Life Science Forum Reveals How Computing Will Help Developers Convert Office Buildings To Research Labs

Advanced computing will facilitate the conversion of outdated office buildings into life science laboratories, said Joseph Simone of Simone Development Companies.

“Life science laboratories are becoming less reliant on Bunsen burners and faucets in favor of advanced computers. This ‘drying’ of wet labs means that owners of older office buildings or warehouses have new opportunities to reposition their properties for the medical research sector,” said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies.

At the March 29 Crain’s New York Business Life Science Forum in New York City, Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, said computers are dominating his institution’s lab spaces. El-Mohandes explained that equipment for cutting-edge research no longer requires a messy wet-lab environment, allowing for a greater flexibility of uses in office buildings near research centers and universities.

Hope Knight, Commissioner of Empire State Development, New York’s economic development agency, also spoke at the forum. Knight described New York’s $25 million investment in a pilot “Lab of the Future” in Midtown Manhattan that will rely on automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make the preclinical drug discovery process faster, fuel business growth and create more life science jobs. Knight noted that 10 percent of the nation’s cancer patients are in New York, which allows researchers to gather important data that can make New York a leader in the cell and gene therapy space.

“The exciting investments and advances discussed at the Crain’s Life Science Forum are a signal to healthcare real estate developers that we can successfully repurpose existing structures for the labs of the future,” said Danielle Contillo, Principal at Simone Development Companies.

Simone Development Companies is a full-service real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition and development of healthcare, mixed-use, office, industrial, retail, and residential properties. Headquartered at the Hutchinson Metro Center, it boasts a portfolio of over 7 million square feet throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Orange and Fairfield Counties and New Jersey. With services spanning acquisition, development, construction, finance, asset management, accounting, leasing and property management, Simone Development Companies is set apart by its vertically integrated management team, long-term asset ownership and its pursuit of visionary development.

2023-04-13T10:22:58-04:00April 13, 2023|
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Joseph Simone Calls New York’s Workforce Development Essential for Life Sciences Real Estate Growth

New York’s planned investments in life science workforce training centers will help stimulate real estate development, said Joseph Simone of Simone Development Companies.

“New York is successfully attracting life science startups. The challenge now is to build talent pipelines to train the necessary workforce that will enable the state to achieve its employment goals,” said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies. “State investments in the New York City regional workforce development plan ensure that growing life science companies seeking real estate in the tri-state area will find the right workers to fill new laboratories and facilities.”

The Long Island Investment Fund recently announced its intention to fund a life science workforce development training center. One of the fund’s goals is to supercharge the life sciences ecosystem in the region by developing workers with in-demand skills.

LifeSci NYC has a similar role in the five boroughs, and one target area is in the Bronx at the Montefiore-Einstein Accelerated Biotechnology Research Center (EMBARC), located across the street from Simone Development Companies’ Hutchinson Metro Center. EMBARC is a biomanufacturing operation focused on cell, gene, and antibody production. LifeSci NYC will invest $20 million to build a diverse pipeline of life sciences talent.

Simone Development Companies has anticipated growth in Morris Park’s biotech talent pool by planning for a live-work-play environment at the Hutchinson Metro Center, a mixed-use medical-office complex where future construction may include life science labs, housing, and destination retail catering to the employees of companies that grow out of EMBARC. This emerging innovation hub will be connected to New York City’s life sciences network by Metro-North’s future Morris Park train station, which will provide quick access to Penn Station in Manhattan.

“Since 2018, biotech research and development companies have increased employment by more than 8,000 people in the New York City metro area, an almost 20 percent increase. “Industry leaders say this growth will continue, and our Hutchinson Metro Center is well positioned to meet the increased demand for real estate that can accommodate life science facilities and workers,” said Megan Guy, Simone Development Companies’ Senior Vice President of Development.

Simone Development Companies is a full-service real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition and development of healthcare, mixed-use, office, industrial, retail, and residential properties. Headquartered at the Hutchinson Metro Center, it boasts a portfolio of over 7 million square feet throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Orange and Fairfield Counties and New Jersey. With services spanning acquisition, development, construction, finance, asset management, accounting, leasing and property management, Simone Development Companies is set apart by its vertically integrated management team, long-term asset ownership and its pursuit of visionary development.

