Future Hamptons economic hub thrills Levy

A planned industrial park near Gabreski Airport in Westhampton could provide an economic boost for the Hamptons, officials said.

Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy and other officials unveiled a proposal Friday for the East End Economic center, a high-tech industrial park and hotel to be built by Rechler Equity Partners of Melville on a 58-acre site near the county-owned airport.

Levy said he expected the new center to generate 600 high-paying, high-tech jobs. A 40-year lease on the land will bring in $40 million for the county, he said.

Suffolk County has just spent $1.8 million for infrastructure improvements at the site, officials said.

Rechler Equity managing partner Gregg Rechler said "there is a huge void in . . . Class A office, industrial and manufacturing space" in the Hamptons.

The town, county and local residents have discussed how to develop space at the airport since 2005.

Southampton Supervisor Anna Throne-Holst noted that the Rechler firm recently sought permission to build a three-story hotel instead of a previously approved two-story structure.

Rechler officials said they were was having trouble getting hotel chains interested in a smaller building.