News story made available courtesy of Poughkeepsie Journal

Dentist, family team to build office complex

Friday August 24th, 2007

By Craig Wolf
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com

FISHKILL PLAINS - Dentists do a lot of drilling; this one's doing some digging.

Dr. Amjad Nesheiwat, who has been in practice here for about 10 years and has family who have lived here since the early 1970s, is teaming up with family members to build a new office complex called Nesheiwat Square in this hamlet in the northern part of the Town of East Fishkill.

"We need to provide more commercial service where people can get these things done," Nesheiwat said. He plans to have his own offices there, as well as those of doctors and other professionals such as accountants. He also sees food service and retail in the mix.

"You will have a nice balance of services," Nesheiwat said.

The area is developing fast, in what was mostly farmland not so long ago. The spot is where Route 376 crosses Robinson Lane, but the increasing population in southern Dutchess means a rising need for services, and for many, long distances to existing cities and villages where they are most common.

"You would have to travel 20 minutes in either direction to get to these services," Nesheiwat said.

Families are challenged to find spare time. "It's a two-income household, both husband and wife have to work," he said.

That looked to him like an opportunity. "I'm seeing a change," Nesheiwat said. "It's a good investment."

He didn't give an exact price, but said the 36,000-square-foot project will have cost "several million" dollars when complete in a year or so.

The main partners are Nesheiwat and relatives Al, Joseph and Jimmy Nesheiwat, the latter of whom has a company, Nesheiwat Builders, that is the prime contractor. Engineer Mike Gillespie and Taconic Design Consultants, both local firms, are the designers.

Nesheiwat is especially proud of the way the building will look.

"You want to put some structure to the building, some depth, some character, instead of a plain-looking box," Nesheiwat said.

Footings have been put in, and workers are doing the extensive underground infrastructure including utilities, stormwater drainage and foundation work that precedes the above-ground building.

The marketing of the spaces, which range from 1,400 to 5,000 square feet, is in the hands of Dagar Group, Fishkill.

Asking price for rents is $25-$30 per square foot plus about $5 in charges for taxes, insurance and common costs, said David Livshin, Dagar president. A Dunkin' Donuts shop is going in; there are talks with a bank and with several pharmacy chains. Several other commitments are lined up.

The plaza has no anchor store as yet, but Livshin said the real anchor is the population base for a neighborhood center.

"No matter where you drive around East Fishkill, you see new developments springing up," said Glen Repko, senior vice president of Dagar.