This Week's Westchester County Business Buzz (3/18)

Plenty is happening in Westchester’s real estate development world. Here’s a roundup of some of the top stories.

Simone Development to Breathe Life Into Historic Yonkers Property

The long-vacant former Boyce Thompson Institute property in Yonkers will be getting an extreme makeover, courtesy of Simone Development. The Bronx-based company has been designated by the City of Yonkers as the redeveloper of the site, which under Simone’s $35 million plan will become a mixed-used development with offices for business and medical use on the upper floor of the building with the front and rear grade levels housing medical offices, retail stores, banking and two restaurants. The Boyce Thompson building will be restored to its original character using materials to match or offset the period architecture. An addition will be attached at the south end to resemble the existing structure. A glass “greenhouse” connecting the new building with the existing building will house an information gallery honoring the Boyce Thompson legacy. The existing 52,000-square-foot building will be increased to 70,000 square feet with the free-standing building totaling 15,000 square feet. The parking areas will be paved, landscaped, and illuminated using state-of-the-art materials selected to complement the architecture. Construction is expected to require 20 months including renovation of the existing structure, the addition to the Boyce Thompson building, and the new glass building.

Workforce Housing Project Breaks Ground

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Earlier this month, the city of Mount Vernon, Peter Fine of Atlantic Development Group LLC, and Kenwood Equities LLC, broke ground at the future site of a large-scale workforce housing development at 203 Gramatan Avenue in Mount Vernon. The $60 million development is finally moving forward after several years of delays due to financial and political concerns. The project will provide much-needed workforce housing for the area, and, officials hope, help to jumpstart the redevelopment of downtown Mount Vernon. The Manhattan-based developer Atlantic Development Group LLC, is behind the project, a 14-story, 158-unit apartment tower that will include about 20,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. With a completion target of early spring of 2016, the tower is the first of three residential buildings Atlantic plans to build opposite Hartley Park. The full three-phase development is expected to cost about $120 million. At the ground-breaking event were: Darryl C. Towns, commissioner and CEO, NYS Homes and Community Renewal; Peter Fine, Atlantic Development Group LLC; Sen. Ruth Hassell-Thompson; Assemblyman J. Gary Pretlow; Sen. Jeff Klein; Kenneth J. Knuckles, Kenwood Equities LLC; Mount Vernon Buildings Commissioner Mark Warren; Mayor Ernest D. Davis; City Council member J. Yuhanna Edwards; architect David E. Gross, AIA, GF55 Partners; James Coleman, executive director, Westchester County Industrial Development Agency; Jaime Martinez, acting commissioner, Mount Vernon Department of Planning and Community Development; and Dwayne Brown, president, Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce.

Pelham-Based Developer Plans Memorial for Harlem Gas Explosion

One year after an explosion caused by a gas leak in East Harlem killed eight people and injured dozens, Pelham-based developer Rella Fogliano of MacQuesten Development wants to keep alive the memory of those who perished in the tragedy.

Fogliano announced plans to create a memorial on the wall of an apartment building she owns which directly abutted the Park Avenue buildings that were destroyed in the explosion. The memorial is planned as a green wall of plantings. “This will be a living memorial that will continue growing to keep alive the memory of those who were lost in the tragedy,” said Fogliano, a leading developer of middle-income and affordable housing. “I did everything I could to help the tenants of my building, but I knew that I also wanted to create something that will live on so that we never forget those from the destroyed buildings who are no longer with us.” The memorial, which is meant for a wall of the Olga Mendez Apartments, is expected to be completed in June of this year.

C.W. Brown Gets Westchester Green Business Certification

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Construction management firm C.W. Brown, Inc. was honored earlier this month with Westchester Green Business-Certification from the Westchester Green Business Challenge, a green business certification program that provides the tools, training, and expertise for organizations to become true green business leaders within their industries. The Armonk-based firm has long held a commitment to sustainability, it says, pointing to its Armonk headquarters which boasts a non-reflective roof and a compost garden. C.W. Brown announced the honor at its headquarters, a building that already holds LEED Platinum certification for environmental sensitivity, the highest level of recognition given by the US Green Building Council. “We are very excited to be recognized as a Westchester Green Business-Certified company,” said Renee Brown, president and CEO of C.W. Brown. “It was important when we built our new headquarters back in 2010 that we lessen its environmental impact as much as possible. We felt that sustainability was the future, not just to benefit the environment, but to attract talented younger employees who value a more sustainable lifestyle. The Westchester Green Business certification takes our efforts to the next level and renews our commitment to be green.”

Our Women in Business Awards event is November 21!

Our Best of Business event is October 30!

Our CEOs & Business Leaders Golf Outing is August 5!

Our Best of Westchester Party is July 24!

Our Westchester Home Design Awards event is June 26!

Our Wine & Food Festival returns June 4-9!

Our Wunderkinds event takes place on May 23!

Our Best of Business Ballot is open through May 15!

Our Healthcare Heroes Awards event takes place on May 9!

Our Westchester Home Builders Awards take place on April 4!

Our Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Forum is March 14!

Unveiled: A Boutique Bridal Brunch is February 25!

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