Biotech Company to Relocate to Ardsley, Create Jobs

Acorda Therapeutics, Inc. announced today it will relocate its corporate headquarters to the Ardsley Park life science campus off of Roue 9A in Ardsley.

According to a company statement, Acorda has signed an agreement to lease approximately 138,000 square feet of laboratory and office space within the site for a 15-year period expected to begin in June 2012. It plans to relocate all employees currently based at its location in Hawthorne to the Ardsley facility.

Acorda Therapeutics is a biotechnology company founded that was founded in 1998 and focuses on developing medications for neurological disorders like multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease.

"The company has expanded significantly over the last few years," said Acorda spokesman Jeff Macdonald. Their drug Ampyra—which helps MS patients regain walking ability—was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration last year. 

According to Macdonald, there will be up to 190 new jobs that result from the relocation in all areas of the business, including science, finance and administration. Acorda received a $5.2 million grant from Empire State Development Corporation, a state agency dedicated to promoting business investment and growth, which is tied to job creation.

Westchester County has also promised tax abatements that are tied to construction projects resulting from the move.

Acorda will move into 420 Ardsley Park, which is currently occupied by OSI technologies, also a biotech company. OSI purchased the property a number of years ago, but was never able to utilize it to its capacity because the company was acquired shortly after. 

Macdonald stressed that the Ardsley property would not be where drugs are manufactured—only tested and researched.

"People should not worry about hazardous chemicals," he said

"This is fantastic economic development news for the town," said Greenburgh Town Supervisor Paul Feiner "More high quality bio tech companies means more jobs and is great for property values—and good for the local merchants in Ardsley and surrounding business districts.  In these difficult economic times it is encouraging to live in a community that continues to be a sought after community to live in and work at."

Read more about Acorda here.