Westchester County Executive Andrew Spano says that the first phase of creating a new biotechnology and medical research park at the Grasslands campus is now underway. The project could involve the construction of as much as one million sf of space.

More than 30 private developers that have expressed interest in the "Westchester Medical Research Park" are now being asked to submit their qualifications to the Westchester Office of Economic Development in the form of a Request for Qualification. Three to five finalists will be invited to prepare formal proposals for development and a final developer will be selected by late fall, county officials say. The 100-page RFQs were mailed out to those firms that have contacted the county about the venture last Friday (April 12).

Developer interest in the county's proposal is "phenomenal," according to Salvatore J. Carrera, the county director of economic development/real estate. Some of the firms that have contacted the county regarding the medical research project include: HRH Construction, TishmanSpeyer Properties, Hines Interests Ltd., Simone Development, Starrett Corp., Louis Dreyfus Property Group, Robert Martin Co., Eastgate Realty and Grubb & Ellis.

"Westchester already has a number of biotech and medical research firms and is a growing player in those industries," County Executive Spano says. "A complex of this magnitude would build on that recognition and catapult us to new levels of achievement. It would also open up new opportunities for companies and academic researchers who want to collaborate on new medical treatments."

Westchester County currently has 8,000 workers engaged in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries. County officials say that there is sufficient pent-up demand by existing Westchester County biotech firms that are looking to expand their operations and potential relocation candidates to make the project a success.

Westchester County is working with the Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College and New York State's Empire State Development Corp., to develop the research facility on a vacant 60-acre county-owned site next to the medical center in Valhalla. The plan is to build laboratory and incubator space that would attract "well established companies as anchor tenants, as well as small and start-up medical and biotechnology firms."

Carrera says that the county has held some discussions with Mount Pleasant officials regarding local approvals that might be necessary. Currently, the property is zoned for residential use. The county plans to undertake an environmental review in conformance with the state's SEQRA regulations.

"Zoning issues will be addressed once we move forward with the project," he adds.

The Westchester Medical Research Park is just one of three new ventures that could be marketing to prospective biotechnology, biomedical or pharmaceutical firms in the near future. New York Presbyterian Hospital is currently awaiting final approval from the City Council of White Plains to build, two 192,500-sf buildings at its White Plains campus. The project would include space for the "Center for Advanced Proton Technology" that would feature a proton beam accelerator used for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Also, LCOR Inc., has received approvals to build an additional 320,000-sf of biotech space at its Landmark at Eastview complex in Greenburgh.

Instant Insights /

Westchester Launches Biomedical Development Initiative

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