Contaminated Willow Grove Military Base Slated For Redevelopment: The Philadelphia Deal Sheet
Redevelopment plans for a former Navy base in Montgomery County could soon move forward as officials aim to replace it with homes, offices, a conference center and much more.
Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove in Horsham Township was decommissioned in 2005. The site was contaminated with PFAS “forever chemicals” stemming from fire retardants used there.
With remediation efforts underway, the Horsham Land Redevelopment Authority is hoping to build a mixed-use community that could include a middle school, an aviation museum and a town center with an ice skating rink and a movie theater, WHYY reported.
“The township residents were very, very particular in what they wanted to see happen there, and we wanted to make sure that the redevelopment of the property would happen in harmony with the existing township,” HLRA Executive Director Michael Shinton told the outlet.
Officials said development of the site could begin within 12 to 18 months. Remediation of the former air base isn't entirely complete, but construction can begin on sections that have been cleared as safe.
SALES
Buccini Pollin Group has purchased three buildings spanning 252K SF at the Bellevue Park Corporate Center in Wilmington. The transaction involves two four-story office buildings and a historic mansion on the site that tenants can use as a private amenity space.
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Mapletree Investments purchased a 38-acre site in Tobyhanna, Monroe County, with plans to build a 420K SF logistics center at 1180 Corporate Center Drive E. It is expected to deliver in fall 2026.
LEASES
A national third-party logistics firm has signed a full-building lease for the 1M SF facility off Exit 10 on I-81 in Chambersburg. The project was developed by an affiliate of Endurance Real Estate Group.
A Cushman & Wakefield team including Gerry Blinebury and Alex Wenger represented the ownership, while Cresa’s Eric Zahniser, Brad Struck and Clint Manning represented the tenant.
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More than 62K SF of industrial space has been subleased at 3500 Industrial Road in Harrisburg, according to a social media post. Lee & Associates broker Brad Swidler helped coordinate the transaction.
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Insurance company Plymouth Rock Assurance inked an 11K SF lease in Modani Properties’ office building at 501 Fellowship Road in Mount Laurel, which is now 90% occupied.
An NAI Mertz team including Scott Mertz and John Adderly was the exclusive leasing agent. JLL also helped Modani complete the transaction.
CONSTRUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT
Pennrose and other stakeholders celebrated the developer’s completion of the Residences at Harper on Tuesday. The 76-unit affordable complex is at the corner of East Gate and Harper drives in Moorestown.
The four buildings were funded with low-income housing tax credits. Units are available to prospective tenants making between 30% and 60% of the area median income.
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Serfass Construction & Development plans to build a new condo complex in downtown Easton, according to a social media post.
The Residences at the Lynden at 101 S. Third St. will include 73 one-, two- and three-bedroom units with price tags as high as $750K, Lehigh Valley News reported.
