County LDC Approves $195 Million Bond Financing for New Patient Care Tower at Westchester Medical Center

A major expansion of Westchester Medical Center’s campus took a big step forward this week with the final approval by the Westchester County Local Development Corporation (LDC) of $195 million in tax-exempt bond financing for the development of a new 162,626-square-foot Patient Care Tower on the Valhalla campus.

“Today’s historic approval by the Local Development Corporation is yet another example of how we are working with our not-for-profit community in securing tax-exempt bond financing benefits that are provided at no cost or risk to the taxpayers of Westchester County. This magnificent new project will further enhance our County’s world-class healthcare sector while providing a boost to our region’s economy,” said Westchester County Executive George Latimer.

“The Local Development Corporation is very pleased to approve the bond financing for this very important healthcare development at the Westchester Medical Center campus. As a result, nearly 900 construction jobs and new full-time jobs will be created and the County will receive more than $3.5 million in total economic benefits,” said Local Development Corporation Chair Joan McDonald.

“The LDC has a clear vision for the future of Westchester County, and we’re happy that vision includes projects such as the Patient Care Tower,” said Michael D. Israel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Westchester Medical Center Health Network (WMCHealth). “The Patient Care Tower on the Westchester Medical Center campus will be the Hudson Valley’s hub of critical care medicine as it will bring together critical care and medical-surgical specialties in one location, enabling Westchester Medical Center to convert to all private inpatient rooms across the rest of the campus. Additionally, the Patient Care Tower will advance our academic mission by giving medical residents and students a state-of-the-art facility in which to train.”

According to a cost benefit analysis prepared for the LDC, the project would provide the County with total benefits of $3,531,780 over 30 years. The total benefits are comprised of $722,468 in sales tax revenue from construction; $2,528,062 of sales tax revenue from operations over 30 years, and $281,250 in fees to be collected by the LDC based on the bond proceeds. The project is also estimated to create more than 770 construction jobs and 127 new full-time jobs.

The $221.3 million Patient Care Tower project would feature a five-story, 128-bed structure with all of its inpatient rooms ICU-equipped and a patient-centric design with leading edge amenities that will create a soothing, healing environment. It will house vital services for WMCHealth patients and their families including trauma, neurosciences, cardiology and general surgery. WMCHealth is a BCW Member.