While we reflect on our 15 years of celebrating, presenting, and reporting all of the facts and figures for you, we wanted to take a look back at some of the biggest events the county has seen.
2010
Companies were on the move in 2010 with such key players as PepsiCo and ITT capitalizing on Westchester’s proximity to New York City. The county’s business environment and lower operating costs attracted real estate and technology companies, and its attractive lifestyle and inviting suburban setting appealed to many of the professionals who moved here.
Law firms, accounting firms, and consulting services comprised the top three industries that moved to Westchester in 2010. The goal for many of these companies was to take advantage of all the county offers and be close enough to the city to serve their clients.
Westchester medical center expanded in 2010 to develop advanced medical technologies and increase its specialized care units, in addition to upgrades to its facilities. The strategy was part of its goal to become a leading regional hospital in critical andspecialty services. The hospital also grew its workforce to meet patient demands and maintain its status as a leading medical center.
As one of the largest employers in the region, Armonk-based IBM impacted the local economy with its demand for high-tech jobs, research, and administration. IBM attracted other businesses to support its operations, and it played a significant role in making the county a tech hub.
Regeneron pharmaceuticals increased its workforce and expanded its facilities on the strength of its new drug for macular degeneration, Eylea. The Tarrytown-based company made significant investments in research and development and sought approval for several new drugs that would fortify the company and set the stage for it to be a leading pharmaceutical developer.
2011
After the 2008 real estate crash, the county started to rebound. The residential market began its recovery with increased buyer interest, especially in the affordable home sector. Though the luxury home market was slower to bounce back, it was on an upward trajectory. Lower interest rates fueled the rebound, and areas like White Plains and Scarsdale in particular gained momentum.
Northern Westchester Hospital expanded its specialty departments, including cancer care, orthopedic surgery, and cardiovascular care in a move designed to make it a leader in health care. Its emergency department has been recognized for its excellence and the hospital’s overall focus on patient care earned the facility high praise in the health care community.
Pepsico launched a set of environmental and sustainable initiatives to reduce the use of water and energy, while lowering greenhouse gas emissions and emphasizing sustainable agriculture throughout its supply chain. It also reduced packaging waste and prioritized recycling.
Proponents for the legalization of expanded gambling in New York gained new ammunition following a Feb. 16 report that estimated the state’s nine racetrack casinos, or racinos, contributed nearly $2 billion in economic activity in the previous year. Empire City Casino at Yonkers Raceway accounted for 35 percent of those dollars, with more than $262 million in direct and indirect economic output, and another $425 million in direct and indirect revenue for the state and surrounding municipalities, according to the report, which was commissioned by the New York Gaming Association.
Yonkers’ downtown boomed with several significant revitalization projects, most notably the development of sites along the waterfront. The Hudson Park Project, with its luxury apartments overlooking the Hudson, made Yonkers a swanky place to call home.
2012
Peter Shapiro, owner of Williamsburg’s Brooklyn Bowl, purchased the iconic Capitol Theatre in Port Chester. An avid music lover and experienced concert promoter, Shapiro made it his personal project to restore the theater to a grand music hall, It was only fitting that his first act after taking over was equally legendary: Bob Dylan.
Westchester County saw a rise in sustainable business initiatives across various sectors.
Notable projects included energy efficiency retrofits for commercial buildings, solar power installations, and environmentally friendly transportation options. Local governments and organizations also collaborated with businesses to support sustainability goals, offering incentives for eco-friendly practices and fostering a culture of corporate responsibility.
Westchester County established the local development board to assist not-for-profit organizations and public benefit corporations in securing tax-exempt bond financing; the savings to municipalities have reached more than $400 million since its creation.
Starwood Hotels and Resorts, which operates many of the county’s hotels, moved its headquarters from White Plains to Stamford, CT, and expanded its global presence through mergers and strategic partnerships. The company continued to focus on growing its portfolio of luxury and upscale brands, such as St. Regis, W Hotels, and Sheraton. Starwood’s expansion involved opening new properties in emerging markets, including Asia and the Middle East, while strengthening its footprint in established regions such as North America and Europe.
Customers Bancorp Inc., with a branch in Rye Brook, announced it had a net income of $7.57 million or 40 cents per diluted share for the fourth quarter of 2012. For 2012, the company’s net income was $23.82 million, or $1.73 per diluted share. Net income for the full year of 2012 increased 496.9% over 2011, and diluted earnings per share (EPS) in 2012 was up 343.6% over the previous year.
