BRONX, NY (March 5, 2025) – Simone Development Companies has signed a new long-term lease with New York Blood Center, a community-based blood supplier, for a 3,906 square-foot blood donation and collection center at the Throggs Neck Shopping Center located at 815 Hutchinson River Parkway in the Ferry Point section of the Bronx, NY.

Simone Development was represented by in-house leasing and legal teams alongside Brad Bassuk of Westerman Ball Ederer Miller Zucker & Sharfstein and the property’s exclusive broker, Karnit Mosberg of Royal Properties. Domenick D’Apice of Standard Realty Corp. represented New York Blood Center.

“We are thrilled that New York Blood Center selected the Throggs Neck Shopping Center for its Bronx donor center,” said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies. “This center offers visitors a dynamic mix of critical and specialized medical providers, service-oriented retail, and top national, regional, and local shops and restaurants. It’s extremely convenient for tenants and visitors due to its accessibility to the East Bronx and surrounding areas by car and public transportation and abundant free parking.”

New York Blood Center is one of the largest independent, community-based blood centers, providing the highest quality blood and stem cell products and related medical and consultative services to hospitals and patients. This is New York Blood Center’s 20th donor center, the first in the Bronx in decades, and reflects NYBC’s commitment to expanding blood donation access and ensuring a stable blood supply for the communities it serves.

Blood donations in the Bronx have declined by nearly 40% in recent years, highlighting the urgent need for increased local participation. At the same time, donations from younger generations are becoming increasingly critical, with contributions from donors under 30 dropping by more than 30% in recent years. In addition, there is a significant gap between the need for blood at Bronx hospitals and the number of annual blood donations from the community. These trends pose a significant long-term challenge to the stability of the local blood supply, underscoring the importance of reaching and engaging new donors.

Scheduled to open the new space in late summer, New York Blood Center joins a prestigious lineup of tenants at Throggs Neck Shopping Center, from medical services providers like AFC Urgent Care, Metro Optics, and Schweiger Dermatology Group to retail giants like Target, TJ Maxx, and Petco, as well as specialized stores like Snipes, Skechers, and Mattress Firm. The center also includes multiple popular eateries including Applebee’s, Chipotle, Cap’t Loui Seafood Boil, Five Guys, Charleys Philly Steaks, Starbucks, and Sarku Japan, among others. Only one prime 950 square-foot endcap space remains available at one of the borough’s most successful retail locations.

Since its construction in 2010, Throggs Neck Shopping Center has been a catalyst for economic growth, creating hundreds of new job opportunities and contributing to the borough’s economy and growth. The 300,000-square-foot, large-scale retail development is conveniently located at the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and the Hutchinson River Parkway, boasting secure free parking for 625 cars, and anchored by a 165,000+ square-foot Target department store, one of the most active in the nation.

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 expertise 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.

ABOUT NEW YORK BLOOD CENTER
Founded in 1964, New York Blood Center (NYBC) has served the tri-state area for more than 60 years, delivering 500,000 lifesaving blood products annually to 150+ hospitals, EMS and healthcare partners. NYBC is part of New York Blood Center Enterprises (NYBCe), which spans 17+ states and delivers one million blood products to 400+ U.S. hospitals annually. NYBCe additionally delivers cellular therapies, specialty pharmacy, and medical services to 200+ research, academic and biopharmaceutical organizations. NYBCe’s Lindsley F. Kimball Research Institute is a leader in hematology and transfusion medicine research, dedicated to the study, prevention, treatment and cure of bloodborne and blood-related diseases. NYBC serves as a vital community lifeline dedicated to helping patients and advancing global public health. To learn more, visit nybc.org. Connect with us on Facebook, X, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

(Photo Credit: Lori Adams)

The new exhibit offers an innovative exploration of cancer care and healing through art, technology, and empathy

BRONX, NY (January 30, 2025) – Simone Development Companies announced the opening of A(I) Brighter Tomorrow: Cancer and Beyond, a new winter exhibit at The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine, located in the lobby of Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center’s Tower One at 1250 Waters Place in the Bronx. The exhibition opened to the public on January 24 and will run through April 18, with viewing hours Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The exhibition brings together art and healthcare to highlight the human side of the cancer journey. By uniting visionary artists, doctors, and cancer survivors, the exhibition tells a comprehensive story of cancer diagnosis and treatment, staying as true to real-life experiences as possible.

