Simone Healthcare Development and Catholic Health Celebrate the Opening of New $47 Million Ambulatory & Urgent Care Center in Centereach, Long Island
Simone Transformed a Former Retail Building Into
a 63,000 SF State-of-the-Art, Multispecialty Care Center
CENTEREACH, NY (August 2, 2023) – Simone Healthcare Development and Catholic Health today joined with officials from the Town of Brookhaven to celebrate the opening of Catholic Health Ambulatory & Urgent Care at Centereach, a new multispecialty care center featuring primary care and specialty services as well as walk-in urgent care.
The new state-of-the-art center is part of Catholic Health’s growing network of multispecialty care centers, complete with diagnostic imaging, an on-site pharmacy, and a dedicated suite where Catholic Health’s gastroenterologists can perform endoscopy procedures in a safe, comfortable and convenient environment outside the hospital setting.
Simone Healthcare Development, a division of Simone Development Companies and a leader in medical office and ambulatory care facility development, acquired the 63,000 square foot facility located at 2112 Middle Country Road from Ocean State Job Lot, the largest closeout retailer in the Northeast, in 2022. Simone Healthcare Development has invested $30 million into the redevelopment of the property and is leasing the new healthcare facility to Catholic Health. Ocean State Job Lot continues to own and operate a 36,000 square foot store adjacent to Catholic Health.
This multi-faceted project was a collaborative partnership between the Simone Healthcare Development team and Catholic Health. Simone’s development team was responsible for site selection, securing land use approvals and managing the design and construction of the façade, site and core, while Simone’s property management team will manage the 10-acre site. The development required approvals from the Town of Brookhaven Planning Board and Building Department and the Suffolk County Department of Health.
Newman Design, as architect for Simone, designed a new exterior that is architecturally distinct from the adjacent retail use. It features a glass and limestone façade, a second entrance for urgent care, and a new glass canopy to provide a covered drop-off for patients. In addition to Simone’s investment, the new facility is part of Catholic Health’s $17 million project that further strengthens Catholic Health’s goal of making quality healthcare more convenient for Long Islanders and to support many of the unmet healthcare needs of the community. Primary and specialty care services will be offered in 43,000 square-feet of space immediately with an additional 20,000 square-feet available for future healthcare services.
“We are delighted to celebrate this incredible transformation of a former retail site into a state-of-the-art multispecialty ambulatory and urgent care center for Catholic Health,” said Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development Companies. “It was a true collaboration between our teams to be able to deliver this first-rate facility in just one year. This remarkable facility is an example of a major trend in healthcare real estate where under-utilized retail spaces are being converted into new urgent care, ambulatory centers and doctors’ offices as expanding health networks such as Catholic Health seek locations that are attractive to and convenient for their patients.”
“Today marks an important day not only for Catholic Health but also for the residents in and near Centereach, who now have access to exceptional primary care, urgent care, and specialized care across a wide variety of medical specialties,” said Catholic Health President & CEO Patrick O’Shaughnessy, DO, MBA. “We’ve recently launched a number of Ambulatory Care sites across Long Island, however, today we open our largest and most expansive. This is truly a milestone, both for Catholic Health and for Suffolk County.”
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 Catholic Health
Catholic Health is an integrated system encompassing some of the region’s finest health and human services agencies. The health system has nearly 16,000 employees, six acute care hospitals, three nursing homes, a home health service, hospice and a network of physician practices. Under the sponsorship of the Diocese of Rockville Centre, Catholic Health serves hundreds of thousands of Long Islanders each year, providing care that extends from the beginning of life to helping people live their final years in comfort, grace and dignity.
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.
Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Predicts Cancer Treatment Centers Proliferate as U.S. Population Expands and Ages
BRONX, NY (October 25, 2021) — Joseph Simone, President of Simone Development Companies, predicts health networks will design and build new cancer treatment centers in response to recent U.S. Census figures that reveal an increasing elderly population.
The U.S. Census projects that by 2034 there will be more senior citizens than children in the United States. Risk factors for cancer include advanced age and obesity. From 1999 through 2018, the U.S. obesity rate rose from 30.5 to 42.4 percent of the population.
“Last year an estimated 1.8 million new cancer cases were diagnosed in the United States. By 2030, the number of cancer survivors is projected to rise to 22.2 million,” said Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development Companies.
In response to these demographic trends, new cancer centers are in development or planned nationwide. Recent announcements include Our Lady of the Lake’s $100 million project in Baton Rouge, La.; Franciscan Health’s $43.2 million project in Lafayette, Ind.; and City of Hope’s $1 billion project in Irvine, Calif.
“A common denominator in many of these communities is an effort to bring advanced cancer treatment to communities where cancer patients must travel long distances to receive such care,” said Joe Simone.
Simone Development Companies’ contribution to the nation’s cancer care includes the construction of the Purchase Professional Park in Purchase, N.Y., the headquarters of the Westmed Medical Group, which has a robust oncology department.
“Simone Development Companies is prepared to help health providers respond to the twin demographic trends of aging and obesity that will lead to millions more cancer cases in the coming decade,” said Joseph Simone. “Innovations in cancer treatment will spur the construction of new surgical and radiation facilities. We’re already seeing this proliferation of cancer centers in many places, such as the New York metro area.”
Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies, Sees Plastic Surgery Trends Driving Design of Medical Facilities
BRONX,NY (Sept 13, 2021) — An explosive growth in minimally invasive cosmetic procedures is influencing the design of dermatologists’ and plastic surgeons’ offices, according to Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies.
“Medical practices want larger treatment rooms that can accommodate the latest cosmetic technology for skin resurfacing and cellulite treatment,” said Joseph Simone. “As the laser technology improves and delivers better results, we’re seeing skyrocketing demand for laser treatments nationwide.”
According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons’ 2020 statistics, total cosmetic procedures grew 131 percent between 2000 and 2020. The cosmetic procedures with the biggest growth over the 20-year period were minimally invasive procedures including laser skin resurfacing (483 percent) and cellulite treatment (261 percent). Surgical procedures with the biggest growth over the 20-year period include cheek implants (938 percent) and upper arm lifts (4,174 percent).
“Many of the medical facilities we have delivered in recent years include dermatology-office and cosmetic-surgery floor plans, including the Hutchinson Metro Center in the Bronx, N.Y. and WESTMED locations in Purchase, N.Y. and Greenwich, Conn.,” said Joseph Simone. “Simone Development Companies expects to continue new construction or renovation that includes dermatology and cosmetic surgical offices and operating rooms.”
The use of non-invasive procedures to slow the signs of aging are on the rise. According to the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (AAFPRS), the pandemic created a surge in surgical demand not seen in recent years. Even though many non-essential surgeries and aesthetic services were put on hold for months during the pandemic, AAFPRS members note that demand grew higher than ever.
“People are staring at themselves on screens during teleconference all day,” said Joe Simone. “That’s why so many people are seeking options like eyelid procedures to look less tired on camera. With remote working expected to increase in the future, it’s a sure bet more people will want to improve their appearance and seek medical solutions.”
Cuba Hill
Cuba Hill
5 Cuba Hill Rd, Greenlawn, NY
Mount Sinai Doctors Long Island set a new standard of excellence in healthcare with their new, spacious offices at 5 Cuba Hill Road in the Town of Huntington. The 80,000-square-foot multidisciplinary medical building houses more than 20 specialties and offers patients a continuum of services from primary and specialty care to ambulatory surgery. Simone acquired the former R&D building and worked closely with Mount Sinai and local officials to reimagine the complex as a cutting-edge medical facility that allows practices to collaborate in a single building.
