PRESS RELEASE - Drexeline Project 2021 Update

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

March 3, 2021

Contact socialmedia@upperdarby.org 

MAYOR KEFFER GETS DREXELINE PROJECT MOVING AGAIN 

Construction set to begin this April 

UPPER DARBY, PA — Mayor Barbarann Keffer is pleased to announce that the Drexeline Redevelopment Project received final approval to proceed in a unanimous vote by Upper Darby Township Council during their meeting on Wednesday, February 17th. This decision underscores Mayor Keffer’s commitment to working with developers to reinvest and revitalize Upper Darby in a dynamic and environmentally-responsible way.

“Drexeline is Upper Darby’s largest redevelopment project in 25 years, and it will be of tremendous benefit to the community,” said Mayor Keffer. “I thank Township Council for their support in proceeding with the plans, and we are looking forward to what will be created by this project, including new jobs, improved roads, and an enhanced hub for public transit.” 

The Drexeline Shopping Center Redevelopment Project is located on State Road in the Drexel Hill section of Upper Darby, and it is being managed by an affiliate of MCB Real Estate. Phase 1 of the project is scheduled to start in Spring of 2021, pending additional State and Federal approval. When completed, the project will contain a new state-of-the-art 72,000 square foot ShopRite, 14,000 square feet of retail, restaurants and service providers, along with the construction of a new Wawa and a renovated PNC bank branch and an additional 6,400 square feet along State Road. ShopRite, the 14,000 square feet of retail and Wawa are currently scheduled to open in the Fall of 2022. The final phase of the project is slated to include a new market-rate, multi-family residential building and multi-use trail along the Darby Creek, as well as a new self-storage facility. The project should be fully completed in mid-2024.

“The perseverance and commitment from Mayor Keffer (and her administration) along with the Township Council and community members of Upper Darby, have driven this project forward” says, P. David Bramble, Co-founder and Managing Partner of MCB Real Estate. “MCB and our partners at The Hampshire Companies look forward to continuing our close working relationship with Upper Darby as we move our focus to leasing the 20,000 square feet of retail shop space.  We are more than excited to start construction on what will be a staple within this community for decades to come.”

“The new Drexeline Shopping Center will help bring the community together through its mixed use space, which will provide a larger area in which to live, work, and play,” Mayor Keffer said. “It will also help alleviate traffic congestion, provide more off-street parking for residents and visitors, and improve stormwater management in the Drexel Hill neighborhood.” 

Upper Darby is Pennsylvania’s sixth-largest municipality. Elected in 2019, Mayor Barbarann Keffer has focused her efforts on reform, revitalization, and reinvestment into Upper Darby. Keffer is also working to make the community more inclusive and grow it as a forward-looking regional leader for families and businesses.  

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