With Breonics opting to stay at Harriman Campus for the time being, Columbia Development is now stepping up efforts to attract a new tech business to Slingerland’s Vista Technology Campus.
The Bethlehem Industrial Devel-opment Agency met on Friday, Nov. 22, and an update was given on 65 Columbia, the building that was meant to house Breonics. BIDA Executive Director Tom Connelly said no forward progress has been made between Columbia and the organ regeneration research company on signing a lease.
“What’s going to happen there is unknown,” Connelly said.
Calls to Breonics and Columbia Development were not returned.
Breonics was first announced as a potential tenant for Vista in March. The company would have occupied about 6,000 square feet of a 27,000-square-foot building to be constructed behind ShopRite.
Columbia Development Companies President Joseph Nicolla said in a previous interview that he felt negotiations stalled because they were asked to name the company in a public forum before the lease was signed. BIDA Chairman Frank Venezia said they asked for details to be disclosed because the tenant and developer were seeking tax abatements.
Connelly said Columbia is now in negotiations with another tech company to move to Vista, but that company was not named and no details were given about the type of company. Nicolla has said in the past he would now like to have a lease signed before releasing further details.
“The tech company (Columbia) is negotiating with may go into a different building, which would leave 65 available for Breonics if they wanted to go ahead,” said Connelly.
One IDA member said it is possible Breonics was given a new short-term lease by the state because decisions are still being made about what Harriman should be used for.
Construction of the Columbia 15 building will also be placed on hold. The medical building has one lease signed for a eye-care facility, but Connelly said the developer is looking to get one or two more tenants before construction begins.