Simone Breaks Ground on Boyce Thompson Redevelopment

YONKERS—Yonkers city officials and Simone Development Companies broke ground on the $35-million redevelopment of the long shuttered former Boyce Thompson Institute property in Northwest Yonkers.

The redevelopment will transform the storied property into a modern 85,000-square-foot mixed-used complex. Joseph Simone, president of Simone Development Companies, revealed at the June 10th groundbreaking event that St. John’s Riverside Hospital in Yonkers had just signed a lease for the entire 15,000-square-foot freestanding glass building for medical offices. 

Simone’s plan includes construction of a new 18,000-square-foot addition that will be attached at the south end of the building to resemble the existing 52,000-square- foot structure. A glass “greenhouse” will connect the new building with the existing building and will house an information gallery honoring the Boyce Thompson legacy.

A two-level 15,000-square-foot, freestanding glass and aluminum building will be built at the corner of Executive Boulevard and Executive Plaza for either business or medical use. That building will now be occupied by St. John’s Riverside Hospital.

Located at the intersection of North Broadway and Executive Boulevard, the new Boyce Thompson Center will include state-of-the-art office space for business and medical use on the upper floor of the building with the front and rear grade levels housing medical offices, retail stores, banking and two restaurants.

The historic Boyce Thompson building, which was built in the 1920s, will be restored to its original character using materials to match or offset the period architecture. The 6.5-acre site was once the home of the Boyce Thompson Institute, a horticulture research center that moved to Cornell University in the 1970s. The property has remained abandoned for some 40 years with the main building and greenhouses falling into disrepair.

The project is expected to require 20 months to complete, including renovation of the existing structure, the addition to the Boyce Thompson building and the new glass building.

“Today’s groundbreaking is a momentous occasion for our company and the City of Yonkers as we begin the transformation of this historic property into an architecturally stunning mixed-use development that acknowledges an illustrious past while embracing an exciting future,” said Simone. “This property, which has been an eyesore for many years, will soon become a thriving business and retail center creating new jobs and generating new revenue for the City of Yonkers.”

“Boyce Thompson is a case study in adaptive re-use, demonstrating that with the right developer we can preserve an old building and make it viable in the new economy,” said Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano. “This project is yet another example of the tremendous amount of energy and excitement happening in Yonkers right now. Simone Development, which is responsible for some of New York City’s biggest developments, recognizes Yonkers’ momentum, so we are extremely pleased that Joe Simone and his team are bringing their talents and their investment dollars here.”

Simone Development manages more than 100 properties comprising more than 5 million square feet, many of which are located in the Yonkers area. Simone Development has owned and managed properties in the City of Yonkers for more than 30 years. The Bronx-based company recently purchased 1034 North Broadway, a two-story building containing 11 retail and business tenants.

John Jordan
Editor, Real Estate In-Depth