An April 18 groundbreaking ceremony was scheduled for the $1.2 billion University Medical Center in New Orleans. Demolition of existing buildings and clearing of the 34-acre construction site is expected to begin in June and last until October. Foundation work and initial utility installation is expected to start in September for the new 424-bed teaching hospital, which is designed as a replacement facility for the city's old Charity Hospital. According to a posting on the project's Facebook site, the facility is expected to open in April 2014. Meanwhile, however, U.S. Sen. David Vitter (R-La.), sent a letter April 11 to the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department protesting the hospital's “extravagant, unsustainable” size and financing plan.