A proposal to construct a Wegmans Food Market at an unoccupied office building has received its final approval from the Harrison Town Council.
According to Councilwoman Marlane Amelio, a Republican, as a result, demolition of the vacated office complex at 106-110 Corporate Park Drive will begin in three months, bringing Harrison a step closer to introducing the private chain’s first location in the Lower Hudson Valley region. “It’s going to be a wonderful project that most people are going to enjoy shopping at the facility,” she said.
Wegmans is headquartered in Gates, New York, near the city of Rochester, where it was founded in 1916. The privately owned regional supermarket chain, which owns 93 stores across the mid-Atlantic and New England regions, is known for selling locally sourced food.
Introduced at the end of last year, the proposal calls for the demolition of an abandoned office complex in the town’s “Platinum Mile” area and constructing a 125,000-square-foot, 2-story grocery store, which includes a café area.
The Town Council approved a necessary zoning amendment in May to allow for construction of the supermarket in its special business district.
In April, the town Planning Board completed the environmental review of the proposal. The board determined the project wouldn’t pose any negative environmental risks, and issued a negative declaration, which completed the environmental review without requiring a much lengthier environmental impact statement process.
Kim Goergen, a representative for Wegmans, said building the supermarket will create 180 full-time and 250 part-time positions with the company, which is planning to open a second location in the New York metropolitan area along Brooklyn Navy Yard’s Admiral’s Row, located along the East River, in 2018.
According to Town Councilman Rich Dionisio, a Republican, the project’s approval comes with the addition of another development being built adjacent to the supermarket. “Wegmans will have nothing but a positive impact on Harrison. Right now, we’re concentrating on bringing the town forward and transforming the entire [Platinum Mile] area.”
Last week, Toll Brothers, a publicly owned home development company, in partnership with Normandy Real Estate Partners, began construction of a 421-unit rental complex known as Carraway at 103-105 Corporate Park Drive, which is located next to the site of the planned supermarket.
Normandy Real Estate Partners, which is responsible for developing other properties along the Interstate 287 corridor in Harrison, has partnered with Wegmans to open its first location in Westchester County.
Currently, town officials estimate the supermarket will open for business midway through 2019.
Mayor Ron Belmont could not be reached for comment, as of press time.
