Westchester County currently has 8,000 workers engaged in the biotechnology/pharmaceutical industries. County officials say that there is sufficient pent-up demand by existing Westchester County biotech firms that are looking to expand their operations and potential relocation candidates to make the project a success.

Westchester County is working with the Westchester Medical Center, New York Medical College and New York State's Empire State Development Corp., to develop the research facility on a vacant 60-acre county-owned site next to the medical center in Valhalla. The plan is to build laboratory and incubator space that would attract "well established companies as anchor tenants, as well as small and start-up medical and biotechnology firms."

Carrera says that the county has held some discussions with Mount Pleasant officials regarding local approvals that might be necessary. Currently, the property is zoned for residential use. The county plans to undertake an environmental review in conformance with the state's SEQRA regulations.

"Zoning issues will be addressed once we move forward with the project," he adds.

The Westchester Medical Research Park is just one of three new ventures that could be marketing to prospective biotechnology, biomedical or pharmaceutical firms in the near future. New York Presbyterian Hospital is currently awaiting final approval from the City Council of White Plains to build, two 192,500-sf buildings at its White Plains campus. The project would include space for the "Center for Advanced Proton Technology" that would feature a proton beam accelerator used for cancer diagnosis and treatment. Also, LCOR Inc., has received approvals to build an additional 320,000-sf of biotech space at its Landmark at Eastview complex in Greenburgh.