Mason Technologies increases expansion plan to $30 million with new HQ and warehouse in Hauppauge

A technology company will spend 43% more than it anticipated moving from Deer Park to Hauppauge after deciding to construct a new headquarters and warehouse building instead of renovating a vacant building.

Mason Technologies Inc. plans to demolish a 50,000-square-foot building at 395 Oser Ave. in Hauppauge and replace it with a 69,000-square-foot building. The construction project, which became publicly known in May, will now cost $29.9 million, an increase of $9.1 million from the original plan.

The new building could be enlarged by 30,000 square feet in a couple of years if demand for Mason’s audio-visual systems, data centers and security systems continues to grow, said Nicholas T. Terzulli, the company’s real estate attorney.

By tearing down the old building, he told a meeting of the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency last week, Mason can place the new facility "in the most optimal location on the site, which will allow for the potential future growth of an additional 30,000 square feet. ... The new building will also allow Mason to build out fully tailored floor plans designed to meet their particular industry and business model" and to create a showroom with "their latest in AV technology."

The IDA board voted unanimously to amend the tax incentive package it had approved in May for the original plan. The new package totals $1.8 million over 15 years compared with $2.1 million over 15 years.

Mason to add 25 jobs

In return, Jennifer Mason, the company’s president and sole owner, has recommitted to adding 25 jobs to her workforce of 239 employees within two years. The new jobs will pay $69,600 per year, on average, according to the application for IDA tax breaks.

She and her husband, Adam Mason, vice president of customer relations, told the IDA in May that purchasing the Oser Avenue property was the culmination of a seven-year search for a new home for Mason Technologies, which Jennifer started in 2002. The couple said they’d looked at more than 100 buildings in three states.

"I don’t want to go to Connecticut anymore" to look at facilities to buy, Adam said. "I don’t want to look in New Jersey. We want to stay home, in Suffolk County."

Mason Technologies also has offices in the Carolinas and Manhattan. The latter serves customers in New York City government, JPMorgan Chase, Ralph Lauren, Kennedy Airport, the NYPD and FDNY.

At last week’s IDA meeting, board members applauded the company’s decision to remain in the county and to increase the size of its building project.

"This is a good project that just got better," said board member and sales executive Brian Beedenbender.

Kelly Murphy, the IDA's chief executive, said Mason Technologies has recommitted to participating in Solar-Up Suffolk, an initiative by Suffolk County Executive Edward P. Romaine to encourage the installation of solar panels on building roofs. As part of the approved tax incentive package, the company will receive about $74,900 in property-tax savings in return for installing panels on the roof of its new home.

Murphy also said "it's very, very unusual" for an IDA client to purchase a vacant building and then decide to replace it with a new building. "But this will allow Mason Technologies to move into the new space sooner and add 30,000 square feet down the road," she told Newsday on Wednesday.

By James T. Madore

james.madore@newsday.comJamesTMadore

James T. Madore writes about Long Island business news including the economy, development, and the relationship between government and business. He previously served as Albany bureau chief.