Erie County Medical Center 1978-Present By 1962, when it was obvious to everyone that Meyer Memorial Hospital was severely cramped for space and its facilities were woefully obsolete, a proposal for a new hospital building on Grider Street was announced. At the time, there was also a keen interest in the construction of a multi-million dollar domed stadium for professional sports, which had the support of several county legislators. Yet, despite the area’s great devotion to sports, the priority of the new hospital was eventually established and nine years after the proposal, the building of the hospital was approved by the county legislature on March 16, 1971. When construction began that fall, the time to build it was estimated at five years and the cost at $91.7 million. 36 Construction of ECMC, 1971-1978.