Rechlers' Suffolk airport project gets OK
A rendering atop a map shows the proposed $43-million Hamptons Business District on 50 acres at Gabreski Airport. Credit: Handout
A small office building and a research and development center to be built by Rechler family members at the Francis S. Gabreski Airport in Westhampton Beach won preliminary approval Thursday of yet-to-be negotiated tax incentives.
The approval by the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency, a public benefit corporation, indicates that Plainview-based Rechler Equity Partners will get inducements such as property tax abatements and exemptions from sales tax on building materials to construct the buildings.
The structures are a one-story, 33,900-square-foot, multitenant office building and a 58,500-square-foot multitenant building for research and development and industrial and warehouse uses.
"It's the first part of the approval process," said managing partner Gregg Rechler.
Rechler Equities is a separate corporation from RXR Corp., though the principals of both corporations are relatives.
Construction costs are estimated at about $11 million for both buildings.
Rechler said the company hoped to begin construction on them later this year, when it expects to have building permits from Southampton Town. It estimates construction will take about 10 months.
The buildings given tentative approval Thursday would be components of a planned nine-building, $43-million "Hampton Business District" project on 50 acres on the east side of Westhampton-Riverhead Road, County Road 31.
County and town officials have long envisioned a commercial industrial center next to the airport.
The property is county owned and is leased to Rechler Equity for a 40-year term with a 40-year option.
The nine buildings would include four with offices, one hotel, three commercial industrial structures and a day care center for children of workers in the complex.
When fully occupied, the first two Hamptons Business District buildings are expected to employ about 190 people. The entire project is expected to employ 800 when it's completed.
The adjacent airport has no commercial air service but is used by charter operators, private and corporate aircraft and the 106th Air National Guard.
