Falls Twp. OKs Warehouse Expansion For Keystone Trade Center

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA — An approval by Falls Township supervisors means that progress will continue on the Keystone Trade Center.

Supervisors approved an amended final land development plan that will allow NorthPoint Development to consolidate two buildings from the first phases of their project into one large warehouse. The building will total 1,159,849 square feet, along with a 10,205-square-foot vehicle maintenance garage and a 1,219-square-foot salt storage building.

The Monday meeting saw an attorney from NorthPoint discuss further plans for the Keystone Trade Center, saying that the developer is "excited" to continue construction and begin "filling the parks with tenants."

This warehouse will be one of five planned buildings that NorthPoint is developing with the approval of Falls Township. These latest developments are part of the three phases the company has in play, according to attorney Michael Meginniss.

NorthPoint plans to revitalize the 1,800 acres of the property by constructing about 20 industrial warehouse buildings, which will total 10 million square feet; the overall project could reach up to 15 million square feet.

Supervisor Chairman Jeff Dence said that various items such as roads, sidewalks, trees, and landscaping would all be addressed toward the end of the project, which is expected to be finished in five to six years.

Jeremy Michael, NorthPoint’s director of development, said previously that he hopes to have the first tenant occupying the space by year’s end. Michael said he anticipates breaking ground on the buildings for phase two this year, with completion in 2023.

The overall development is expected to continue for another five or six years, according to Michael, with some full-time jobs available this year and more “ramping up” next year.

The endeavor is expected to create between 5,000 and 10,000 new jobs. It is expected that NorthPoint will spend an estimated $40 million to $45 million to finish the whole redevelopment.