In 2015, the First State Crossing project was first announced, and the Commercial Development Company first began redevelopment plans for the 425-acre former EVRAZ steel mill in Claymont, DE, which is located right outside of Philadelphia. Plans moved forward in February 2019 when CDC announced a $71 million transportation center to break ground on the site in April 2019. Since that time, construction has been ongoing. Overall, the project will include the transit center and space for residential, office, retail, industrial, and hotel. 

What Are the Details of the Project?

The most recent concept of the project was released in 2020 and includes plans for 1.8 million square feet for residential units (which equals to 1,207 units in total), 989,000 square feet in office buildings, 380,000 square feet allocated to three industrial facilities, and 105,000 square feet for retail space. 

The most central piece of the project will be the new Claymont rail station, which both SEPTA and Amtrak will service. Developers estimate that the rail station will service approximately 1,200 passengers each weekday. The entire project is broken down into phases, with completion expected to take upward of 10 years. 

Phase 1 includes a 17-acre office park with a 460-space parking garage to accommodate it. This park will be adjoining the train station. Phase 2 will feature another office building at Naamans Road and I-95, retail space, a pharmacy, and a restaurant. Phase 3 will be a 35-acre site off Philadelphia Pike that will include three industrial buildings and an office building. Phase 4 will be concentrated on mixed-use and will feature a gas station, strip retail with restaurants, a grocery store, an apartment complex, and three office buildings. Phase 5 will be a residential complex across from the train tracks comprising townhomes. 

While part of the overall First State Crossing project, the rail station project is not included in the phases. The design firms on this project are Tevebaugh Associates of Wilmington, DE, and VanDemark & Lynch Inc., also of Wilmington. 

Why Is This Project Important?

This project is being built on a distressed and defunct site, and the transit center will accommodate rail, bike, bus, pedestrian, and auto travelers. The developers plan a full economic and environmental redevelopment plan for the area, which it needs. Local residents have never been in opposition to this project. 

The transit portion of the project is expected to be completed in 2022. 

For more information on this project and others, visit the CIS Leads website today.