Nokia Nears Decision on Regional HQ

The Westchester County IDA approved Nokia's application for unspecified sales and use tax exemptions for its plan to house its regional operations in Westchester County. Nokia's in its application would have the company initially occupy 54,767 sf of space at 709 Westchester Ave. in White Plains and about 16 to 18 months later, after renovations are complete, occupy the entire 102 Corporate Park Drive building at the White Plains/Harrison border, which totals 102,500-sf. Both properties are owned by EastRidge Properties. The company in its application put its regional headquarters project cost at more than $29 million.

Mark Weingarten, a partner in the White Plains-based law firm DelBello, Donnellan, Weingarten, Tartaglia, Wise & Wiederkehr LLP who represents Nokia, says the company has not made a final decision on where it wants to house its regional headquarters. The firm would relocate some employees from New York City and Irving, TX, to the new regional office.

"We are hoping that a decision will be made in the next two to three weeks," he says.

If it decides on the option currently before the Westchester County IDA, the firm will have about 150 workers housed at the temporary offices at 709 Westchester Ave. Once the renovations are complete on the permanent office at 102 Corporate Park Dr., Nokia is expected to eventually ramp up its employment to a total workforce of about 300 employees there.

Keith Nowak, a spokesman for Nokia Americas, released a statement concerning the Westchester IDA incentives that states, "Nokia sincerely appreciates the warm welcome that we have received here in New York. We are currently examining the mutual benefits that may be realized by all involved parties as part of our site selection, and no final decision has been made as to the ultimate location of the metro area Nokia corporate office."

Previously, Nowak has said that the company wants the regional headquarters office operational by mid-year, which lends considerable credence to reports that a decision is expected soon. Cushman & Wakefield, which is representing Nokia in its site selection review process in New York and Connecticut, had no comment on the status of the company's office search.