Need for More Room is Reason for New Tenants at Chappaqua Crossing

The decision to move WeeZee and ACCESS Nursing Services was made because the former Reader's Digest site has more room than a spot in Armonk that was previously considered.

While it was announced last year that the playspace would open at a site on Armonk's Labriola Court, "an expanded design and additional features made it necessary for the company to seek space that included more square footage and an open air concept," according to a statement from WeeZee.

Both organizations have signed on for 24,000 square feet of combined commercial space at Chappaqua Crossing, with WeeZee taking up 15,000 for an indoor sensory play space and ACCESS using 9,000 for work space.

ACCESS and WeeZee are related organizations and share a founder, Briarcliff Manor resident Louise Weadock. ACCESS is based in Pleasantville but will depart for Chappaqua Crossing, while WeeZee is a new organization.

"The facility will offer a colorful and vibrant ambiance designed to appeal to a child’s sense of motion, hearing, space, taste, sight and smell," according to an announcement. "The safe and supervised therapeutic environment will include equipment designed to improve academic performance, athletic coordination and social relationships in children and will include a rainforest room, a music room, a colorful cocoon-like swing and other sensory enhancement features.

The larger design is "a family's fantasy come to life," stated Weadock, the founder of WeeZee and ACCESS. "We have created a unique environment that offers children a time to play and learn that is unforgettable."

The space will target children ages one through 12 and aim to improve their physical and cognitive strength.

"Our vision is for WeeZee to become a fun place where kids can make friends, have unique experiences, expand their imaginations and improve their cognitive performance," Weadock explained.

Construction is already underway at the space and the company is looking to open in March. Once open, WeeZee will be open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. every day of the week.

WeeZee will bring 100 jobs to Chappaqua Crossing and ACCESS will bring 20-25, according to Geoff Thompson, a spokesman for Summit/Greenfield.

ACCESS and WeeZee are the first new tenants at Chappaqua Crossing 13 months ago.

The signing of WeeZee and ACCESS is good news for Summit/Greenfield, which over how its residential rezoning petition for the site was handled. The New Castle Town Board last April approved 111 out of 199 housing units that the developer proposed on the site for a mixed use project, but Summit/Greenfield felt that the decision undermined the economic viability of the proposal. The litigation is now .