The Future of Science NYC
I said we were going to Boston first, but the future starts here in New Yok. This spring will be the groundbreaking of a project to create nearly 1 million square feet of Biotechnology lab space in NY right next to the NYU med center. Apparently they hemmed and hawed about it for years and then Guiliani got cancer and suddenly became very interested in Biomedical sciences. (Funny how that works.) NYU had tried to get the project rolling, but had only managed to get the area rezoned before NYC took the project away from them. Now it looks like it is acutally going to happen.
In addition to providing labspace at rates competitive to Boston, SF and La Lloya, the city is also putting together a sizable investment fund for startups. Hopefully this is the kickstart that NYC needs to catch up to other areas in Biotech. I didn’t plan on staying in New York after grad school, but this might be an opportunity that I should stick around for.