Construction has officially begun on the Southern Berks Industrial Park, one of Pennsylvania’s most significant industrial redevelopment efforts in decades. The 5.5 million-square-foot Class A logistics and manufacturing hub is rising on a former Bethlehem Steel Grace Mine site in New Morgan Borough, transforming more than 1,200 acres of long-dormant brownfield land into a modern distribution and industrial corridor.
Led by Panattoni Development Company, the project marks a major expansion of Pennsylvania’s industrial capacity as demand for large-scale distribution centers continues to surge across the Northeast. The Reading Eagle first reported the groundbreaking, noting that the site sits directly off Route 10 with seamless access to I-76 and I-176.
The master plan for Phase 1 includes four Class A industrial buildings totaling more than 2.65 million square feet. According to the developers, the buildings are engineered for modern logistics operations with flexible column spacing, high-efficiency speed bays, and no height restrictions under general industrial zoning—a rare advantage that allows tenants to maximize vertical storage and automation.
Developers emphasized the project’s strategic location, noting that “36% of the US population and 57% of the Canadian population are located within a one-day’s truck drive from the site.” This geographic advantage positions the industrial park as a key distribution node for e-commerce, large manufacturing operations, and supply chain firms seeking high-capacity regional hubs.
Brinkmann Constructors, headquartered in St. Louis, is serving as construction manager. The team is targeting Phase 1 completion by Q4 2026, while Bohler Engineering’s Harrisburg office leads site civil engineering, permitting, and logistics infrastructure design. Bohler brings regional expertise, having engineered more than 20 million square feet of industrial space across Pennsylvania.
The Southern Berks Industrial Park is expected to reshape the county’s employment landscape. Phase 1 alone is projected to create 450 jobs, while full build-out across all nine planned buildings could generate up to 2,750 positions in logistics, distribution, warehousing, and related industries. The developer estimates the total economic impact at $2 billion, driven by new business activity, construction spending, and long-term operations.
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A major contributor to project feasibility is a 10-year LERTA tax abatement, which incentivizes redevelopment of deteriorated industrial property. Established in 1977, LERTA helps municipalities encourage investment in older or underutilized land—an approach that has proven vital for brownfield sites like the former Grace Mine property.
Local officials note that the development will deliver several community-level benefits, including:
These improvements are expected to strengthen the county’s industrial base and enhance its appeal for future manufacturing and logistics expansion.
The project positions New Morgan Borough as a growing industrial hub and signals sustained investor confidence in Pennsylvania’s logistics market. As the industrial park advances through 2026 and beyond, it is expected to anchor new supply chain networks, attract national tenants, and support long-term job growth for the region.
Originally reported by Marshall Benveniste in Construct Connect News.
