Construction To Get Underway By July On Massive Keystone Trade Center

One of the largest projects in the region will get underway by July, officials said Monday evening.

NorthPoint Development representatives said during Monday evening’s Falls Township Board of Supervisors’ meeting that construction on the first building, a 1 million-square-foot warehouse, will begin soon. The construction will first put up the shell of the warehouse.

The supervisors voted to approve an indemnification and hold harmless agreement with the developer so they can begin clearing the site and pouring footers and foundations as they await needed permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and other agencies.

“The agreement protects Falls Township and ensures that the township is not held responsible for any pre-construction activities, responsibilities, or costs borne by NorthPoint,” a statement from the township said.

The agreement allows NorthPoint Development to prepare up to 155 acres for construction. The area is part of the first phase of the proposed multi-phased development of the 1,800-acre former U.S. Steel site that was purchased by NorthPoint Development for $160 million late last year.

Under the current rules, developers are required to give the township proof of required permits, which have not yet been obtained by NorthPoint Development.

In March, the supervisors approved preliminary and final land development for NorthPoint Development to build the first 1 million-square-foot warehouse on land near the entrance to the property. A tenant for the large building has not been announced, as NorthPoint Development builds warehouses on a speculative basis. The company has previously worked with Home Depot, Staples, Walmart, Amazon, FedEx, XPO Logistics, Chewy.com, General Motors, and Ulta.

The initial warehouse will be 49 feet tall with a maximum of 194 loading dock doors, 475 parking spots, including 18 handicapped parking spaces. Trucks would enter the site primarily via Tyburn Road and Route 13. The structure will be a concrete tilt-up-style with exterior walls.

NorthPoint Development officials have stated the project has the potential to add 5,000 to 10,000 jobs and 15 million square feet of new warehouse space with a total investment of $1.5 billion over the coming years. The company said they want to develop the “largest e-commerce, logistics, and multi-model industrial project on the East Coast” with room for as many as 20 new buildings.

All three taxing bodies for the property – the Bucks County Commissioners, Falls Township, and the Pennsbury School District – agreed in December to allow the site to become a Keystone Opportunity Investment Zone from January 1 and ending on December 31, 2035. The designation will give the developer tax breaks to encourage growth.

NorthPoint Development has agreed to provide updates to infrastructure and landscaping at the property. The company also will invest $25 million for remaining environmental cleanup at the large site.

Previous reporting on the project:

• 1 Million-Square-Foot Warehouse For Keystone Trade Center Approved
• First Warehouse Proposed For Keystone Trade Center Project To Come Before Public
• Keystone Trade Center Project Allows Water Authority To Build New Treatment Plant
• Large U.S. Steel Site In Falls Twp. Sold For $160 Million
• County Commissioners Approve Tax Break For Massive Keystone Trade Center Plan
• Tax Breaks Could Help Development At Proposed Keystone Trade Center
• Keystone Trade Center Project Moves Forward
• Ground On Billion-Dollar Keystone Trade Center Could Be Broken By Spring
• Falls Twp. Holding Special Meeting On Proposed U.S. Steel Site Redevelopment
• Plans For U.S. Steel Site Show New Billion-Dollar Development, Potential For Thousands Of Jobs
• EXCLUSIVE: Large U.S. Steel Site To Be Sold To Developer
• U.S. Steel Seeking To Sell Fairless Works Site

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