Jacobowitz and Gubits congratulates our client, Tony Danza of Danza Lesser Group, on the news that he has received funding, tax incentives and the land use approvals necessary to repurpose one of Orange County’s most historic health care facilities, Horton Hospital in Middletown, New York, as an osteopathic medical school. When Orange Regional Medical Center closed Horton Hospital and opened a new state-of-the-art facility in Middletown, Mr. Danza saw an opportunity, acquired the Horton Hospital complex and set about realizing his vision: to provide the region with a fully accredited medical school training doctors, many of whom will remain in the area after graduation.
Mr. Danza is also pursuing related health care facilities such as skilled nursing and assisted living, and dormitories. The development is expected to dramatically improve health care in the region as far as Sullivan, Columbia and Greene counties, reducing the exodus of both residents and trained doctors from the Hudson Valley. The school will also help transform ORMC into a university hospital, bringing great economic and health benefits.
The January 10, 2013 news conference held at Horton Hospital represents the culmination of years of tireless work by Mr. Danza with state and local actors who could help him realize his vision for the abandoned hospital, including Dr. Ron Israelski, an orthopedic surgeon who is director of medical education at Orange Regional Medical Center, Touro College, which will run the medical school, Middletown Mayor Joseph DeStefano and the City’s Industrial Development Agency (IDA). The news conference also marked the beginning of the physical work necessary to make the medical school a reality, including renovating the buildings for the grand opening slated for August, 2014.
Jacobowitz and Gubits was grateful for the opportunity to help Mr. Danza bring this important project to the City of Middletown, Orange County and the broader region. Our legal team represented the Danza Lesser Group during the Horton Hospital real estate transaction, before the City of Middletown Planning Board in order to secure the necessary land use approvals, and before the Middletown IDA to secure the payment-in-lieu-of-taxes, among other agreements. We are proud of our contribution to the literal and figurative health of the region and look forward to continuing our work on this worthy project.
GARY M. SCHUSTER, ESQ.
Senior Counsel
Jacobowitz & Gubits, LLP
158 Orange Avenue
Post Office Box 367
Walden, New York 12586
Phone: 845-778-2121 Ext. 230
Fax: (845) 778-5173
Cell: (845) 242-0430
Email: gms@jacobowitz.com
Website: www.jacobowitz.com
Twitter: @GaryMSchuster