New river community will boast 1700 units

Someone needs to write a summer song that will rival "Along the Way to Cape May" traditionally sung by Philadelphians as they trek to the Jersey Shore. That's because Philadelphia will soon have its own waterfront community.

Councilwoman Joan Krajewski cleared the way for this development recently with the passage by City Council of her bill changing zoning along the Delaware River on the old Northern Shipping site.

Since then, the "rush to the river" has gotten up a good head of steam.

This week, at a meeting at the Quaker City Yacht Club sponsored by Sen. Mike Stack and Rep. Mike McGeehan, residents from Bridesburg to Tacony to Holmesburg, were given an insight into what's happening along "their" river.

What they saw made them realize they were not only seeing a city returning to claim some of its waterfront from abandoned industrial sites, but a new city, which will include 1700 housing units, a hotel, public marina, jogging and bicycle paths, a wellness center, two town squares, four village greens, offices and supporting retail uses.

They also were jolted by the fact that though their concerns about the impact "Independence Pointe" would have on their communities, the prices would start out at $300,000.

Giving them the reality check was Charles L. Kamps III, president of Transactional Property Solutions, which is heading the development of the 70 acre former industrial brownfields site located just north of Bleigh Avenue.

His firm has done similar projects in New Jersey and along waterways in other states where dormant industries left behind polluted sits.

He credited Councilwoman Krajewski, Sen. Mike Stack, and Rep. McGeehan and local community leaders for dedicating long hours to help them reach this stage, but sees "groundbreaking still a year away at the least."

The 70-acre former industrial brownfield site is located on the North Delaware Adjacent to Pennypack Park, "Independence Ponte" is designed to continue public access to the river within its confines. Total open space will occupy more than 50% of the developed site.

With regard to residential uses, a total of approximately 1,700 dwelling units are planned, in addition to an 80,000 square foot hotel. Residential units will include a variety of types. There will be singles, back to back and stacked townhouses, duplexes, brownstones, new lofts, senior residences and even a variety of new housing product types yet to be built in the eastern part of the country.

Kamps said "Unlike much of what is being built in Philadelphia today this project will not be a high-rise project. In keeping with our getting back to the environment theme most everything (other than the hotel) will be within walking distance that is vertical walking distance to ground level.

"Parking will be a key need that will be met through appropriately distributed spaces for residents and visitors."

The market value at project completion is projected to exceed three quarters of a billion dollars. TPS is also developing a similar complex on the former US Army Tacony Warehouse.