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Kawasaki Agrees To Purchase Yonkers Warehouse

YONKERS, N.Y. – A Japanese rail car manufacturer has agreed to stay in Yonkers, a move that will likely preserve hundreds of city jobs.

Despite rumors it would move to Nebraska or New Jersey, Kawasaki Rail Car Inc., a major supplier of New York City’s subway cars, has announced it will purchase the southern Yonkers warehouse it has called home since the 1980's.  

“I think it’s a great thing for Yonkers to have a major corporation like that decide to buy here,” City Councilman Michael Sabatino said. “It really sets the stage for other businesses to consider something similar or to explore being home based here.”

Kawasaki has been a vital tenant of the half-mile long Wells Avenue warehouse, where it started making trains for the tri-state area in 1985.

Last year, state officials announced the manufacturer would be awarded a $500,000 grant if it stayed in Yonkers. As part of that agreement, the factory must retain at least 375 city jobs. 

The 239,000-square-foot building, once occupied for decades by Otis Elevator Co., will cost the rail car manufacturer roughly $25 million. As part of the agreement to purchase the property, which it had been leasing from National Resources, Kawasaki also has agreed expand its office space in a nearby building to roughly 60,000 square feet, double its current size, for 15 years. 

“I think it shows the company has confidence in the city and I think that’s a good thing,” Sabatino said.

City Council President Chuck Lesnick said the addition of any office or factory space in downtown Yonkers will play a vital role in the city’s transformation.

“We are trying to turn around the downtown area, and one of the things you need is daytime and lunchtime traffic,” he said. “The more offices and more factories, the better.”

Lesnick added the city appreciated the manufacturer’s commitment to Yonkers.  

“We are very thankful they recommitted to staying here,” he said. 

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