St Paul's hospital to close

[Gay Boy Roberto]

(CBC) Vancouver's St. Paul's hospital will close, and a new facility will be built in East Vancouver, near Main Street and Terminal Avenue, Providence Health Care has announced.



The announcement was made at a news conference at the Health Authority Monday morning.



The century-old facility in downtown Vancouver is badly in need of seismic upgrading and there has long been speculation it could be demolished and replaced.



The province has said it`s committed to revitalizing the hospital and Premier Christy Clark pledged half a billion dollars to improve it three years ago.



Critics have opposed moving the hospital to False Creek saying it will remove a vital health care resource from the city's West End.

[RW]

That's still within in the downtown core, no?   What will the impact be if it is moved a dozen blocks?

[Romero]

Tough one. It totally sucks there won't be a St. Paul's Hospital. It totally sucks there won't be that incredible history and architecture.



But it would cost at least half a billion dollars. It's an earthquake disaster just waiting to happen.



Main and Terminal is a good location, provided that downtowners can get there fast enough. It's not a bad location for Downtown Eastside. Hopefully there will be some medical something in its place. At least a little something more than just more @#$%ing condos.

[Romero]

http://www.providencehealthcare.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/field/image/StPaulsHospitalExterior.jpg?itok=Dr9Dc5XW">



http://www.heritagevancouver.org/images/stpauls_1923_CVA.jpg">

[RW]

I hope they put some health center there as well if they take it out.



St. Paul's holds a special place in my heart as my kids were born there.

[Romero]

Wow! I'm only several blocks away. I've been there for business, a bruised elbow, and a fractured arm.

[RW]

I was only there for babies.