Governor Kathy Hochul has cleared the way for the next phase of a sweeping overhaul at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, announcing on Feb. 17 that the state has approved a construction contract to demolish a long-condemned parking garage on the hospital campus.
The garage, which has been out of service, will be torn down to make room for a new hospital annex, a key component of the governor’s $1.1 billion plan to modernize the central Brooklyn facility. The annex is slated to include a state-of-the-art ambulatory surgery center focused on expanding cardiology and oncology services.
The demolition marks a shift from planning to construction in a broader effort to revitalize the hospital’s aging infrastructure. In Dec. 2025, state officials announced the start of design work for two major projects tied to the investment. Those projects include both the construction of the new annex and extensive upgrades to the existing hospital building.
“Every New Yorker deserves access to high-quality medical care,” Hochul said. “Through the demolition of this out-of-service garage, the new hospital annex will be able to be built and real progress will be made in providing higher quality services and support for the Brooklyn community. This is an essential step forward in the modernization of SUNY Downstate’s hospital, and I am thrilled that we are moving full speed ahead.”
The modernization plan calls for converting all double-occupancy inpatient rooms into private rooms with showers, expanding the emergency department, and addressing long-standing mechanical, electrical and plumbing needs. The annex will further expand outpatient surgical capacity, strengthening specialty care in areas that disproportionately affect Brooklyn residents.
The initiative stems from recommendations made by the Downstate Community Advisory Board, a community-driven body formed to help shape the hospital’s future. In Jun. 2025, Hochul backed the board’s call for more than $1 billion in reinvestment at the site.
State lawmakers approved $750 million in capital funding for the hospital across the FY 2024–2025 and 2025–2026 budgets. SUNY has also committed to directing an anticipated $50 million in annual capital allocations toward the project over its duration, bringing the total investment above $1 billion.
Dr. Wayne J. Riley, president of Downstate, said the garage’s removal clears the path for a modern annex that will expand ambulatory surgery and enhance specialty services while upgrading care delivery in central Brooklyn.
Russo Development Enterprises, a woman-owned business selected through a competitive process, will lead the demolition.
As construction advances, updates will be posted at astrongerdownstate.org.
