Business & Tech

Hampton Business District Ground Breaking Delayed

The partial federal government shut-down has put the brakes on the $100 million development project.

While cousins Gregg and Mitchell Rechler of Rechler Equity Partners had intended to break ground on a $100 million business center on 58 acres at Gabreski Airport in Westhampton later this month, their plans have been put on hold.

According to Ellen Cea, director of business development at the Hampton Business District, the partial government shut-down earlier this month has caused a needed approval from the FAA to be delayed.

Cea explained that while the furlough is over, it is unclear when the approval will be forthcoming.

"We are at a standstill and are not sure when the approval will come," said Cea.

Cea said the FAA request is a required formality because the business district sits on an airport — the FAA needs to sign off on the construction plan, she said. 

Cea said that once the approval is received, a ground-breaking, which was planned for Nov. 1 can take place.

The Hampton Business District has been in the works for several decades with a ribbon cutting taking place in Feb. 2011 after Suffolk County, which is leasing the property to the Rechlers, completed $1.8 million in infrastructure improvements at the site, including a main entrance, roads and curbing.

Once complete, the Hampton Business District is anticipated to generate more than $7 million in rental revenue to the county over the next ten years and more than $40 million over the life of the 40-year lease.

The goal, according to the Rechlers is to bring in businesses that will create between 600-700 high paying jobs.


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