Former Shipyard Transformed Into Riverfront Condos

A former industrial site and shipyard along the Delaware River in Bristol Borough has been transformed into a new condominium complex as the riverfront town continues to see revitalization.

Radcliffe Court on the Delaware, which is being developed by Newtown-based BCS Builders, features 96 condominium units on a 14-acre site that once housed manufacturing operations, including for military ships and planes.

The project along Radcliffe Street is the second phase of development by BCS Builders, which took over a bankrupt developer’s neighboring site that led to the sale of more than 70 townhouses.

Bristol Borough Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III, who is also senior vice president of Long and Foster, the development’s real estate firm, said the condo units are in high demand.

Mayor Ralph DiGuiseppe III inside one of the condo buildings. Credit: Tom Sofield/LevittownNow.com

“We have residents moved in and agreements being signed,” DiGuiseppe said. “This is good for the borough.”

As of this month, nine units were occupied, and more than 20 agreements had been signed as construction neared completion.

The $40 million project features mid-rise buildings with two-bedroom, two-bathroom units, each approximately 1,200 square feet, and equipped with a corner balcony. Each unit can be customized and the buildings have elevators.

Prices for a condo range from $350,000 to nearly $500,000.

DiGuiseppe said the condos are attracting a diverse range of buyers, including seniors seeking to downsize and young professionals wanting to be in a walkable town near cities.

The mayor noted the river views and low-maintenance living as key selling points for seniors.

“Some people want to have a place here and a place in Florida, or they want to just downsize just for maintenance purposes,” DiGuiseppe said. “For them, this is the ideal product for them. It’s 1,200 square feet, two bedrooms, and no maintenance.”

The development is situated on land that does not require flood insurance, and the ground level of each building is dedicated to parking.

“It doesn’t flood because the elevation’s a lot higher,” DiGuiseppe said. “You can’t maximize the waterfront any better than this.”

“We have a walking trail. We have benches to sit out there. You know, this trail takes you all the way through town, which is roughly four and a half miles. People can walk, run, walk, take the dog, ride their bike. You can’t maximize the waterfront like this anywhere in Bristol Borough.”

Sue Edger, a Long and Foster realtor, highlighted the riverfront views, modern unit designs, and large walk-in closets as popular features among prospective buyers.

The development is also marketed for its proximity to Bristol Borough’s central business district, cultural festivals, restaurants, bars, breweries, the Bristol Riverside Theatre, and the Grundy Library.

“We’re right here at the base of the turnpike, 95, you’re a short ride to Princeton, a short train ride to New York or Philly,” DiGuiseppe said. “It’s just a very ideal location for people to commute, even for work or to visit relatives.”

After decades of population decline and business departures starting in the 1960s, Bristol Borough has experienced a resurgence in population and investment over the past 15 years.

DiGuiseppe, a lifelong resident, said he could not have imagined the riverfront town’s turnaround. He attributed the success to the community’s welcoming atmosphere.

“You’re part of a family,” he said. “It’s that hometown feel, that small-town America where you walk down the street, you’re gonna know 15 people.”