North 80, Westchester's long-awaited biotech hub, may soon rise in Valhalla

MOUNT PLEASANT − After a decade of planning, Westchester's largest biotech campus − where researchers can work, live and shop − is becoming closer to a reality.

The developer hopes to begin construction this fall on the North 80, a $1.2 billion biotech hub.

North 80 is to include medical offices, biotech research, retail, a hotel and a science education center totaling 3 million square feet. The mix-use development, proposed for 80 undeveloped acres north of Westchester Medical Center in Valhalla, is expected to create 8,000 permanent jobs and 2,500 construction jobs.

The project is being built on land leased from Westchester County. It could generate $9 million annually in taxes for local government and schools and $7 million in rent paid to the county.

Developer John Fareri, CEO of Fareri Associates based in Greenwich, said his vision is to create an innovation hub that will position the region to be a leading innovator in health care and biotech.

North 80, formerly referred to as North 60, is one of the county’s most anticipated projects. The notion of creating a biotech hub next to Westchester Medical Center and New York Medical College has long been supported by the local business community.

“There isn’t much lab space in Westchester," Fareri said. "That’s why we’re planning on creating lab space for start-ups and mature companies. We’re trying to create a different environment here where people can live and work, walk to work.”

Campus would be a community

Westchester long held off on leasing the land before signing a 99-year lease in 2019 for 60 acres on the property. Fareri is expecting to submit a site plan application next month to the Town of Mount Pleasant and to begin construction in the fall. The project would be completed in phases, with the construction of medical office and biotech research space leading the process.

The massive development would be the largest biotech campus in the county, including 2.2 million square feet in medical office and research space, a 120-room hotel and 98 residential units, in addition to retail, walking and biking trails and a children’s science education center.

More: North 60 $1.2B bioscience center: More details of mixed-use project for Valhalla

Plans are for North 80 to be a community.

In fact, to Fareri, the campus has a soul. The education center is a legacy of his daughter, who died at 13 from rabies and had made a wish for the health and well-being of children. The Maria Fareri Children's Hospital right next door is named for her.

Wendy Nadel, Fareri’s North 80 project advisor, said the project would not only foster collaborations within the campus, but partner with neighboring entities, including Regeneron, Westchester Medical Center, Westchester Community College and New York Medical College. She envisions the medical office and research space will promote collaborations between companies; the shopping center and hotel will accommodate visitors and community needs; and the education center will help enhance school STEM programs throughout the county.

“We see this as a collaborative place — all these different entities will support and strengthen each other and work together,” Nadel said.

The education center program is designed to supplement STEM education in Westchester schools and help build a future workforce. One goal is to increase the number of low-income and underserved students who are interested in pursuing careers in STEM. Students and volunteer mentors would work together on projects in six labs.

“There’s a shortage of skilled workers in this field, especially entry-level and mid-level workforce," Nadel said. "The program will help develop that pipeline."

How would the North 80 impact the community?

The project aligns with the county’s priority of promoting the biotech industry. Westchester is home to the largest life sciences cluster in New York, with over 200 biotech firms and 8,000 jobs. North 80 is expected to attract more companies, along with other developments.

Already, Regeneron has started a 1-million-square-foot expansion of its Greenburgh headquarters.

Officials applauded the economic benefits and educational opportunities that the North 80 would bring.

Bridget Gibbons, director of Westchester County Economic Development, said it will be a robust campus that facilitates life science collaboration and growth of the sector. In addition to contributing the 60 acres of county-owned land, she said the county will provide workforce training and help attract and retain life science companies.

“We want to see it succeed," Gibbons said. "We’ll continue our overall efforts to grow the sector."

A recent $400,000 federal life science study grant will help Westchester identify the needs of life science companies, in terms of their workforce and training, and to come up with strategies to address such needs. The six-month study is expected to start in July.

Mount Pleasant Town Supervisor Carl Fulgenzi said major benefits of the North 80 to the town include tax revenue, the creation of jobs and improvement of education programs. It may also inspire other developers to propose housing developments, given the potential influx of workers. He said the town board is carefully assessing all potential growth.

Currently, only two residential projects are underway: A senior housing development with 160 townhouses between Columbus Avenue and West Lake Drive and an apartment building with 14 units in Hawthorne.

“We’re slowly looking at market development," Fulgenzi said. "We’re not rushing at anything. I would try to maintain the character of our communities but at the same time we know the growth is needed."

Some residents are concerned about traffic congestion from the project and have suggested building an access road between the site and the Sprain Parkway. According to an environmental quality review report, 8,592 parking spaces will be provided upon completion. Traffic mitigation strategies required by the report include a traffic monitoring program that would evaluate traffic volumes once the first buildings are occupied.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Construction near for North 80, Westchester's $1.2B biotech hub