Kevin Bette, president of First Columbia LLC, relates that the project has already attracted Pace University, which is operating a Distance Learning Center, the engineering firm McGoey, Hauser & Edsall, the Empire State Development Corp., the New York State Division of Taxation and Finance and C-Management, a German software firm. In addition, First Columbia has offices at the 33 Airport Center Drive building, which totals 45,000 sf of space and Insignia/ESG will occupy space there as well.

In terms of new construction, First Columbia hopes to begin construction soon on the "Medical Center of New Windsor," a primary care facility that will be overseen by the Mid-Hudson Family Health Institute and the Westchester County Medical Center. Construction on that 50,000 sf building should begin by Aug. 1, Bette says.

Nearby, First Columbia plans to make improvements and put an addition on an existing gymnasium building in order to create a Corporate Fitness Center that will feature state of the art equipment, an elevated running track and a two-story media wall. Adjoining the fitness center will be approximately 30,000 sf of space that will accommodate food services, a bank branch and dry cleaners.

In addition, the College of Aeronautics, which is housed at LaGuardia Airport, is seeking New York State funding to assist in the development of a campus and residential housing units at the New York International Plaza site. Bette says the college is interested in acquiring up to 50 acres at New York International Plaza for that purpose.

Bette notes that the hiring of Insignia/ESG will assist First Columbia in marketing to tenants in the local New York metropolitan area as well as in international markets. Insignia, through its hotel division, will also provide the developer with services related to the planned hotel/convention center at the project.