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PHILADELPHIA-The first dirt has been moved to begin developmentof the Eagle Pointe community on the 131-acre NortheastPhiladelphia site of the former Pennsylvania State Hospital atByberry. Theproject is a joint venture between Fort Washington-based WestrumDevelopment Co., which is constructing the residential component,and Plymouth Meeting-based Brandywine Realty Trust, which plans a50-acre parcel containing up to 750,000 sf of office space.

The hospital, located at 2651 Southampton Road in the Somertonneighborhood, opened in 1907 and was shuttered approximately 16years ago. In the intervening years it has suffered from vandalismand decay. The state conveyed the site to Philadelphia IndustrialDevelopment Corp. for $850,000, requiring PIDC to develop a masterplan. Mayor John Street and Stephanie Naidoff, city commercedirector, selected Westrum/Brandywine in October 2004 from amongfive JVs that bid on development of the mixed-use community. It isa Keystone Opportunity Zone, which allows tax abatements for 10years.