BUFFALO, N.Y. — Cementing its commitment to residents of Buffalo's west side, Neighborhood Health Services announced an agreement to buy 300 Niagara St., soon to be its second office on that street.
The Center announced an agreement with Kaleida to purchase the Niagara Street building, the site of the former Columbus Hospital.
Kaleida acquired the office in 1998 to open the Kaleida Niagara Family Health Center. Neighborhood Health Center in partnership with Kaleida Health, opened its third office at 300 Niagara Street in 2011 as a means to ensure access to primary care on Buffalo's west side.
“This announcement comes at a critical point as continued access to primary care for patients amid this public health emergency is more vital now than ever before,” said Joanne Haefner, Chief Executive Officer of Neighborhood Health Center. “As the ongoing negative effects of COVID-19 continue to exacerbate social and medical inequities for many in our communities, we must remain open to provide continued necessary care. Furthermore, we believe this opportunity extends our desires to have a more permanent public health presence in the community.”
Neighborhood Health Center provides primary care to more than 25,000 WNYers.
“We are happy to have Neighborhood Health Center continue to carry out a tradition of providing access to primary care in the lower west side,” said Michael Hughes, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff of Kaleida Health. “Our hope was to always establish a permanent presence for primary care in this community when we first opened over 20 years ago. This partnership with Neighborhood Health Center not only ensures that this continues, but grows.”