ABINGTON, PA. — After a lengthy approval process, construction has begun for Switchville Crossing, a mixed-use redevelopment project located in the Philadelphia suburb of Abington. The property, which is located at the intersection of Highland Avenue and Wharton Road, was formerly the home of sheet metal fabricator Willard Inc. but has been vacant for several years. Duke Real Estate Partners purchased the property in 2005 with the intent of redeveloping it into a commercial retail project. Countless meetings with local officials and citizens groups refined the idea, and in November 2009, Duke was approved to construct a mixed-use retail and office project.
The first retailer at the new Switchville Crossing project will be LA Fitness, which is scheduled to open in late 2010. The next component to be built will be a three-story office building with ground-floor space for retail and restaurants. Completion of this building will come in 2012. Finally, a 3,000-square-foot outparcel will be developed at a later date. Demolition of the current industrial building has already commenced, and vertical construction will follow soon after.
“This exciting new project will bring life to a property that has been vacant for 8 years,” said Stan Casacio, principal of Duke Real Estate Partners, in a statement. “It will create a neighborhood destination as well as provide jobs for area residents.”
— Coleman Wood