Discussions halted for new veterinary school in Buffalo

Plans for a veterinary school at the former Millard Filmore Gates Circle Hospital site in Buffalo, N.Y., have ceased after a "lengthy, good faith discussion," says Mark Cushing, JD, a partner at Tonkon Torp, founding partner of Animal Policy Group, and consultant to Chason Affinity.

Kaleida Health, a large healthcare provider in western New York, selected Chason Affinity, a real estate development company, to develop the former human hospital site into a new school of veterinary medicine with selective demolition, adaptive reuse and historic preservation, for a total estimated project cost of $65 million, according to an Aug. 28, 2012, Kaleida press release.

At this point, the prospect of a new school has ended, but Cushing says there was enough good progress and interest to move forward with other projects that will tie into the veterinary healthcare industry at different locations in the Buffalo area.

Cushing says details about the future plan are confidential but that it involves a "unique veterinary suite" and that more information will be announced in the fall.