Philadelphia reports ‘significant progress’ on Southport development

The Philadelphia Port Authority hopes to have the marine terminal property under development in 2017.    The Philadelphia Regional Port Authority said Friday it’s making “significant progress” in its plan to develop the Southport Marine Terminal Complex, and hopes to have the site under development by 2017.
   Development of Southport, a 194-acre site up river from the former Philadelphia Navy Yard in South Philadelphia, would be the first major expansion at the Port of Philadelphia in more than 50 years, the port said.
   A Request for Qualifications (RFQ), the next step in selecting one or more private-sector partners to develop the three parcels that make up Southport, will be issued in September, according to the port.
   The port said the RFQ process will be overseen by its board of directors and a team of advisors.
   Three waterfront sites collectively comprise the Southport complex: the Southport Marine Terminal (119 acres); Southport West (75 acres); and Pier 124 North Berth, a 1,132-foot finger pier.
   The port said a request for expressions of interest issued late last year “garnered a high level of response from maritime industry, manufacturing, and energy companies.”
   The RFQ “will widen the process, encouraging the continued participation of past respondents while inviting additional private sector interests to present their visions for the Southport property,” the port added.
   The port said it will target the RFQs to be submitted by November and that it will then respond to a “short list” of proposals by December. The expected due date for the proposals will be in June 2016.