Riverpark Farm Relocates from Stalled Construction Site to Riverfront Plaza at the Alexandria Center for Life Science in New York City

NEW YORK, May 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Riverpark restaurant and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) have relocated New York City's most urban farm with resumed construction of the West Tower at the Alexandria Center for Life Science. Launched in 2011, the Riverpark Farm was originally located on a stalled construction site where construction of the West Tower at the Alexandria Center for Life Science was temporarily suspended due to the unprecedented worldwide financial crisis in 2009. Created with portability in mind so it could be relocated once construction resumed, the Farm was composed of approximately 7,000 milk crates stacked on pallets as planters. With resumed construction of the West Tower in late 2012, the highly portable Farm has been relocated to the riverfront plaza at the Alexandria Center for Life Science, directly adjacent to Riverpark restaurant, where it will continue to provide the restaurant with dozens of varieties of fresh produce. The Riverpark Farm's large scale, direct connection to a restaurant and innovative approach to urban farming distinguish it from all other farms in New York City, and has garnered it international accolades including the Municipal Art Society of New York's Livable City Award. With its new location, the Riverpark Farm continues to stimulate local interest and economic activity, benefit the environment, beautify an area and engage the community. 

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In May 2013, the new 10,000 square foot Riverpark Farm site reveals a distinctive green space with spectacular views of the city skyline, East River and the unparalleled urban farmscape. Guests dining on Riverpark's patio and terrace will now have a direct view of the Farm, along with the beautiful East River. Riverpark will celebrate the seasonal bounty of their crops by offering a three-course, chef selected farm dinner, served both on the outdoor terrace overlooking the farm and in the dining room. The family-style farm dinners are prepared with fresh ingredients from the Farm such as radishes, bronze fennel and sugar snap peas.

"Our Farm was always meant to be portable and we are very excited for the next phase," says Sisha Ortuzar, chef of Riverpark and co-founder of the Riverpark Farm. "The new location creates a different climate for the plants and will allow for more diversity of what we grow, and in turn cook for our guests." 

"The decision to retain the Riverpark Farm on the Alexandria Center for Life Science campus exemplifies Alexandria's commitment to sustainability, to livability, and to innovation," says Scarlet Shore, Vice President of Marketing, Communications and Strategy at Alexandria, and co-founder of the Riverpark Farm. "With the Riverpark Farm's new and improved location, we look forward to continuing to provide inspiring, creative environments for our tenants and the broader life science community."

In addition to supplying the restaurant with fresh seasonal produce each day, the Riverpark Farm has proudly grown into an active part of the local dining and farming communities. The Farm has a strong dedication to supporting the local community, and resumed tours of the farm, school visits, and free Saturday workshops at its new location in the summer.

The Riverpark Farm was created with support from GrowNYC, a non-profit focused on improving New York City's quality of life through environmental programs, green markets, community gardens and education initiatives such as Learn It, Grow It, Eat It (LGE) and the School Garden Initiative. The restaurant is also working with the Fresh Air Fund (FAF), a not-for-profit agency that has provided free summer experiences in the country to more than 1.7 million New York City children from disadvantaged communities, as part of a summer internship program involving Riverpark and the Farm.

About the Riverpark Farm at the Alexandria Center for Life Science:
The Riverpark Farm at the Alexandria Center for Life Science is one of the largest urban farming models in New York City that supports a restaurant. The Riverpark Farm, developed through a partnership between Riverpark restaurant and Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., supplies fresh produce to the adjacent Riverpark restaurant. About 100 types of greens, herbs, vegetables, peppers, tomatoes, and flowers are grown at the Riverpark Farm during each growing season. For more information about the Riverpark Farm, please visit www.riverparkfarm.com or call 212.729.9790.

About Riverpark Restaurant:
Riverpark restaurant draws inspiration from New York's international food culture, highlighting seasonal ingredients to offer an innovative, fresh approach to American cuisine. Chef/Partner Sisha Ortuzar developed the concept for Riverpark and provided the creative vision for its modern American menu. The Restaurant also reflects Tom Colicchio's vision as restaurateur, showcasing his thoughtful approach to dining. Located on a unique garden plaza overlooking the East River, Riverpark represents a dynamic culinary destination in Manhattan's Kips Bay neighborhood, sourcing produce directly from Riverpark Farm at the Alexandria Center for Life Science. For more information, please visit www.riverparknyc.com or call 212.729.9790.

About Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc.:
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE: ARE) is the largest and leading investment-grade real estate investment trust (REIT) focused principally on owning, operating, and developing high-quality, sustainable real estate for the broad and diverse life science industry. Founded in 1994, Alexandria was the first REIT to identify and pursue the laboratory niche and has since had the first-mover advantage in the core life science cluster locations including Greater Boston, San Francisco Bay Area, San Diego, New York City, Seattle, Suburban Washington, D.C., and Research Triangle Park.  Alexandria's high-credit client tenants span the life science industry, including renowned academic and medical institutions, multinational pharmaceutical companies, public and private biotechnology entities, United States government research agencies, medical device companies, industrial biotech companies, venture capital firms, and life science product and service companies. As the recognized real estate partner of the life science industry, Alexandria has a superior track record in driving client tenant productivity, collaboration, and innovation through its best-in-class laboratory and office space adjacent to leading academic medical research centers, unparalleled life science real estate expertise and services, and longstanding and expansive network in the life science community. For additional information on Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc., please visit www.are.com.

SOURCE Riverpark Farm