The Westchester County Industrial Development Agency approved a resolution on Thursday, Feb. 7 to hire the two firms to help draft Requests for Qualifications and later a Request for Proposals regarding the biotechnology center to be built on county-owned property at the Westchester Medical Center's "Grasslands" campus in Valhalla. County officials say they hope to select a designated developer later this year for the venture.

The biotechnology center envisioned by the county would total between 300,000 sf and one million sf. There are several other private biotechnology proposals that have been proposed in Westchester County. LCOR Inc. has received approvals to build an additional 320,000 sf of biotech space at its Landmark at Eastview complex in Greenburgh. The Landmark at Eastview totals 700,000 sf of existing biotech space and is currently approximately 95 percent occupied. In addition, New York Presbyterian Hospital is in the approval process in the City of White Plains to add two flex-style biotechnology buildings at its campus that would each total 192,500 sf.

The Westchester County IDA also approved a resolution to extend the contract of RKG Associates Inc., of Durham, N.H., to continue working on the county's economic development action plan, including the continuation of existing programs now being undertaken by the IDA and the Westchester County Office of Economic Development.

The Feb. 7 session was the first meeting for newly installed IDA Chairman Vincent Rappa, a lawyer and acting judge in New Rochelle, who was recently appointed by Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano to succeed William Mulrow who recently stepped down from the position in order to direct more of his efforts into his campaign for State Comptroller. The Bronxville resident, seeking the Democratic nomination for the state post, headed the seven-member board for three years.

Commenting on the appointment of Mulrow, County Executive Spano says, "Bill has done a great job with the IDA and seen the agency through some of its most productive years. His professionalism and financial expertise have been a key factor in the agency's ability to promote economic development throughout the county. Under his leadership -- and in the first six months of 2001 alone -- the agency helped retain or expand 600,000 sf of office space and more than 1,300 jobs."

Spano notes that Rippa was an ideal choice to take over leadership of the county-sponsored public benefit corporation because of his years of municipal and legal experience. Rippa, who has his own law practice in Purchase, was mayor of New Rochelle from 1976 to 1979 and served on the Westchester County Board of Legislators from 1972 to 1975. He has also been chairman of the Westchester County Tax Commission since 1983.

"It's no secret that times have gotten tight all-round," Spano says. "The agency will need guidance from a strong community-minded individual if it wants to continue with the kinds of successes it has achieved so far. I think Vinnie is just the kind of person we need.

Instant Insights /

Westchester County Moves to Develop Biotech Center

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