Buffalo, N.Y. (WBEN) - The way Congressman Tim Kennedy (D, NY-26) sees it, replacing the aging and obsolete VA Hospital in Buffalo isn't a wish list item. Rather, it should be a top priority.
But here's the rub: Despite slightly more than $1 billion being allocated for a new regional VA Hospital in 2022, that money was withdrawn in February 2024. Now the project sits in development oblivion.
The 1.4 million-square-foot, 154-bed hospital opened in 1949 and, by all accounts, is - on its best days - considered obsolete, and on other days considerably worse.
"That's no way to treat our veterans," Kennedy said.
Doug Collins, VA Secretary, said he understands that the Bailey Avenue complex is 76 years, but he cautions the average age of most federal VA hospitals are more than 60-years-old.
Plans to replace the hospitals isn't likely to happen anytime soon. Kennedy isn't buying that.
"The façade is crumbling, the carpeting is old, the HVAC system needs to be replaced," Kennedy said.
Three years ago, when the $1 billion-plus was allocated for a new hospital, veterans groups were beyond excited.
There was talk - and even some very preliminary site and scout work done - that focused on the hospital moving from Bailey Avenue into the Buffalo Niagara Medical Campus.
That would have been a huge economic boost for the medical campus and the surrounding Downtown Buffalo and Allentown neighborhoods.
Now, any such talk remains in development dry dock.
"It's shame, the doctors need a better hospital to treat their patients and we owe that to our veterans," Kennedy said.