2013
Montefiore Health system acquired South Shore Health System and continued its expansion beyond its Bronx headquarters into Westchester by taking over the South Shore Hospital in New Rochelle and Mount Vernon Hospital. With this expansion, Montefiore joined several other health care systems in growing and developing specialty care to provide more comprehensive health services.
Incumbent Rob Astorino defeated opponent Noam Bramson, Democrat mayor of New Rochelle at the time, to win his second term as Westchester’s county executive.
The New York State Senate and Assembly approved the Start-Up NY plan, a modification of Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s Tax-Free NY proposal, which revamped the Excelsior Jobs Program to help existing businesses create jobs, particularly in the manufacturing sector. The plan also took additional steps to reduce taxes for all businesses, lower utility costs, and cut unnecessary government red tape—all aimed at improving the state’s economy and providing a foundation for long-term job growth.
Mastercard established itself as a leader in Westchester County’s financial services sector and its Purchase headquarters was at the center of its growth and success. Its innovative digital payment solutions and mobile commerce put MC at the head of the financial credit world. Its contributions to the local economy included employing hundreds of highly skilled professionals in tech, marketing, and finance, and supporting local education and economic development.
Regeneron continued its growth with new pharmaceuticals targeting rheumatoid arthritis and cancer and by so doing positioned itself as a leader in drug innovation, Its Tarrytown headquarters continued to add staff and facilities to meet the demand for its advances.
Lobbyists set a record for earnings in 2013, pulling in $190 million in total compensation, according to a 2013 report by the New York State Ethics Commission. The Joint Commission on Public Ethics report, released April 3, said total compensation for lobbyists was up from $179 million in 2012. Topping the list of earners was Wilson Elser Moskowitz & Dicker LLP, a Manhattan-based law firm with an office in White Plains. The firm, which brought in $10.8 million from 161 clients, has been the top earner in Albany lobbying for 17 years, according to the New York Law Journal.
2014
Ridge Hill in Yonkers grew its retail and entertainment options to become a premier lifestyle center. Big-name retailers and high-end restaurants made it a destination within the 914 that offered something for allages, interests, and tastes. Its movie theater and other family-oriented attractions added to its appeal as a place for everyone—and its popularity instantly rose.
Regional Residential Real Estate Firm Houlihan Lawrence, with headquarters in Rye Brook and an office in Greenwich, had a companywide sales volume of more than $5 billion in 2013. The “REAL Trends 500” national residential rankings released in 2014, placed Houlihan Lawrence’s companywide sales volume at $5.3 billion, a 14% leap, which ranked the firm No.13 nationally for residential sales. Increased demand for co-op apartments drove an 8 percent rise in residential real estate sales in Westchester County in the fourth quarter of 2014, which kept the county market from a decline in overall housing sales for the year.
While sales of single-family houses dropped nearly 1 percent from 2013, the median sale price of a Westchester house rose 4.1 percent in 2014, to $635,000, according to the Hudson Gateway Association of Realtors.
The construction of the Tappan Zee Bridge replacement went into full swing. The old bridge, built in the 1950s to connect Westchester County to Rockland County over the Hudson River, was a significant development for Westchester residents and a vital cross-river traverse that boosted the local economy.
2015
Westchester County made strides in preserving its natural areas. In 2015, the county acquired several new parks and green spaces, continuing efforts to balance urban development with environmental conservation. This included land acquisitions in the Westchester County Parks System, such as the Mianus River Gorge Preserve.
Westchester County expanded its green initiatives, focusing on sustainability and environmental responsibility across various sectors. Key efforts included promoting energyefficient buildings, with many commercial and residential developments incorporating LEED certification standards. Solar energy installations grew, with incentives for both homeowners and businesses. Additionally, the county invested in expanding its green spaces, improving public transportation to reduce carbon emissions, and supporting recycling programs. These initiatives aligned with Westchester’s broader goal of reducing its environmental footprint and promoting eco-friendly business practices.
The Westchester county industrial development agency and the county’s local development corporation provided financing and financial incentives in 2015 to private companies and nonprofits that invested approximately $842 million in 14 projects in the county, County Executive Robert P. Astorino announced. County-supported projects, which were expected to create or retain approximately 4,800 permanent and construction jobs, included major residential and mixed-use developments in downtown White Plains, renovations to a Pound Ridge produce market, and a senior housing project in Mount Vernon.
