[youtube]http://youtu.be/SH_vRc5nVjc[/youtube]
Merlin breaks ground on Westchester Legoland
Merlin Entertainments Group Ltd. and Forest City Ratner Cos. marked the start of construction on the Legoland Discovery Center Westchester at Ridge Hill in Yonkers Oct. 17, with plans to open in the spring of 2013.
The $12 million development, which is being constructed by Merlin Entertainments, will total 32,300 square feet once completed and will feature more than 3 million Lego bricks.
Attractions at the Discovery Center will include hands-on play areas, a 4-D cinema, master classes led by Lego builders, two Lego rides, event rooms, and Miniland ”“ a re-creation of landmark locations and buildings from around Westchester County and New York City.
Merlin Entertainments, which is headquartered in the United Kingdom and has a corporate office in New York City, currently has more than 90 attractions worldwide and 17 in the U.S., including Legoland theme and water parks in Winter Haven, Fl., and Carlsbad, Calif, and a Madame Tussauds attraction in New York City.
Mayor Mike Spano and Forest City Ratner”™s Kathy Welch applauded Merlin Entertainments for choosing to set up shop in Yonkers. Forest City is the developer of the Ridge Hill complex.
“We couldn”™t be more pleased to welcome a regional family destination like Legoland Discovery Center to Yonkers,” Spano said, in a statement.
The ceremonial groundbreaking also featured remarks from Westchester County Director of Economic Development Laurence Gottlieb and Merlin Entertainments”™ James Burleigh.
Insurance broker Harrison-bound
Hub International Group Northeast Inc. will relocate a northeastern satellite office from White Plains to 500 Mamaroneck Ave. in Harrison, the insurance brokerage”™s new landlord announced.
Hub signed a seven-year lease for 4,773 square feet of office space in the Class A building, said Jeffrey H. Newman, executive vice president of Malkin Properties. Malkin Construction will build out the space for the tenant.
Patricia Valenti, principal with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, brokered the deal for the tenant with Elizabeth Houley and Erica Rubenstein. Newman, Malkin Properties senior leasing associate Kimberly Zaccagnino and leasing associate Tara L. Long represented the landlord. Attorneys included Robert Levine of Cuddy & Feder L.L.P. for the tenant and David Bleckner and Ian Lester of David Bleckner P.C. for the landlord.
Â
Rye Ridge opening
European Wax Center plans an early 2013 opening at Rye Ridge Shopping Center in Rye Brook after signing a long-term lease for 2,200 square feet of retail space vacated by Blockbuster in the 220,000-square-foot complex.
The beauty care retailer, which has 376 locations nationwide, must receive required permits from the village of Rye Brook before opening.
The leased space adjoins former Blockbuster space where a Massage Envy store is under construction.
European Wax Center ranked 82nd in 2011 on the Inc. 500 list of the fastest-growing private companies. The company also was the top-ranked franchise and ranked seventh in its industry by Inc. magazine.
”“ Additional reporting by Patrick Gallagher
