Hospitals in KW

[panamaniac]

I hope they don't let the minimum 50 Acres site determine the perfect site for the Hospital.  It is such an arbitrary number forced by the province. The Aud lands are the clear front runner for best site in terms of car and transit access. No doubt the panel is going to recommend a site in south kitchener or by the St. Jacobs Market. I don't agree with some of you that we can just keep expanding the existing Hospitals in the Region. There is no room on the st. Mary's site to expand, and GRH is such a Frankenstein of a building that it would cost more to expand/ upgrade the site to meet the needs of our growing city then it would be to build new. They are also not one "Mega Hospital", the plan is to keep GRH operational and close St. Mary's. It will function as the main hospital in our Region and beyond though. Wouldn't it be nice if residents in the region and guelph didn't need to go to Hamilton or London for medical procedures?

I hope Zehr is fighting like hell for the Aud site.  They've been surprisingly successful, so far, in keeping the location from becoming a matter of public controversy.  St Mary's could, in theory, be expanded into the surrounding neighbourhood.  SunLife could stir things up by offering to donate it's adjacent parking lot for an expansion of GRH.   I don't know whether any local hospital development would eliminate the need for sending serious trauma cases, among other things, to London or Hamilton.

One thing we don't know about the 50 acre requirement is whether it is just for a new hospital or whether future medical-related developments are being anticipated.

I'm sceptical about a 10,000 seat arena at the transit statiion but, if that render is accurate, perhaps it's possible.  It would be good to give DTK a new focal point.