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The Arc’s New Building Expands Plans For Community Hubs
By Tina Traster
The Arc Rockland, a provider of services for people with developmental and intellectual disabilities, last week sold its headquarters at 25 Hemlock Drive in Congers to Portables Unlimited, Inc. for $6.5 million. Portable Unlimited Inc. is a Nanuet-based wholesaler and exclusive master dealer of T-Mobile products.
“We bought the building to use for warehousing,” said Raj Amar, owner of the T-Mobile site, which will remain in Nanuet.
Amar said the company will use about 20,000 of the 82,000 square feet and lease the rest.
With the proceeds from the sale last week, The Arc Rockland purchased a 20,200 square-foot office and community service building, located at 210 Route 303 in Valley Cottage, formerly the MKB law offices for $2.75 million from Five Great Kids, LLC. The move is expected to take place in late spring, following renovations. Paul Adler and Beth Reichgott from Rand Commercial were the selling brokers on the deal.
“Our move will be instrumental to the implementation of our strategic plan, which includes the provision of Day and Community Program Hubs in and near areas of commerce in Rockland,” said Carmine G. Marchionda, CEO of The Arc Rockland.
”Hubs give people receiving services greater opportunities to participate in community life – where they are gainfully employed, serve as volunteers, enjoy recreation and help support eateries and other retailers.”
“The balance of proceeds from the sale of Hemlock will be applied toward the purchase of another Community Hub by end of the year, and toward the enhancement of our Hub in New City,” Marchionda said. The New City program is located in The Arc’s Prime Time for Kids building.
Arc’s strategic vision is characterized by the development of smaller community program sites that replace larger congregate settings.
“Moving our headquarters to the Valley Cottage building is the first part of a plan to use space more efficiently while continuing to provide quality programs to the people we serve,” said John Smith, President of The Arc Rockland Board of Directors. “We are pleased that this move, anticipated for nearly two years, will soon be realized.”
Approximately 60 people from our Hemlock progam will participate there. The other people from Hemlock are expected to receive supports in Arc Hubs in New City, Nyack, Orangeburg and Pearl River, as well as another new location to be developed next year.”
The Arc Rockland is one of nearly 500 nonprofit service providers in the state. DDRO, Developmental Disabilities Regional Office, oversees local operations.
The Arc’s Day Program provides an educational component, social skills building, career coaching, employment, and opportunities for extensive volunteer work. Prior to the onset of Covid-19, more than 100 Arc people were volunteering at over 100 sites in Rockland and beyond.
The Arc provides Residential opportunities in 30 locations in Rockland for nearly 200 people ranging in age from 19 to 95. The agency’s pre-school program is Prime Time for Kids, accommodating 75 children with and without disabilities, at 70 Phillips Hill Road in New City. Over 6,500 square feet of that site will house the new location of Arc Health Resources, the only free-standing primary care facility for people with disabilities in Rockland. It will relocate from 4,489 square feet at 25 Hemlock Drive later this year and offer a substantial expansion of services.
The organization was founded in 1954 by a group of local families determined to raise their children at home and provide a special education, rather than institutionalize them. With a staff of nearly 700 employees, The ARC Rockland is the 16th largest employer in the county. It is one of 37 Arc chapters in New York, and one of more than 600 nationwide.