20 years of turning LVIP VII from an idea into 32 companies, 4,200 employees
It’s been 20 years since Lehigh Valley Industrial Park Inc. began its commitment to repurpose 1,000 acres of Bethlehem Steel land into business park that now hosts 32 companies and 4,200 employees. What follows is a timeline; see more at lvip.org.
JUNE 4, 2001: Kerry Wrobel joins Lehigh Valley Industrial Park, later becomes president and CEO.
JUNE 11, 2001: Bethlehem Steel contacts LVIP regarding the acquisition and development of the 300-acre Saucon Tract.
OCTOBER 2001: Bethlehem Steel files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
DECEMBER 2001: Bethlehem Steel and LVIP sign formal agreement for LVIP to acquire and redevelop the Saucon Tract.
FEBRUARY 2003: Jeff Feather, LVIP chairperson, contacts International Steel Group (ISG) executive to promote LVIP as the most qualified to lead the redevelopment of more than 1,000 acres of the Bethlehem Commerce Center.
MARCH 2003: LVIP given one month to assemble financing to acquire 1,000 acres of the Bethlehem Commerce Center prior to the sale of assets to ISG.
APRIL 2003: International Steel Group acquires the assets of Bethlehem Steel, including all property in Bethlehem.
ISG commits to selling 1,000 acres of the Bethlehem Commerce Center to LVIP and 600 acres to Majestic Realty. LVIP commits to construction of Commerce Center Boulevard, new rail bridge and intermodal facility.
JUNE 2003: Acting Bethlehem Mayor
Jim Delgrosso and Kerry Wrobel travel to Washington to meet U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter to secure $5 million grant for Route 412 reconstruction and widening.
JANUARY 2004: Gov. Ed Rendell holds a news conference to announce LVIP is awarded a $1.25 million Infrastructure Development Program grant from Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development for first phase of infrastructure within the Saucon Tract.
FEBRUARY 2004: LVIP pays for the demolition of the remaining Bethlehem Steel structures on the Saucon Tract. LVIP informed that LVIP VII may be a leading candidate to receive funding from Rendell’s new $2 billion economic development initiative that will direct a portion of the funds toward brownfield redevelopment.
MAY 2004: LVIP acquires 1,000 acres of former Bethlehem Steel land from ISG.
JULY 2004: LVIP sells 32 acres of land to United States Cold Storage.
SEPTEMBER 2004: LVIP commences construction of Emery Street to serve Cold Storage parcel. By 2005, Emery Street construction completed.
2005: Commerce Center Boulevard and intermodal construction started. LVIP receives funding from Pennsylvania, including $5 million grant and $10 million loan.
2008: LVIP completes construction of its 42,000 square-foot office building on LVIP VII property with initial tenants — Spillman Farmer Architects, HDR, and LVIP — occupying the building in December.
2015: Reeb Millwork acquires land from LVIP to construct a new headquarters and manufacturing facility, relocating all operations from Fountain Hill.
2019: Trammell Crow commences construction of two industrial buildings totaling 500,000 square feet on the LVIP VII interchange tract off Interstate 78. LVIP completes construction of its 40,000-square-foot flex industrial building in LVIP VII.
2020: Bowery Farming announces plans for $42 million project in LVIP VII.
2021: LVIP recognizes its 20-year initiative to redevelop the Bethlehem Steel lands.
Lehigh Valley Industrial Park Inc.