2023-02-02T09:34:36-05:00February 2, 2023|
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Construction and Leasing Executives Join Simone Development Compaines

BRONX, NY (January 9, 2023) – Simone Development Companies has appointed two real estate industry veterans to senior positions in its construction and leasing departments.

Roger Merriman is Simone Development’s new Senior Vice President of Construction and Jeremy Schwartz is Director of Leasing. These executives possess years of experience in the real estate industry and have worked with leading real estate companies in the tristate area.

“Roger and Jeremy bring impressive backgrounds and skills to the Simone team in the realms of construction management, leasing, property marketing, underwriting and property portfolio management,” said Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development Companies. “Both of these individuals will help us strategically position ourselves for future growth as we build our operational capacity and scalability.”

Prior to joining Simone Development, Merriman served as Vice President of Construction at SL Green Realty Corp., where he managed a team of professionals, consultants, and contractors on construction projects for the largest commercial real estate portfolio in New York City.

Schwartz formerly worked as Assistant Vice President of Leasing at Urstadt Biddle Properties, where he successfully transacted on more than 300,000 square feet of space. He also managed the leasing and marketing of over 1,500,000 square feet of grocery-anchored shopping centers and office buildings throughout the tristate area.

About Simone Development Companies
Simone Development Companies is a full-service real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition and development of healthcare, mixed-use, office, industrial, retail and residential properties. Headquartered at the Hutchinson Metro Center, it boasts a portfolio of over 7 million square feet throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Orange and Fairfield Counties and New Jersey. With services spanning acquisition, development, construction, finance, asset management, accounting, leasing and property management, Simone Development Companies is set apart by its vertically integrated management team, long-term asset ownership and its pursuit of visionary development.

2023-01-09T09:45:16-05:00January 9, 2023|
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1200 Zerega Avenue

1200 Zerega Avenue

Bronx, NY

1200 Zerega Avenue is a 95,649-square-foot, flex building consisting of drive-in doors, loading docks and over 31,000 SF of land. The building offers modern warehouse space flanked by overhead doors, allowing easy access from Ellis and Gleason Avenues. The location offers convenient access to the subway, multiple bus routes, the Hutchinson River Parkway and Bruckner and Cross Bronx expressways. With high demand for warehouse flex space in the New York Metro area, 1200 Zerega Avenue is an extremely attractive option due to its rare combination of warehouse space, office space, and available land that is centrally located with immediate access to major highways.

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FOR LEASING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Josh Gopan
Vice President of Leasing

Jeremy Schwartz
Director of Leasing

2023-12-11T10:58:16-05:00April 1, 2022|
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Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development Says Attractive Place-Making is Essential to Life-Science Development

BRONX, NY (February 2022) — Simone Development Companies.Landscaping, urban design and public amenities are essential elements in successful life-sciences development, said Joseph Simone of Simone Development Companies.

“As we’ve seen at the emerging Manhattanville Factory District in West Harlem, the construction of a three-block pedestrian greenway along buildings containing wet labs and offices will enhance this innovation corridor, making it more attractive to tenants and their employees,” said Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development Companies.

West Harlem’s growth is fueled by Columbia University’s and the Manhattanville Factory District’s expansion into the formerly industrial neighborhood, transforming it into an educational and technological hub. The Manhattanville area lies north of 125th Street and east of Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard.

“Outdoor people habitats are important to technology and life-sciences companies because they employ knowledge workers who must be inspired to achieve breakthroughs,” said Joseph Simone. “These employees’ ah-ha moments can happen on a bike trail, in a flower garden or a beautifully designed public plaza.”

Published renderings for the Manhattanville Factory District greenway include trees, public seating and lawns that invite picnics or sunbathing. Simone Development Companies is pursuing a similar strategy at its Hutchinson Metro Center in the Bronx. The Hutchinson Metro Center’s proposed South Campus will include ball fields, lawns, seating areas and a greenway through the center of the development. The complex already has a health club, hotel and bicycle trails running along the Hutchinson River Parkway.

