"Canon USA's Americas headquarters will be a significant addition to the Route 110 corridor, and should attract additional development, cementing Melville's status as Long Island's downtown," says town supervisor Frank Petrone in a release. "We look forward to the next step—construction—that will provide work for Long Island's construction unions now and pave the way for additional jobs in the future." An unincorporated hamlet within the Town of Huntington, Melville is one of the focal points for commercial office space within Suffolk County, particularly along Route 110.
Currently based at leased space in the Nassau County community of Lake Success, NY, Canon USA filed plans with Huntington's planning board in July 2008. The imaging giant paid about $103 million to the Tilles Cos. and the Holliday Organization for the 52.2-acre parcel, nicknamed the Pumpkin Farm, at the southwest corner of the Long Island Expressway South Service Road and Walt Whitman Road adjacent to Route 110.
As the months dragged on without site plan approval or an incentives package in place, Canon shut down its construction office near the planned site in January 2009, according to published reports. Last September, Gov. David Paterson announced a deal between Canon and the state to fund infrastructure improvements that are intended to mitigate traffic concerns near the planned headquarters. It followed Sen. Charles Schumer's call in July 2009 for the state to allocate federal stimulus funds toward roadway investment that he said "will seal the deal to make Canon USA a Long Island company for good."
The LIE service road, Walt Whitman Road and Route 110 all will receive improvements with a mix of state, federal and private funds. Canon is kicking in $1.3 million, according to a release.
The approved plans call for construction of a 668,296-square-foot, five-story office building and two multi-level parking garages totaling approximately 500,000 square feet. The $636-million project is aiming for LEED Silver certification.
In a statement, Canon USA EVP Seymour Liebman cites "the strong support" his company has received from the town. Liebman, who's also chief administrative officer and general counsel at Canon, adds, "This approval is a major milestone and we look forward to the approval process continuing so that we can soon celebrate moving to shovel-ready status."
Canon has already filed a preliminary application for a building permit. To expedite the approval process, the town allowed Canon to file the application before the site plan review was completed.
When the Canon headquarters is completed, it will bring an estimated 2,000 jobs to the Melville area. A study by the Long Island Association estimates that the project could increase Long Island's gross regional product by $1.3 billion and create up to 10,000 associated local jobs.
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Paul Bubny
Paul Bubny is managing editor of Real Estate Forum and GlobeSt.com. He has been reporting on business since 1988 and on commercial real estate since 2007. He is based at ALM Real Estate Media Group's offices in New York City.
