BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The old Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospital is still scheduled to come down Saturday morning.

The implosion is slated for 7 a.m. and Ontario Specialty Contracting President John Yensan says based on projected wind speeds, there won't be any delays.

"30 miles per hour, we'll make a judgment call, but right now, it's forecast to be 17," said Ontario Specialty Contracting President John Yensan.

Mayor Byron Brown says safety continues to be his biggest concern.

In addition to a 500-foot perimeter that will be closed off for hours before the implosion, Brown said the Buffalo Fire Department will sound a series of alarms.

"There will be four warning alarms, one at 6:30, one at 6:50, one at 6:57 and one at 6:59 before the implosion actually takes place," Brown said.

Buffalo Streets Commissioner Steve Stepniak said the implosion will not bring any infrastructure concerns.

"Anything that would need to be cut off or shut off was taken care of, but we'll do an evaluation once the demo is done just to check," Stepniak said.

Yensan said his crew is also doing a pre-demolition survey of surrounding buildings to document their current condition.

"Furthermore, we'll be doing seismic monitoring at six or seven locations during the implosion, and after the implosion, we'll do a post-demolition survey of those same structures to verify that there hasn't been any damage," Yensan said.

Buffalo Fire Department Commissioner Garnell Whitfield said he has volunteered the department to do fenceline testing of debris.

"We're just going to be doing air monitoring, not doing anything in particular, just monitoring the air to see what comes from the demolition," Whitfield.

Yensan reiterated that all harmful materials have been removed from the building. He said anyone watching the implosion is welcome to wear a mask, but will not need one.

If you would prefer to watch it from home, Time Warner Cable News will carry the implosion live.

Streets that will be closed Saturday morning include:

  • Delaware Avenue at Delavan Avenue. Southbound traffic on Delaware will detour onto Delavan to either Main Street or Elmwood Avenue.
  • Cleveland Avenue, Auburn Avenue and Lancaster Avenue east of Elmwood.
  • Chapin Parkway east of Delavan.
  • Lafayette Avenue east of Elmwood and west of Linwood Avenue.
  • Linwood at Balcom Street. Northbound traffic on Linwood will detour on Balcom east to Main.
  • Balcom will be converted to a two-way street from Main to Linwood.

The site will eventually be the home of 500 apartments and condos, grocery store, health and wellness center and retirement community.