A major retail development is on track to open in Orange County in two years. Planning for the $200 million project began prior to any talk of casinos. But with casino siting announcements expected next week, the shopping mecca is moving full speed ahead, with a few of the anchor stores just announced, casino or not.
The co-developer of the LOOP-Hudson Valley said Thursday leasing is going well for the 650,000 square foot retail development planned along Route 300 in the Town of Newburgh. Tom Wilder is principal of Boston-based The Wilder Companies, which has LOOP locations in Methuen, Massachusetts and Florida.
“We know that we’re a catalyst for more development. Not only just retail, but we’ve seen other developments. We demonstrate that there’s business to be done in the county. So we start to see other businesses are attracted to the area, new residential growth happens in and around us,” says Wilder. “So, the added benefit of growth at the airport, a casino, we think that’s all terrific. We love to reinforce that this junction of [I-]87 and [I-]84 is just phenomenal opportunity and phenomenal regional access for multiple uses.”
That’s the same location being heavily touted by developers of two of the six proposed casinos in Orange County, one for the Town of Newburgh and one for New Windsor. The state Gaming Facility Location Board is slated to decide December 17 on the up to four casino licenses it could award. Two are expected to go to the Hudson Valley/Catskills region.
The Wilder Companies is teaming up with New York-based Wilder Balter Partners, no relation, for the venture. Wilder announced a few of the up to nine anchor stores that will take up residence, including BJ’s Wholesale Club, ShopRite, and the following.
“Dick’s Sporting Goods will be taking a 50,000-square foot store,” Wilder says. “Dick’s has a new concept that they’ve developed. They have eight in the country; it’s called Field & Stream. They will also be doing a 50,000 square-foot store.”
He says Michael’s will relocate from its site across from Adams Fairacre Farms. There also are plans for more than 50 smaller stores along with restaurants and a multi-screen theatre. Wayne Booth is Orange County deputy executive.
“You had to jump in your car and drive 30 minutes west to the Walkill/Middletown are or you had to drive 30 minutes north by northeast to the Dutchess/Poughkeepsie area,” says Booth. “We have a few limited opportunities here in this area but generally you made those choices. So you had a 50-50 chance of seeing those sales-tax dollars exit the county. This is going to cut off the escape route, as far as I’m concerned.”
Chairman of the Orange County Industrial Development Agency Bob Armistead says LOOP promotes the type of growth he likes to see.
“What’s more this project will bring jobs to Orange County, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Officials say the project will create about 1,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent management and sales positions. Wilder says the project is fully permitted.
“We’ll break ground this coming spring, in earnest,” says Wilder. “The goal is for an opening in the fourth quarter 2016.”
Maureen Halahan is president and CEO of the Orange County Partnership, a non-profit economic development agency.
“We’re very excited about this because this is in the bucket, if you will. This is shovels in the ground going to happen. Just think in terms of the fervor that this creates,” says Halahan. “And then if you layer on top of that more change with the airport, more growth, and the possibility that a casino announcement, and we’re praying that Orange County gets one, it just continues to elevate our exposure nationally.”
Wilder delivered the LOOP update from the county’s IDA suite, overlooking Stewart International Airport. It’s an area of Orange County that has been receiving promising economic development news lately. In October, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announced plans to develop Stewart as a cargo distribution center, and he proposed the creation of a tax-free START-UP NY Zone at the New Windsor-based airport.