“Our proposed South Campus incorporates the latest thinking in public-space design,” said Joseph Simone. “We believe our landscaped and recreational areas will be must-have amenities for the medical technology and life-sciences firms that this complex will attract.”

2022-03-08T13:20:33-05:00February 15, 2022|
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250 E Sandford Blvd

250 E Sandford Blvd

Mount Vernon, NY

250 East Sandford Boulevard is a four-story, 110,300 square-foot industrial/flex R&D property. The facility offers floorplates of more than 18,000 square feet on the ground floor, more than 30,000 square feet on levels one and two and nearly 32,000 square feet on level three, and features 145 parking spaces, six loading docks, direct drive-in access on the ground level, and floor load capacity of 185 pounds per square foot. Originally constructed in 1970, Simone Development Companies acquired the property in September 2021 and commenced a renovation that included a new exterior façade, new windows, new elevator, the addition of a front-loading dock and complete paving and restriping of the entire three-acre site. The building’s redevelopment strategy takes advantage of the site’s topography by providing direct loading access on all four floors, offering flexibility for single-users or multiple full-floor tenants. Located in Southern Westchester and bordering the Bronx, the site has convenient access to both public transportation and major highways, including I-95, I-87 and the Hutchinson River Parkway. In addition to a public bus stop at the site, the property is one half mile from the Mount Vernon East Metro-North train station.

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FOR LEASING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Josh Gopan
Vice President of Leasing

Jeremy Schwartz
Director of Leasing

2024-02-14T14:12:45-05:00February 1, 2022|
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1 Zeiss Drive

1 Zeiss Drive

Thornwood, NY

1 Zeiss Drive is a 120,000-square-foot, two-story prime industrial/flex/office building located in Thornwood, NY. The building features 60,000 square feet per floor divisible to 4,000 – 24,000 square feet. It includes six loading docks, 3 drive-in doors, 14’-18’ ceiling heights, direct loading from the second floor with two overhead doors, and 190 parking spaces. The 12.5-acre campus style setting is beautifully landscaped and maintained. The building features an atrium lobby, office space, conference rooms and an outdoor patio. Located off Columbus Avenue, the building is just 8 minutes from Metro-North train stations in Hawthorne and Valhalla. Built in 1981, this corporate-style building is the former headquarters of Carl Zeiss, the well-known German optics manufacturing firm.

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FOR LEASING INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

Josh Gopan
Vice President of Leasing

Jeremy Schwartz
Director of Leasing

2023-12-11T10:52:09-05:00October 1, 2021|
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Simone Development Sells Former RUCO Polymer Corp. Site to Developer for Future Warehouse/Distribution Project

BRONX, NY (August 16, 2021) — Simone Development Companies has announced the sale of the 15-acre former site of the RUCO Polymer Corp. in Hicksville, NY (Nassau County, Long Island). The buyer, a Brookfield Asset Management real estate fund, plans to develop a modern, high ceiling warehouse distribution center on the site. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

Jim MacDonald, vice president of leasing for Simone development, represented the seller in negotiations and Paul Leone of CBRE represented the buyer.

“Well-located industrially zoned land for development is extremely rare and Simone Development is extremely pleased to find a buyer well-equipped to realize the site’s full potential,” said Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development. “With its close proximity the Long Island Expressway, as well as an existing rail spur, the site is well-positioned for industrial development to meet the needs of then growing e-commerce market.”

The Rubber Company of America (RUCO) built a manufacturing facility on the site in 1945, where RUCO Polymer Corp. (Hooker Chemical Company) manufactured plastics, latex, and esters. Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) owned and operated this site from 1966 to 1982. The site was later purchased by Sybron Corporation to produce polyester from 1982 to 2002. The Bayer Corporation purchased the site in 2000 and in 2002 decided to close the facility and demolish the existing buildings. The facility was a freight customer of the LIRR and New York and Atlantic Railway, served by a spur track off the Main Line next to the grade crossing at New South Rd.

2021-09-02T15:09:21-04:00August 16, 2021|
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