Philadelphia port properties attract interest from 16 developers

All three Southport tracts along Delaware River have garnered multiple proposals.    The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority (PRPA) said that 16 companies have responded to its request for development concepts for the three waterfront sites on the Delaware River.
   The port authority said it was pleased with both the “quality and quantity” of proposals for the three sites, which are collectively known as the Southport complex: the 119-acre Southport Marine Terminal, 75-acre Southport West Terminal and 1,132-foot Pier 124 North Berth.
   In October, the agency requested expressions of interest in developing the sites and said companies could submit expressions of interest for one, two or all of the properties. All three sites garnered multiple proposals.
   “We were truly gratified,” said PRPA Chairman Charles G. Kopp. “The breadth and quality of the proposals we received make us very optimistic about Southport’s future.”
   The 16 respondents were:

• Atlantic Realty
• Global Auto Processing Services
• Katoen Natie Group
• Liberty Property Trust
• MarkWest Energy Partners
• OHL Infrastructure
• Philadelphia Energy Solutions
• Walsh Construction
• Anthony Bruttaniti, representing the Philadelphia Global Trade Center
• Holt Logistics Corporation
• Liberty Energy Trust
• LNG America
• Navigator Gas
• Penn City Investments & Affiliated Companies
• T. Parker Host
• WesPac Midstream

   PRPA said it would evaluate the proposals and hoped to recommend one of the firms to its board of directors.
   “Unlike most other U.S. ports, which face major limitations when seeking additional land to grow, the Port of Philadelphia has hundreds of acres of prime space along the Delaware River to expand our operations,” said Kopp. “Our hope is that the current Southport initiative will bring about a partnership between PRPA and one or more private firms to fulfill our potential for expansion and economic growth.”