Real Estate visionary to lead NYC effort to build culture of health for all – Joe Simone named Centennial Chair of the 2024 Heart of New York City campaign
New York, NY, September 20, 2023 —Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies, has been named Centennial Chair of the American Heart Association’s Heart of New York City, a year-round effort aimed at investing in and saving and improving lives in the five boroughs. The Heart of New York City culminates with the Heart of New York City Gala in June, an event that celebrates progress made through the dedication and passion of all who support this community-wide campaign.
“The American Heart Association is dedicated to the extension of life through a commitment to science, education, improving medical care and leading with prevention. This is why I am honored to serve as Chair of the 2024 Heart of New York City campaign and look forward to celebrating the impact we will make,” said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies, and member of the American Heart Association New York City Board of Directors. “I am eager to work with our outstanding team of volunteer leaders and the American Heart Association as we all advocate to make a difference in the well-being of everyone in this community. Together we must continue to strive to do everything we can to make a lasting, positive impact on the health of all New Yorkers.”
In 2024 the American Heart Association will celebrate its centennial year, meaning that Mr. Simone will have the special distinction of serving as the Heart of New York City campaign’s Centennial Chair. Mr. Simone will also serve on the prestigious American Heart Association New York City Board of Directors from July 2023 through June 2025.
“The American Heart Association has worked to save and improve lives since 1924—and it’s just getting started,” Simone said. “I invite all New Yorkers to join us in celebrating the American Heart Association’s transformative impact over the past century and building a second century of equitable health for all.”
The American Heart Association’s centennial is a celebration of the lifesaving achievements and shared vision for a bold second century that will exponentially advance heart and brain health. The Association will continue to lead breakthroughs in science and technology, improve healthcare and advocate for federal, state and local policies that drive healthier lifestyles.
“Joe understands the impact the mission and work of the American Heart Association can have on every person who lives in this area. We welcome him to the Heart of New York City, an initiative that centers around better health for every individual by focusing on critical issues and work to equitably improve and save lives,” says Meg Gilmartin, Executive Director and Senior Vice President, American Heart Association, New York City.
The 2024 Heart of New York City Gala is sponsored by Simone Development Companies, and Compass One Healthcare. It is slated for June 2024 at venue TBD. The annual celebratory event is a night to honor survivors, patrons and volunteers of the American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health. The evening will feature stories from survivors, as well as dinner, dancing and an exciting auction. For more information on how to support or attend the Heart of New York City Gala, visit the campaign website or contact sydney.hoffman@heart.org.
About the American Heart Association
The American Heart Association is a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives. We are dedicated to ensuring equitable health in all communities. Through collaboration with numerous organizations, and powered by millions of volunteers, we fund innovative research, advocate for the public’s health and share lifesaving resources. The Dallas-based organization has been a leading source of health information for nearly a century. Connect with us on heart.org, Facebook, Twitter or by calling 1-800-AHA-USA1.
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.
Chipotle to Open New Bronx Location at Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium
BRONX, NY – September 12, 2023 – Simone Development Companies has announced Chipotle Mexican Grill has signed a long-term, 2,957-square-foot lease at the firm’s Metro Center Atrium, located at 1776 Eastchester Road within the Hutchinson Metro Center complex in the Bronx. Josh Gopan, Vice President of Leasing at Simone Development, and in-house counsel Patrick Doyle represented ownership alongside Chris Walther and Miles Mahony of RIPCO Real Estate. Chipotle was repped by Ben Weiner and Joanne Argenti of RIPCO Real Estate.
Chipotle operates over 3,100 locations in the U.S, including over 55 in New York City alone. Their latest location at The Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium, serving the Pelham Bay and Morris Park neighborhoods in the Bronx, features an enhanced beverage menu offering margaritas and beer in addition to fountain and bottled refreshments.
“Chipotle is the perfect addition to an already robust offering at The Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium,” said Josh Gopan, Vice President of Leasing at Simone Development. “The fast casual restaurant was attracted to our mixed-use complex due to its ideal location, generous onsite parking, 24/7 security, and outstanding tenant roster, including one of the borough’s only major flag hotels.”