In 2015, Westchester County’s heat care sector experienced substantial growth, largely driven by significant investments from major health systems like Montefiore, NewYork-Presbyterian, and Northwell Health. These institutions expanded their presence through acquisitions, new facilities, and partnerships with local hospitals. Investments were made in advanced medical technologies, outpatient care, and specialized services, such as oncology and cardiovascular care. The expansion also increased job opportunities and reinforced Westchester’s reputation as a key health care hub in the region, providing residents with greater access to cutting-edge medical services.
2016
Westchester Medical Center joined the health care expansion trend by announcing plans for its new Ambulatory Care Pavilion, a state-of-the-art 280,000-square-foot facility that provides outpatient services, advanced imaging, surgery, and other specialized care. Like other medical facilities that expanded in the county, WMC strategically positioned itself for the future of health care.
The residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Westchester, the high-rise condominium complex in downtown White Plains, posted record sales totaling more than $33 million in 2016, according to a spokesman for the development. Twenty-two residences in the 42-story Tower II were sold in 2016 at an average price of $705 per square foot. Nine were penthouse residences with a median sale price of $2.23 million.
Film and television productions in Westchester County in 2016 generated more than $30 million in estimated revenue for municipalities and businesses in the county, a 67 percent increase from 2014, according to an economic impact survey by the county. In 2016, the industry notched 532 on-location production days in Westchester, which also was up 67 percent from the biennial survey conducted in 2014 by Westchester County Tourism & Film Office, a division of the county Office of Economic Development.
2017
It was announced that Indian Point Nuclear Plant, located in Buchanan, would be shut down by 2021—a decision that ended years of debate about environmental and safety concerns.
The county approved a 99-year lease with Fareri Associates for the then-called “North 60” project to create a Westchester BioScience & Technology Center in Valhalla. The $1.2 billion biotech center was set to comprise medical offices, restaurants, shops, and a hotel.
Westchester was ranked top in the U.S. by the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties for its investments in technology and services, including virtual visitation at the county jail.
The Democratic Party gained control of the Westchester County Board of Legislators and flipped several Republican-held seats. County Executive Rob Astorino lost his bid for a third term and George Latimer left the state Senate to head up the county government.
The city of New Rochelle’s ongoing redevelopment initiatives continued with the announcement of a mixed-use project from Manhattan developer RXR Realty—a two 28-story towers and a retail complex, which was expected to attract $4 billion in new investment.
White Plains Hospital was designated as a Magnet® Hospital by the American Nurses Credentialing Center. The Magnet designation is typically awarded every few years after a comprehensive evaluation, and WPH has maintained its status since receiving this prestigious recognition.
2018
The venture-backed startup Compass announced it would acquire the Scarsdale-based brokerage firm Platinum Drive Realty, which sold $238.7 million worth of real estate in 2017. Valued at $2.2 billion after a $450 million 2017 investment from Softbank, Compass said the acquisition was part of a larger plan to open 70 offices nationwide in 2018. Founded by Zach and Heather Harrison, Platinum Drive Realty made the Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Companies in America list for several consecutive years.
The New York State Department of Transportation announced a $ 5.1 million project to resurface five miles of roadway in the county, including parts of Route 22 and Yonkers Avenue.
Million Air officially became an HPN resident, opening its new hangar at its corporate aviation complex at Westchester County Airport.The Houston-based luxury avionics, charter, and aircraft maintenance company planned an $80 million expansion and upgrade at the airport, spanning 26 acres, including a 52,000-square-foot hangar expansion that now completes an 84,000-square-foot complex of hangar space and 725 acres of ramp space.
PepsiCo announced the purchase of Israel-based SodaStream for $144 per outstanding share of the company, or $3.2 billion.
Louis Cappelli, chairman and CEO of The Cappelli Organization, broke ground on his latest project, The Standard, a new 14-story residential building situated on the site of the former Standard Star newspaper building. The building at 251 North Avenue spans the block between North Avenue and LeCount Place in downtown New Rochelle.
The median income in Westchester County was reported to be $92,758, with a per capita income of $54,572. The median home price was $710,800 and the county’s population reached 968,815.
Danone, with its health-forward brands Dannon yogurt and Evian water, relocated to White Plains to capitalize on the proximity to New York City and Westchester’s emerging identification as an ideal place to do business. The move was part of the company’s strategy to expand its North American market, and the county was perfect in location and resources. Those resources included skilled professionals, a supportive corporate environment, and an enthusiastic welcome from the business community.
Wegmans Food Markets closed a deal to buy three office buildings in Harrison, taking a step forward with its plans for a Westchester Wegmans store. The store, projected to open in 2020, would create an estimated 500 jobs.
