Commercial Development Company, Inc. (CDC) has commenced a multi-faceted construction project expected to include 3.75 million square feet of space called “First State Crossing”, a redevelopment of the former Claymont Steel Mill on a 425-acre property located in the heart of Delaware and just south of Greater Philadelphia. The estimated $850 million new construction project is expected to have the largest economic development impact of any project in the state, according to Brett Saddler, Executive Director of the Claymont Renaissance Development Corporation. The master plan includes 3.75 million square feet of new construction – office, residential, retail, light-industrial, and a new nature park with an extensive network of walking trails and other community amenities.

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At the heart of the development is a $70 million transit center, which will connect the new development to Philadelphia and other neighboring metro areas. Currently under construction, the transit center is expected to open in August 2023. The state-of-the-art transit center will replace the current Claymont Train Station, which is located nearby and out-of-date. The new location will include access to regional train transportation (Amtrak) as well as the local bus networks, biking, and walking trails. The new facility will be designed with the goal of providing an accessible and convenient experience for all passengers, and fully compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards. To facilitate the construction of the new transit center, Commercial Development Company donated 15.5 acres of land to the Delaware Transit Corporation in 2018.

Industrial: In January 2023, Commercial Development Company sold 28 acres at First State Crossing to First Industrial Realty Trust, who will construct a 358,000 SF industrial distribution facility at the development. In response to market demand for ready-to-occupy logistics facilities, the building will feature 68 dock door positions, parking for 241 trailers, 40-ft ceiling heights, and LED lighting. The building’s flexible design will accommodate supply chain requirements for a single tenant or multiple users across a range of industries.

Industrial: In October 2023, Agile Cold Storage officially broke ground on its $170 million cold storage facility at First State Crossing. The first phase of the 265,000 square foot warehouse will be completed and operational by early 2024. In total, Agile Cold Storage plans on bringing 130 new jobs to Claymont.

Residential: The First State Crossing project includes plans to build 1,200 residential units located in 1,800,000 SF of buildings. Many of the new apartments and townhouses will be positioned to overlook the Delaware River. “This new residential community will represent the largest waterfront development in the Greater Philadelphia market,” said Stephen Collins, Executive Vice President at Commercial Development Company. Just a short walk from the transit center, the residential development at First State Crossing is expected to be an attractive living location, not only for local workers but also for those who commute to Philadelphia.

Walking Trails & 50-Acre Nature Park: One of the most attractive elements to the First State Crossing project is the creation of a new county park and extensive network of walking trails connecting to the popular East Coast Greenway. The park and trail network will represent the largest public park in the commonwealth of Delaware, with 50 acres of nature preservation and over 6 miles of new, public-access walking trails throughout the development.

Retail: First State Crossing plans for 105,000 SF of retail space mixed throughout the development. Commercial Development Company has strong interest from multiple retail outlets who have identified this location as ideal for self-storage, retail fueling stations, pharmacies, and restaurants.

Office: First State Crossing also includes long-term plans to construct 500,000 SF of Class-A office space and a 160,000 SF parking garage with space for 450 vehicles. Despite market trends indicating a slowing demand for new office space due to remote work practices, First State Crossing plans to allocate space for corporate campuses as market demand returns.

Economic Impact: Prior to construction, Commercial Development Company commissioned independent economic analysis using IMPLAN software to determine the overall economic impact of the First State Crossing master plan. Here are some of the results:

• Costs of construction and infrastructure improvements: $850 million
• New construction & end user jobs (not including the multiplier effect): 2,100
• Estimated annual economic output for the region: $880 million
• One-time impact from construction and infrastructure improvements: $105 million