Simone Development’s Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium is a 360,000-square-foot mixed-use complex featuring three floors of Class A office and medical space, as well as retail and a 125-room Residence Inn by Marriott. The property features a remarkable glass atrium and lobby, as well as more than 1,100 onsite parking spaces. The retail spaces at the Atrium are now fully leased.
Chipotle joins several well-known retail tenants at the Hutchinson Metro Center Atrium, including LA Fitness, Dunkin Donuts, A_Z Nutrition, and Residence Inn by Marriott. The property is also home to several healthcare related tenants including Affinity Health Plan, Montefiore’s Division of Plastic Surgery and Department of Medicine, as well as Freedom Center Home Dialysis and Hanger Clinic Prosthetics and Orthotics.
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.
Simone Development Signs Fastenal Company To Long-term Lease at 1448 Ferris Place in the Bronx, NY
BRONX, NY (July 25, 2023) – Simone Development Companies announced that the largest fastener distributor in North America, Fastenal Company, has signed a 7,100-square-foot, long-term warehouse lease at 1448 Ferris Place in the Bronx, NY.
Josh Gopan, Vice President of Leasing at Simone Development, along with Jeremy Schwartz, Director of Leasing at Simone Development, and in-house counsel Patrick Doyle, represented ownership, while Fastenal Company was repped by Mathew Diana of DY Realty.
“We are thrilled to welcome Fastenal Company to 1448 Ferris Place, an ideally located warehouse space in the Westchester Square neighborhood of the Bronx,” said Mr. Gopan. “As the property’s exclusive tenant, Fastenal will benefit from its exceptional features and convenient access to multiple transporation options.”
The street-level property spans 7,100 square feet and underwent renovations in 2015. 1448 Ferris Place enjoys close proximity to the #6 train and the Hutchinson River Parkway, offering direct access to the city and the tri-state area.
Simone Development Maintenance Tech Jose Aguilar Wins BOMA Westchester 2023 Unsung Heroes Award
YONKERS, NY (July 12, 2023) – Simone Development Companies is proud to announce that Jose Aguilar, a maintenance technician at the firm’s Boyce Thompson Center mixed-use medical and retail development in Yonkers, NY, has been awarded the BOMA Westchester “Unsung Hero” award for his dedication and service to tenants and visitors.
Pictured L to R are BOMA Westchester President Scott Tangredi, Director of Construction at Reckson, award winner Jose Aguilar and Giovanni Puerta, Commercial Property Manager at Simone Development.
“Jose consistently goes above and beyond to ensure the satisfaction of our tenants and seamless operation of our Boyce Thompson Center,” said Joe Simone, president of Simone Development. “Jose’s positive attitude, exceptional teamwork, and his willingness to take on any challenge have made him an invaluable member of our team.”
The award was presented recently during BOMA Westchester’s 31st Annual Hall of Honors Awards dinner in Tarrytown, NY. In accepting the award, Mr. Aguilar recalled a chance meeting with the late Joseph Kelleher, a long-term Simone Development senior executive who was playing a guitar gig at a restaurant where he was working. The pair immediately hit it off and Joe offered Jose a maintenance position at the then newly opened Boyce Thompson Center. When Jose questioned his qualifications for the position, Kelleher replied “Can you screw in a light bulb? If so, we can teach you the rest.”
“What I like most about my job is helping people, both with the tenant’s needs and their customers,” Mr. Aguilar said, recalling his ongoing relationship with an elderly woman who visits a medical tenant and is afraid to ride elevators alone. Jose made it a point to learn her schedule and now always meets her during appointment days to ride the elevator with her.
“Jose is a testament to our company’s ongoing devotion to the businesses who call our properties home and the people they in turn serve,” said Mr. Simone. “We are extremely proud of him, his dedication and all the service and maintenance professionals that make Simone Development stand out in the world of commercial real estate.”
BOMA Westchester is the county’s leading professional organization dedicated to meeting the needs of building owners, property managers and allied professionals and tradespeople. BOMA Westchester is an affiliate of BOMA International — the oldest and largest association of the office building industry, with over 100 federated associations in the United States and around the world. The 17,000-plus members of BOMA International own or manage more than 9 billion square feet of commercial properties in North America and abroad.
