The Latest News in Westchester's Burgeoning Business Scene

Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council Awards $1 Million Grant for Redevelopment of Glenwood Power Plant

The Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council recently awarded Yonkers’ Glenwood Power Plant a $1 million grant for its redevelopment. The grant will help fund the second phase of the redevelopment of the former power station, which is currently owned by The Goren Group. “Economic development, job creation and investment are on track in Yonkers, and the adaptive reuse of the Glenwood Power Plant is a big component of our revitalization,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “With the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the Economic Development Council, we can continue the progress of the last six years, growing our city, improving our economy and redefining Yonkers as the best city in which to live, work and play.” The Goren Group plans on preserving and redeveloping the iconic turn of the century Glenwood Power Plant into a cultural destination and performance space for members of the Yonkers community and an international tourist destination.

White Plains Hospital Unveils Central Clinical Services Addition

On November 20, White Plains Hospital unveiled its new Central Clinical Services (CCS) facility during a ribbon cutting ceremony attended by Montefiore President and CEO Steven M. Safyer, MD, and White Plains Mayor Tom Roach. The CCS features 20,300 square feet of space and represents a major piece of the Hospital’s ongoing campus modernization and renovation. Approximately 200,000 square feet have been renovated or added to the hospital since 2015. “Our new Central Clinical Services addition represents our commitment to our most valuable asset, our exceptional employees, and our constant focus on providing the best possible experience for our patients and families,” explained Susan Fox, president and CEO of White Plains Hospital. “We are dedicated to constantly enhancing patient care, and our Central Clinical Services areas will help meet the needs of the families and staff who are our patients’ critical support systems.”

First Units Completed in Yonkers’ Affordable Housing Overhaul

A series of living spaces in Valentine Townhomes at 162 Helena Ave in Yonkers will be ready for the holidays following the Municipal Housing Authority for the City of Yonkers and Enterprise Community Partners unveiling of newly restored apartments. The December 11 unveiling was part of the $56 milllion, 204-unit Seven Townhomes Project, which added new bathrooms, kitchens, and flooring to homes originally built in the 1990s as part of a U.S. Supreme court-ordered desegregation. The Seven Townhomes is the first of more than 18 public housing complexes that are undergoing complete restoration due to a $300 million, three-year plan that will update more than 1,700 units of public housing across Yonkers.

Concordia College New York and Wartburg Announce Partnership

Concordia College New York and Wartburg recently held a press conference announcing a partnership to provide adults aged 65 and over in Mount Vernon the opportunity to earn a college degree. Mount Vernon Mayor Richard Thomas spoke alongside Wartburg’s president and CEO David J. Gertner and Dr. John A. Nunes, president of Concordia College. The new program, titled SeniorU, will combine the educational excellence of Concordia College with Wartburg’s expertise in senior engagement, and give adults in Mount Vernon the chance to earn a two- or four-year college degree in Interdisciplinary Studies.  “There are thousands of seniors in this region who are within the Liberation Phase of their lives yet many have not had the opportunity to obtain a college degree,” said Dr. David J. Gentner, Wartburg president and CEO.  “As a senior service provider, Wartburg is thrilled to be a part of SeniorU.  The program is truly unique yet also replicable and I am hopeful that my colleagues across the country will look for similar partnership opportunities.”

Business Council of Westchester Launches BCW Data Exchange

The Business Council of Westchester announced the creation of the BCW Data Exchange on December 12. The exchange is a comprehensive online data center providing current and prospective Westchester businesses, not-for-profit organizations and governments with a multi-platform, user-friendly source for up-to-date demographic information, statistical analysis, and trend data about Westchester County. Research will be conducted by Hudson Valley Pattern for Progress, a not-for-profit policy, planning, advocacy, and research organization.  The Data Exchange will go live on the BCW website in the first quarter of 2018, and will feature the most up-to-date information on a wide variety of topics and issues impacting business in the county such as demographics, workforce data, housing, education, local government, transportation, infrastructure, and real estate trends.

​BRI Hosts Second Vendor Showcase

The Building and Realty Institute of Westchester and the Mid-Hudson Region hosted their second Vendor Showcase at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in White Plains. A total of 45 companies and professional firms exhibited their products and services representing a wide range of industries, including renewable energy, IT, law, and real estate management.  “As a membership association, it is vital to offer our member firms an opportunity such as this,” says Margaret Collins, BRI’s director of membership and advertising. “A trade show acts as one more way to provide a forum to market their business, to highlight their talents and skills and introduce them to a broader public.”

Real Estate Firms Angle for Major Port Chester Contract

RXR Realty was among the six real estate firms that have recently presented to the Port Chester village board to become the village’s master developer. RXR competed with Long Island-based Renaissance Downtowns, Hines, HB Nitkin Group, The Albanese Organization, and Cushman & Wakefield. Following a July approval from village trustees, Port Chester requested qualifications to seek a master developer to help improve the 120-acre radius around the village’s Metro-North train station. Officials hope to enlist both public and private land for development that would create a more transit-oriented and walkable downtown.

​GDC Unveils Sculpture and Renovated Lobby at White Plains Luxury Property

Ginsburg Development Companies (GDC) joined with White Plains officials to unveil a newly renovated lobby and sculpture at The Metro, a residential rental property in downtown White Plains. Located at 34 South Lexington Avenue, the 124-unit, 12-story building was purchased by GDC earlier this year and rebranded as The Metro. Since, more than $100,000 was invested in the lobby renovations. “We are very pleased with our first entry into downtown White Plains and look forward to expanding our presence in this important urban market in the future,” says Martin Ginsburg, principal of GDC.

White Plains Mayor Tours Continuum Luxury Rental with LCOR Executives

White Plains Mayor Tom Roach recently toured the new Continuum luxury rental building in downtown White Plains with executives from real estate and development firm LCOR, who developed of the 16-story tower. Located at 55 Bank Street, Continuum features 288 residences as well as 3,000 square feet of ground floor retail space and an underground parking lot.

Crow Holdings Drops $17.2 million on Scarsdale Complex

Crow Holdings Capital, a Dallas-based private equity investment company, paid $17.2 million this month for the ground-floor retail condominium at Christie Place, a Scarsdale residential complex developed by the Ginsburg Development Company. Holliday Fenoglio Fowler L.P., whose brokerage team originally marketed the property for Ginsburg Development, announced the deal for the fully leased, 12,731-square-foot space. Bank of America, Patisserie Salzburg, Pine Tree Organic Cleaners, and several other businesses currently occupy the Scarsdale site.

Jodi’s Gym Celebrates 35 Years of Fitness

With prosperous locations in New York City and Mount Kisco, Jodi’s Gym recently celebrated 35 years of success. Offering a wide range of classes in gymnastics, fitness, music, ninja challenges and preschool enrichment to New York’s children ages 9 months to 12 years old, the gyms have attracted scores of clients with their state-of-the-art facilities and wide-ranging classes. It is my life’s mission and passion to give children of all ages and abilities access to the benefits of gymnastics. I strongly believe that movement education and fitness, when introduced early in a fun and positive way, helps to instill healthy habits that last a lifetime,” says Jodi Rosenwasser Levine, founder and director of Jodi’s Gym. “We continually stay one step ahead of the trends by evolving our curriculum and innovating new programs regularly to keep things fresh and exciting at the gym.”