The often-overlooked emotional aspects of this journey are central to the exhibit. The initiative goes beyond art, supporting cancer patients, caregivers, and medical professionals in understanding the multifaceted nature of cancer. It balances hope with realism and fosters collaboration between artists and scientists to capture the medical journey’s intricacies, while encouraging broader, empathetic perspectives.

“Art has the unique ability to teach and communicate, making it increasingly valuable in healthcare settings,” said Jodi Moise, director of the Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein. “This exhibition highlights the critical human connections that foster physical, mental, and emotional healing in oncology care.”

The exhibition includes some of the following work:
– “Return to Life: In and Out of the Body” by Suzanne Anker, developed under the scientific guidance of Heather Feil at Montefiore’s Institute for Reproductive Medicine and Health, exploring onco-fertility through parallels between nature’s cycles and the preservation of life
– “Burden of Concealment: The Diagnosed, The Caregiver, and Their Son” by Anna and Jordan Rathkopf, reflecting their personal experiences as a patient and caregiver
– “Physic AI Garden” by Anna Dumitriu and Alex May, integrating artificial intelligence to address health challenges from cancer treatment while exploring potential AI-driven solutions
– “T(H)UMOR: Dear Cancer Diary” by Federico Muelas, transforming real-life cancer survivor stories from Montefiore’s Bronx Oncology Living Daily (BOLD Buddie)s program into comic art
– A poignant light-and-shadow collaboration by Romanian-based radiation oncologist Dr. Sabina Sucuri and photographer Vladimir Gheorghiu, exploring survivorship and resilience

A(I) Brighter Tomorrow: Cancer and Beyond is co-curated by Natalia Marin, an independent art curator and medical student based in Bucharest, Romania, and Jodi Moise, Director of the Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein.

The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine encourages artists to interpret scientific/medical research and create works of art depicting issues of cultural, political, and technological significance. The Gallery is a key component to Montefiore’s Fine Art Program and Collection, an innovative visual arts program that fosters a life-affirming, restorative and supportive environment for patients, families, caregivers, students, faculty, and staff. Montefiore’s Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein is now one of two healthcare entities with art programs featured on the Bloomberg Connects app.

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 expertise 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.

Susan Byrnes brings together a variety of methods to explore the conversations created by the assemblage of stitch, gestural drawing, and piece work

BRONX, NY (October 9, 2024) – Simone Development Companies announced the opening of Susan Byrnes’ Material Conversations exhibit at The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine, located in the lobby of Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center’s Tower One at 1250 Waters Place in the Bronx. Byrnes’ exhibition features 12 textiles depicting memories real and imagined. It is now open to the public and will run through January 6th from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday.

(Photo Credit: Lori Adams)

Born in New York City, Byrnes spent her early years immersed in the arts, studying photography, studio art and art history. Her career began as a photo stylist, which led to the opening of her photography studio in lower Manhattan, where she worked with editorial, advertising, and private clients. As an educator, she has also taught photography to all age groups, as well as producing educational films.

Her artistic expression evolved with the introduction of fabric and thread into her practice with the beginnings of the series of Drawing Conversations. Since then, she has expanded her exploration in fabric and thread. Her photographs, paintings and fabric constructions have been exhibited nationally and internationally.

“Art can console by inviting the viewer to travel away into a place of beauty and joy,” said Susan Byrnes. “My textiles seek to create a sense of warmth and comfort and provide a positive distraction for all to enjoy.”

“We are excited to feature Susan Byrnes’ exhibit at the Gallery of ARTFul Medicine,” said Jodi Moise, director of the Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein. “The exhibit showcases the use of fabrics and textures, with each work creating a dialogue between its elements by creating new conversations between line, color and shape.”

The Gallery of ARTFul Medicine encourages artists to interpret scientific/medical research and create works of art depicting issues of cultural, political, and technological significance. The Gallery is a key component to Montefiore’s Fine Art Program and Collection, an innovative visual arts program that fosters a life-affirming, restorative and supportive environment for patients, families, caregivers, students, faculty, and staff. Montefiore’s Fine Art Program and Collection at Montefiore Einstein is now one of two healthcare entities with art programs featured on the Bloomberg Connects app.