Prime warehouse space in Castle Hill’s Zerega Industrial Complex snatched up by Kamco Supply Corp.
One of the oldest and largest local suppliers of commercial and residential building materials, Kamco Supply Corp. has secured more than 57,000 square feet of warehouse space in Castle Hill’s Zerega Industrial Complex.
Through a long-term lease, Kamco will use roughly 57,544 square feet of warehouse space at and 55,224 square foot of land at 1200 Zerega Ave. for the storage and distribution of building materials.
The Zerega Industrial Complex property is now 60% leased, with 25,895 square feet of remaining available warehouse space and 12,895 square feet of available office space, plus land for additional storage or parking.
Zerega is one of five Bronx Industrial Business Zones — which according to the city’s Economic Development Corporation are “safe havens” for manufacturing and industrial firms — including Bathgate, Port Morris, Eastchester and Hunts Point.
The warehouse facility, which is leased by Simone Development Companies, encompasses nearly 100,000 square feet in warehouse and office property space with connection to the 6 subway line, multiple bus routes, the Hutchinson River Parkway, as well as the Bruckner and Cross Bronx expressways.
“Modern and spacious warehouse space is in high demand in the New York metro area, and 1200 Zerega Ave. is extremely attractive to users like Kamco due to the rare combination of warehouse space and available land that is centrally located with immediate access to major highways,” said Josh Gopan, vice president of leasing at Simone Development.
When the neighborhoods around Zerega began to increase in residential density — in large part due to high-rise public housing development enabled by the New Deal and increased highway connections — manufacturing possibilities began to open up with the creation of the Zerega Industrial Complex in 1970.
In the coming decades, notable tenants include Krispy Kreme and Verizon, among others.
New warehouses are expected to be opening near the Port of New York and New Jersey in the coming months, just when existing space is becoming more available as current tenants move out. Industrial real estate experts said the uptick in vacancies signals a more balanced market and that near-port warehousing should remain in high demand over the long-term.
Simone Development said its marketing the remaining warehouse and office areas for lease in Zerega Industrial Park.
In the onset of the pandemic, there had been a demand for industrial space, which is reflected in the 2022 fourth quarter numbers, which saw 1.5 million square feet leased in the final quarter.
So far, just 730,000 square feet of industrial space was leased in the first quarter of 2023, according to quarterly data from Global Commercial Real Estate Services.
Simone Development Signs Lease with Kamco Supply Corp. for More Than 57,544 SF at 1200 Zerega Ave. in Bronx, New York
BRONX, NY (June 26, 2023) – Simone Development Companies has announced that building materials distributor Kamco Supply Corp. has signed a long-term lease for 57,544 square feet of warehouse space and 55,224 SF of land at 1200 Zerega Ave. in the Bronx for the storage and distribution of building materials.
The property is now 60% leased, with 25,895 square feet of remaining available warehouse space and 12,895 SF of available office space, plus land for additional storage or parking. The property features six drive-in doors, four loading docks, 16.5’ ceiling heights, outdoor storage, ample parking, and a unique signage opportunity.
“Modern and spacious warehouse space is in high demand in the New York metro area, and 1200 Zerega Ave. is extremely attractive to users like Kamco due to the rare combination of warehouse space and available land that is centrally located with immediate access to major highways,” said Josh Gopan, Vice President of Leasing at Simone Development, who represented ownership in the lease negotiations, along with in-house counsel Patrick Doyle. Kamco Supply Corp. was repped by Mat Diana of DY Realty.
The nearly 100,000-square-foot prime warehouse and office property is close to the #6 subway line, multiple bus routes, the Hutchinson River Parkway, as well as the Bruckner and Cross Bronx expressways.
Kamco Supply Corp. is one of the largest and oldest privately owned commercial and residential building materials suppliers in the New York metro area, with multiple locations in New York and New Jersey. Their new location’s main customer entrance is located on the Gleason Ave. side of the property. Simone Development is marketing the remaining warehouse and office areas for lease in the highly sought after Zerega Industrial Park.