2019
The Westchester County Biosciences Accelerator program was established to maintain the county’s reputation as a hub for life sciences innovation, launching a six-month entrepreneurship education intensive for scientists, engineers, and inventors.
The Westchester County Association and the Hudson Valley Economic Development Corporation announced their intent to merge the two organizations into a single development and business advocacy organization. The merger yielded greater legislative power, a greater voice for economic growth, and proactive economic policies and initiatives within the region, as well as new channels of distribution for local organizations. The county launched a new incubator program for entrepreneurs called “Element 46” to inspire and support rising business talent and grow new businesses. The program encourages entrepreneurs to bring new businesses to the county and helps to keep existing ones here.
ArtsWestchester expanded arts access outside the traditional classroom or studio setting by launching the ArtsMobile initiative, bringing free, hands-on arts programming to neighborhoods and festivals.
Westchester County and the Hudson Valley experienced an economic surge by welcoming such productions as “Ray Donovan,” “City on a Hill” “The Flight Attendant,” and “Billions” to film here.
Boom Times came to Tarrytown as plans were firmed up for thousands of new residences and a new waterfront park to be built on the property where Stanley Steam Car Company opened its assembly plant in 1896.
2020
Food banks and charities in the region saw increased donations of food and supplies. Organizations like Feeding Westchester and local religious groups worked tirelessly to distribute food to families facing economic hardship due to job loss and other factors during the pandemic. The Westchester Coalition for Hunger Prevention hosted virtual food drives to ensure support for those in need.
Westchester County was at the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic early in 2020 with New Rochelle experiencing one of the first major outbreaks in the U.S. A 1-mile containment zone was set up to quarantine the outbreak, and the National Guard was deployed to help with sanitation efforts.
Amid the crisis of the global pandemic, Westchester-based Regeneron developed Paxlovid, the first drug to help treat COVID-19.
With the pandemic forcing many people to work from home, Westchester’s housing market saw notable changes. As New York City residents sought larger homes and more space to escape the density of city living, demand surged for homes in Westchester, especially in villages like Scarsdale, Pelham, and Larchmont.
The pandemic inadvertently provided a glimpse of a cleaner, more sustainable future: Westchester saw temporary improvements in air quality with a notable reduction in traffic emissions, and people found solace in the clearer skies. This sparked local conversations about sustainability and the long-term environmental benefits of reducing car travel and promoting green transportation options.
2021
The Westchester County executive set aside $12 million for noise and water pollution reduction at Westchester County Airport in response to community input.
Edge-on-Hudson, an innovative mixed-use, transit-oriented community in Sleepy Hollow—with homes built by national luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers—was honored in March with the Gold Award as the 2021 MultiFamily Community of the Year. The Westchester County community received the honor at The Nationals, an event sponsored annually by the National Association of Home Builders. Edge-on-Hudson also earned top awards for Best Video and Best MultiFamily Model Home for The Carroll by Toll Brothers.
More than $16 million in emergency financial relief went to residents who applied for the New York State Emergency Rental Assistance Program, which covered rent and utility expenses for those at risk of eviction during the pandemic.
For businesses in sectors hard hit by the pandemic, such as smaller retailers and restaurants, the county developed the Westchester RISES program, which offered online workshops and mentoring to help businesses pivot in response to the pandemic.
The Mount Pleasant Industrial Agency approved the development of a $99 million, 153,062-square-foot e-commerce distribution center at 211 Saw Mill River Road in Hawthorne. The project was expected to create 100 full-time and part-time jobs and 1,000 construction jobs. The plan for the one-story distribution center, located on 10.475 acres, included 136,214 square feet of warehouse space and 16,848 square feet of office space. The plans also added plenty of parking spaces, including 12 truck loading spaces and 62 van loading spaces at grade.
As the COVID-19 pandemic eased and shutdowns lifted, Westchester began to recover, and county business leaders set plans in motion for a strong re-emergence. Regeneron, maker of a monoclonal antibody treatment for COVID-19, prepared to expand its Tarrytown campus, adding 200,000 square feet of new laboratory space. Businesses hard hit by the pandemic received assistance from the Office of Economic Development’s grant program—Westchester County Business FIRST: Financial Investments for Recovery and a Sustainable Tomorrow—through which the county awarded $10 million to 262 small businesses and nonprofits.
