From Abandoned Hospital to Industrial Hub: PIDC’s Vision for Byberry Delivers Jobs & Opportunity

by Rachel Hazzard
June 30, 2025

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Redeveloping large and complex sites—particularly those in dense urban settings—takes time, commitment, and vision. PIDC’s Byberry Industrial Park proves it’s worth it. What began as the abandoned Philadelphia State Hospital campus is now a dynamic industrial and residential community—delivering jobs, investment, open space, and long-term economic impact for the city.

As the City’s public-private economic development corporation, PIDC led the redevelopment of these sites. Through sustained investment and collaboration across decades, we helped turn a long-underutilized space into a powerful driver of economic growth in Northeast Philadelphia.

40

Years of Development to Complete

75

Individual Parcels Sold

1,000+

Living-Wage Jobs Created

A Long-Term Investment in Transformation

PIDC’s work in the transformation of Byberry Industrial Park began in the 1980s and has spanned several decades. Through a series of strategic acquisitions—including Byberry East and West, and most recently the former hospital site, Byberry North, in 2003—we assembled approximately 750 acres to support long-term economic growth in Northeast Philadelphia.

PIDC helped lead a community-based planning process to guide redevelopment of the site. This plan set aside 30 acres for protected open space and 55 acres for residential use—now home to the Arbors at Eagle Pointe. 

Building the Foundation for Industry & Jobs

To prepare Byberry for investment and job creation, PIDC managed the buildout of essential infrastructure, including key thoroughfares like Meetinghouse Road, Townsend Road, and McNulty Street. We oversaw the installation of utilities and stormwater systems and parceled the land as development interest increased. 

Over the course of nearly 40 years, PIDC sold 75 individual parcels to a range of businesses, including industrial, office, and other commercial users. We partnered with leading developers like the Rockefeller Group and Westrum Development Company to bring state-of-the-art logistics facilities to the park, adding to Philadelphia’s competitiveness in advanced manufacturing and warehousing. 

The sale of 2703 Black Lake Place in 2025 to RAR Capital, a local, minority-owned real estate investment and development firm, marked the final parcel sold by PIDC in Byberry Industrial Park, concluding our more than 40-year role in revitalizing this once-neglected space into a cornerstone of regional industry.

Since redevelopment began, Byberry Industrial Park has generated thousands of living-wage jobs for Philadelphians. Today, it is home to a mix of businesses and institutions spanning multiple sectors—all contributing to the city’s economic strength and stability.

A Model for What’s Possible

The success of Byberry Industrial Park is a testament to what long-term public-private partnerships can accomplish. It reflects decades of collaboration between the City of Philadelphia, PIDC, and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to reclaim a space in disrepair and reimagine it as a center of opportunity.

“The transformation of Byberry Industrial Park is a testament to the power of long-term investment and coordinated public-private partnership,” said Thomas Dalfo, Senior Vice President of Real Estate Services at PIDC. “This project turned a dormant site into a thriving industrial hub that continues to create real economic value for Philadelphia. It has attracted and retained businesses, brought new investment into the city, and generated thousands of well-paying jobs—many of which don’t require a college degree. Industrial development like this strengthens our economy and provides reliable pathways to economic mobility for working Philadelphians. It’s a model we should continue to build on.”

Advancing Opportunity

Discover how PIDC is driving transformative redevelopment and fueling job creation across the city.

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