'The Burbank Of NY,' Lionsgate Opens New Hudson Valley Studio

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — Today, Great Point Studios officially opened the doors of its much anticipated Lionsgate Studios in Yonkers.

The facility will eventually be the largest modern-built film and television production facility in the Northeast, according to company officials.

Lionsgate has greatly expanded its plans for the facility and will occupy seven of the complex's eleven stages, along with office and support space. Besides its prominent theatrical film presence, Lionsgate will produce more than 40 television shows for various broadcast outlets, including its subsidiary Starz.

"With demand for new content greater than ever and prime studio space at a premium, we're pleased to partner with Great Point on the opportunity to become an anchor tenant of the Yonkers Studios," Lionsgate CEO Jon Feltheimer said. "They will give our television and film productions state-of-the-art East Coast sound stages with great proximity to New York City, and we look forward to them becoming an important hub for our global production activities."

Great Point Studios also announced a $500 million expansion plan and new long-term tenants for the facility, which include Lionsgate, Mediapro and Syracuse University.

"We have a shared vision for the future of the entertainment industry, and it's reflected in every detail we put into this complex," Great Point Studios founder Robert Halmi said."Given the expected rise in studio production post-Covid, we are confident that expanding our Yonkers studio will attract quality tenants. We are proud that Lionsgate, Mediapro and Syracuse University share our vision and are strongly supporting our project."

The campus, roughly 11 miles from midtown Manhattan, will feature state-of-the-art film stages, post-production facilities, screening rooms, office space and support space, according to Great Point. It will offer a full set of production services on site, including grip and electric, equipment, props, set building, restaurants, location catering, cleaning service, and security.

The expanded, one million-square-foot complex will cost over $500 million and boast more 20,000 square foot stages on one campus than any other facility in the Northeast. When completed, the campus will include a total of eleven soundstages: eight 20,000-square-foot stages, two 10,000-square-foot stages and a gigantic, 30,000 square-foot stage. It will also include parking for more than 750 cars and 100 trucks.

Three of the large stages and 500,000 square feet of office and support space are now open for business, while Great Point has also purchased approximately eight acres of additional land around the originally announced studio site. The expansion of additional stages and office space are already under construction and are scheduled to be completed in phases starting in September, with completion slated for December 2023.

"This state-of-the-art media complex will help complete the transformation of the Yonkers waterfront," Yonkers Mayor Mike Spano said in a statement celebrating the grand opening. "Local commerce will benefit from the expected 1000 plus people working at the studio complex daily."