Bronx, NY – On Tuesday, June 6th, NYS Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul, Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz, Jr., Deputy Mayor Alicia Glenn on behalf of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Commissioner Julie Menin of the Mayor’s Office of Media and Entertainment, and additional officials joined executives of York Studios to break ground on the Bronx’s newest blockbuster – a state-of-the-art film and television production complex.
A currently vacant 10-acre lot located off the Bruckner Expressway in the Soundview section of the Bronx will be transformed into what has been dubbed York Studios’ Michaelangelo Campus. When complete, the nearly $100 million development will boast a private gated complex featuring approximately 350,000 square feet of production space. Michaelangelo Campus will house nine sound stages, production office space, and workshops for each stage, in addition to offering eight loading docks and secure on-site parking.
“York Studios’ Michaelangelo Campus is unique as it is the first ground-up construction project of a state-of-the-art television and film production facility in the Bronx,” said York Studios Chief Executive Officer John Kalafatis.
Phase one of the two-phase development project, designed by Gerald Caliendo Architects, has an expected cost of $45 million and will consist of 170,000 square feet ready with five production stages. Construction of phase one has an anticipated completion date of 16 to 18 months after breaking ground. The project is set to receive $36 million in conditional tax benefits over the next 25 years from the New York City Industrial Development Agency.
“York Studios is excited to expand our facilities to the great borough of the Bronx and be able to provide a state-of-the-art production complex, offering a quality and level of service second to none,” said York Studios Executive Vice President of Operations John Battista.
York Studios currently owns and operates a 40,000 square foot location in Maspeth, Queens where films such as “Non-Stop”, “John Wick”, “This Is Where I Leave You”, “The Amazing Spider-Man 2”, and “Godzilla (2014)” were filmed. York Studios is also home to the hit CBS television show “Elementary”.
The entertainment industry has experienced continued growth over the past several years in New York. With the addition of the new Michaelangelo Campus, York Studios is expected to help meet the growing demand for studio space in the New York City area.
“I am so proud of the gains we continue to make in the movie and television production business, and welcome the construction of York Studios’ new sound stages in Soundview which will put more than 400 New Yorkers to work in this industry. Creating jobs and building industries across our neighborhoods is key to a more affordable and equitable New York,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio.
“The television and film industry is growing across the five boroughs, and The Bronx is no exception. York Studios’ new Michaelangelo Campus in Soundview not only expands our borough’s ability to host major movie and TV productions, it reactivates a long-dormant site, creates new jobs and is another excellent example of the ongoing positive transformation that is taking place in communities all over The Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr.
“York Studios is a home-grown success story and their decision to expand to the Bronx is further proof that the film and television industry is thriving in New York State,” said Lieutenant Governor Hochul. “Governor Cuomo has made strategic investments in infrastructure through the REDCs’ bottom-up approach to economic development and continues to be a champion for the film and television industry, taking decisive action to renew the New York State Film Tax Credit Program through 2022. York Studios’ expansion will further establish the South Bronx as a burgeoning hub for film and media, which is generating jobs and millions of dollars in economic activity in a community that needs both.”
The expansion of York Studios is expected to generate nearly $100 million in new tax revenue for the Bronx, employ over 400 production industry professionals, and create hundreds of construction jobs.
“The production industry is booming in New York City at an unprecedented rate. The new 350,000 square foot facility York Studios is building in the Soundview area of the Bronx is a welcome addition that will both help the industry and create hundreds of great job opportunities in the entertainment industry for people in the Bronx and beyond,” said New York City Media and Entertainment Commissioner Julie Menin. “We are thrilled to celebrate this groundbreaking, and can’t wait to visit the sets of great ‘Made in New York’ shows when it is completed.”
“NYCEDC is thrilled to support York Studios in the construction of its new Michaelangelo Campus,” said NYCEDC President James Patchett. “Leveraging $36 million in tax incentives over the next 25 years, we will unlock enormous private investment and help bring 400 good paying jobs to the Soundview section of the Bronx. The York Studios project helps to advance Mayor de Blasio’s goal to create 100,000 quality jobs through City investment, and the project complements NYCEDC’s efforts to create the first Made in New York campus for film production in the Brooklyn.”
“We feel the studio will be a major asset to the borough and will help generate more revenue for local businesses in the area,” said Battista. “We are very appreciative of all the support we have received for this project from the city, state and borough of the Bronx. They have helped transform our vision into a reality.”
York Studio officials have stated that there is already significant interest from within the industry to reserve space at the new facility when it opens.