BUFFALO, NY – Frustrated by what it calls broken promises and a lack of action, Episcopal Church Homes and Affiliates Life Care Community, doing business as Canterbury Woods, has filed a lawsuit against Montante Group LLC, the developers of the former Millard Fillmore Hospital property at Gates Circle.
Montante purchased the land and leveled the hospital building through an implosion October 3rd 2015.
Canterbury Woods purchased part of the property (the parcel upon which the largest hospital building once stood) for $5 million and constructed a senior living facility which opened two years later on October 3rd, 2017.
In court papers, Canterbury Woods said it was bringing the suit to enforce part of its written purchase agreement, which it described as a promise by Montante to build a road connecting Delaware Ave. and Lafayette Ave.
Canterbury Woods claims was supposed to have been completed by May of 2017. However, one and a half years after that date, the road has yet to open.
In addition, Canterbury’s lawsuit seeks the immediate removal a “giant mass of loose debris” which it claims “currently spills, drains, and blows from the yet to be developed property onto the immediately adjacent senior living facility.”
The large pile, several stories in height, is described in the lawsuit as being composed of debris from the demolition hospital buildings, and is believed “to contain hazardous materials which may threaten the health of Canterbury’s senior residents, employees and guests.”
Its prescience, according to Canterbury’s claim, is also impacting its ability to land residents for its facility.
Canterbury seeks damages of at least $500,000 plus other associated costs.