Berkshire Hathaway Land Development and Newmark Commercial Real Estate are marketing for sale 5.6 acres at 501 Washington Street on Conshohocken’s riverfront. The property mainly falls on the Whitemarsh Township side of the border, with a small part in the Borough of Conshohocken. A price is not listed.
The current owner of the property is Dan Lepore & Sons, a masonry construction and restoration company that has owned the property since 1995. The property was previously owned by Hale Pump between 1987 and 1995. Prior to 1987, property records date back to 1973 and show that it was under the control of the Montgomery County Industrial Development Authority.
The approximately 50,000 square foot building on the property mainly serves as a warehouse with a small portion dedicated to office space.
In 2022, there was a proposal to construct a modern warehouse on the property, but that was withdrawn. The webpage where the property is being marketed, shows three potential redevelopment options for the property. These include a warehouse, self-storage, and residential. These examples are just to provide what is possible on the property.
On the Whitemarsh Township side of the Conshohocken riverfront, this property is the last remaining property between the border and the Spring Mill Train Station that is not currently under development or have an approval to be redeveloped. Just upriver is 401-433 Washington Street that is approved for a mix of apartments and condos and was recently cleared to make way for construction.
Just downriver is 601 Washington Street, which was purchased by Villanova University in 2023. The university has announced plans to construct a boathouse for its rowing program on the property. Interestingly, when MoreThanTheCurve.com first heard from a source of the planned purchase of the property, we were told it may also eventually include graduate student housing. A proposal to construct housing has not been submitted to the township. However, within the marketing of the 501 Washington Street property, it provides a synopsis of what is happening with nearby properties. In regards to 601 Washington Street it states, “Villanova University is presently working on the development process for the adjacent property – dormitories and boathouse.”
Further downriver is 801 Washington Street, which is the existing and active Hines Rowing Center that is home to the Whitemarsh Boat Club, the rowing program for Mount Saint Joseph’s Academy, and other high school programs.
As you approach the Spring Mill Train Station, 901 and 1001 Washington Street are two separate townhouse developments at different stages of development. Under construction with one phase complete is RiverPlace, a 62-unit townhome community at 901 Washington Street. Whitemarsh Township’s zoning hearing board recently granted zoning relief to allow a 49-unit townhome community at 1001 Washington Street, which is adjacent to the train station.
What comes along with all of this development is the completion and opening of Washington Street, which currently dead-ends near the Hines Rowing Center. As each property is redeveloped, the street will be completed and will eventually connected to the railroad crossing at Lee Street, which will provide for the only crossing on the Whitemarsh Township side of the border.