Warehouse Project Along Route 13 Gets More State Aid

A warehouse project along Route 13 in Bristol Township is set to get additional state support.

BCCI Levittown LLC is planning to turn the currently-shuttered Hammock Hotel in the 6200 block of Route 13 by the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge into a large warehouse.

The project is already getting $250,000 in state tax credits, and now will receive $2 million in state funds from the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program to redevelop the site. State Sen. Steve Santarsiero and State Rep. Tina Davis, both Democrats, announced the new funding this week.

BCCI Levittown LLC told the state previously they will spend more than $10 million to build a 110,000-square-foot logistics warehouse that will be “occupied by a well-qualified tenant.” The document lists a real estate firm was hired to find a tenant.

The state lawmakers stated the new development will include private water, sewer and stormwater infrastructure.

The developer received approval to develop the warehouse on the nine-acre site in August. They told township officials they plan to rip down the hotel to construct the 130,000-square-foot distribution facility with 14 loading spaces.

BCCI Levittown LLC has an agreement to purchase the property.

“This warehouse redevelopment project would be a welcome addition to Bristol Pike and the township, creating jobs for the construction phase and permanent jobs upon completion,” said Santarsiero.  “I’d like to thank Governor Wolf for supporting my request to dedicate RACP funds for this project, which will help grow Bristol Township’s local economy.”

“These state funds will help support the ongoing revitalization of manufacturing industries in the area through the redevelopment of an industrial and logistics warehouse,” Davis said. “I thank Gov. Tom Wolf for allocating these RACP funds to this project which will create new jobs and support industry, energizing Lower Bucks’ economy.”

Mike S. Callahan, vice president of acquisitions and development for Benchmark Real Estate and Benchmark Construction, which is involved in the project, thanked the elected officials for choosing the project for the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.

“This investment will help return this property to a productive and positive use, generating jobs and tax revenues to benefit the community” said Callahan.

The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Office of the Budget and is aimed at regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement.

Prior to the hotel closing, officials called the Hammock Hotel a “safety concern” that it had complaints of “loitering, needles, trash and 911 calls.”

The hotel is the site of the March 2000 murder of exotic dancer Rachel Siani. The 21-year-old woman’s body was dumped from the turnpike bridge on the New Jersey side of the Delaware River. Her killer, John Denofa, formerly of Buckingham Township, is serving time in a New Jersey prison for her death. The case has garnered national attention over the years.

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