The town/village of Harrison is seeking to approve a developer’s plan to replace an old office complex at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive with a Wegmans Food Market, which would be the first of its kind in Westchester County.
Normandy Real Estate Partners, which owns an abundance of property on the “Platinum Mile” along the Interstate 287 corridor, and Wegmans, are proposing to construct approximately a 125,000-square-foot, 2-story grocery store, which will also include a café area, at the Corporate Park Drive location.
Wegmans is a privately owned regional supermarket chain headquartered in Gates, New York, which is located near the city of Rochester. The company, which owns 92 stores across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, is known for selling locally sourced food and has operated since its founding in Rochester in 1916.
The proposed facility in Harrison would replace three existing underutilized office buildings on Corporate Park Drive, but not the EastRidge Enrichment Center and White Plains Daycare and Preschool, which is located at 109 Corporate Park Drive, at the rear of the property.
The planned supermarket also comes on the heels of the approval of Harrison’s first mixed-use facility at 103-105 Corporate Park Drive. In September, the Town Council approved the construction of a 421-unit rental development and indoor parking garages known as the Residences at Corporate Park Drive.
“This is all part of a long project that we began four years ago,” said Mayor Ron Belmont, a Republican, referring one of his initiatives since taking office in 2012. “It’s amazing how much growth we’ve seen on Westchester Avenue since we began repurposing the land.”
Despite the enthusiasm for the planned Wegmans grocery store, the town will have to approve a zoning change on Dec. 15, after press time, to allow the company to set up shop in the special business district of town. The land designated for construction is located in an SB-O district, which requires special approval from the Town Council. That type of district restricts buildings to be constructed up to four stories high.
“At this point, there is very little to it, but I think it would be a wonderful addition to our community,” said Harrison Councilwoman Marlane Amelio, a Republican. “From what I’ve heard, it’s a wonderful store that offers just a variety of great food products, and we’re looking forward to it.”
Wegmans, in partnership with developer Steiner NYC, a Brooklyn-based firm, is planning to open a second location in the New York metropolitan area. The company is anticipating opening a supermarket along Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Admiral’s Row, which is located along the East River, in 2018.
Deputy Village Attorney Chris Cipolla could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