Pace University received $1 million in state funding to build its new healthcare hub. The university planned to transform Lienhard Hall, home to its College of Health Professions on the Pleasantville campus, into a modernized hub with programming for students preparing for careers in the region’s health care and biotechnology sector while adding to and modernizing existing lab, classroom, and simulation space. The grant, awarded as part of the state’s Higher Education Capital Matching Grant Program, would increase preparation, laboratories, and facilities in health sciences to better meet technology demands in the health care sector and to prepare more nurses to work in New York State.
2022
After the legalization of recreational cannabis in 2021, the New York State Cannabis Control Board was tasked with developing rules and regulations for retail sales, licensing, and oversight. The state took a while to issue licenses; the first legal dispensaries opened in 2022, with Yonkers and White Plains being early hubs for retail sales.
Iona College changed its name to Iona University a year after acquiring Concordia College’s 28-acre Bronxville campus, which became the home of the new NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Health Sciences. Iona officially became a university by adding several new academic programs, club sports, and other activities for students across its 32 graduate degrees and five-year bachelor’s/master’s programs.
Westchester County achieved its highest level of fiscal stability in 2022.
The county’s largest commercial real estate transaction was Avalon Green, a three-story multi-family apartment complex in Elmsford, which sold for $306 million.
Visitor spending in Westchester County reached $2 billion, a 99% recovery from the pandemic.
City & State named New York Senate majority leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins the most influential person in the county in its Westchester Power 100 list.
Westchester continued its push for green energy and sustainability. The County Executive’s office worked to expand the use of renewable energy sources and create more sustainable urban spaces. Westchester took part in state initiatives aimed at achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, encouraging electric vehicles and promoting green building practices. The county also took steps to ban single-use plastics and curb the use of plastic bags at retail outlets.
The largest hyperbaric chamber in the Northeastern United States began healing COVID-19 patients on Phelps Hospital’s Sleepy Hollow campus, thanks to groundbreaking work by Dr. Owen O’Neill and the hyperbaric team at Phelp’s Division of Undersea and Hyperbaric Medicine.
2023
The Galleria mall, once a booming hub of commerce, shut its doors. Mall owners Pacific Retail Capital Partners and Aareal Bank combined forces with SL Green Realty Corp. and the Cappelli Organization to help shape the future of the city’s evolving business district, with plans to overhaul the property as a mixed-use project centered on residential development and amenity-based retail.
Winged Foot Golf Club celebrated 100 years in Westchester. With two A. W. Tillinghast-designed courses (among the best in the nation), Winged Foot was slated to host its seventh U.S, Open Championship tournament in 2028.
Westchester County’s Economic Development Office introduced programs to help residents and businesses, including the Downtown Improvement Grant Program, Launch1000, and the Tech Accelerator Powered by Cela.
After serving as an emergency overflow hospital and then a testing-and-vaccination site during the pandemic, the Westchester County Center reopened, welcoming back graduations, trade shows, concerts, and more.
Great Point Studios, owned and operated by Lionsgate Studios, completed construction of its million-square-foot complex in Yonkers. Boasting more 20,000-square-foot stages than any other facility in the Northeast, the 14.5-acre campus will include 11 soundstages and 500,000 square feet of office and support space. Great Point also purchased about 8 acres of additional land around the studio site.
2024
The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) released its proposed 2025-2029 Capital Plan. The plan included just over $6.2 billion for enhancements to the Metro-North Railroad that serves riders on its Hudson, Harlem, and New Haven commuter lines.
Mount Vernon Hospital received a $41 million capital investment from New York State for improvements. The hospital planned to address the emergency room first, quadrupling its size to 11,000 square feet and 30 treatment bays.
Pace University hosted Westchester’s first-ever clean energy career summit. This came at a time when New York State had doubled down on its efforts to transition to clean energy. At the end of 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul announced a $45 million Apprenticeship and Pre-Apprenticeship Clean Energy Training Initiative for labor organizations to offer training as a pathway to cleanenergy careers. Through the initiative, $15 million was available to support projects that develop a pipeline of skilled talent to meet projected workforce needs in a variety of sectors.
County Executive George Latimer was elected to serve New York’s 16th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Standard Amusements, Playland’s operator, in partnership with Jones Lang LaSalle, embarked on eco-friendly initiatives to transform the historic park into a best-in-class sustainability attraction. The Rye amusement park, which has been a summer staple for locals and tourists for nearly 100 years, was planning a refreshed strategy to keep the scenic attractions looking pristine while reducing its carbon footprint.
Members of the county Board of Legislators announced that the 2025 proposed operating budget was complete and that Westchester residents would not see an increase in property taxes.
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