In holding these public meetings, we can continue to identify the key areas that will positively impact and change the lives of many local individuals.”
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