Philadelphia, PA. – A coalition of private-public partners, including Shift Capital, Essence Development, and Temple University, is working to revitalize the North Philadelphia Amtrak site to build an economic engine for the surrounding community. Shift Capital and Essence Development, the owners of the property, plan to create a vibrant, transit-oriented, commercial and mixed-use project that will be a catalyst for local and regional economic opportunity. Temple University is proud to serve as an institutional partner aligned with this vision.
The North Station District comprises a vast amount of infrastructure that once moved tens of thousands of people during North Philadelphia’s economic boom in the early 20th century. The coalition believes this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to re-ignite that robust transit infrastructure. On Philadelphia’s path to becoming a more globally competitive city, it must leverage the cultural and economic strength of North Philadelphia’s neighborhoods — unlocking opportunity for a community long overlooked by investment and driving new economic growth for the region.
The North Station District will aim to increase Amtrak and SEPTA service, advance infrastructure improvements that enhance activation and connectivity, introduce commercial and maker space, and build mixed-income and workforce housing.
In addition to connecting the area with the rest of the region, the North Station District aligns with a broader vision for North Philadelphia’s growth as the third leg of Philadelphia’s research triangle—alongside University City and the Navy Yard. As North Philadelphia’s anchor institution, Temple, with campuses directly north and south of the North Station District, is deeply engaged in education, research, and community partnerships. North Philadelphia has tremendous potential in this effort, and the North Station District offers fertile ground for economic activity, job creation, commercial growth, and housing, alongside a rich history to motivate investment.
“For fifteen years, Shift has invested in and focused on North Broad Street,” said Brian Murray, CEO of Shift Capital. “The North Station District represents the most important economic opportunity in Philadelphia in a generation, and together with Essence Development and Temple University, we’re building the public-private coalition to ensure that opportunity drives equitable growth for North Philadelphia.”
“Throughout the early 20th century North Philadelphia was a place where industry, innovation, and opportunity powered the city and region. The North Station District is our opportunity to reclaim that legacy and partner with the Commonwealth, the City, and the community to reimagine it for the 21st century. By bringing together Essence Development, Shift Capital, and Temple University, we are aligning private investment, institutional leadership, and community engagement to deliver an inclusive, catalytic, and transformative development,” said Jamar Adams, former Philadelphia Eagle and Founder and CEO of Essence Development, a social and economic impact development firm.
“A reimagined North Philadelphia station would combine history and vision to accelerate the revitalization of North Philadelphia.” said John Fry, President of Temple University. “Temple is proud to support Shift Capital and Essence Development in the exploration of how the North Station District can expand access to jobs, transit, and housing and create an active hub for the communities we serve.”
“North Broad has already been experiencing meaningful investment and growth, and the North Station District builds on that positive momentum,” said Shalimar Thomas, Executive Director of the North Broad Renaissance. “While this vision is still in its early stages, it represents the kind of forward-looking collaboration that can strengthen our corridor for the long term. I’m especially encouraged by the exploration of commercial condominium models and other ownership pathways that allow local businesses to build equity and put down deeper roots. With thoughtful planning, this project can help ensure that growth along North Broad translates into lasting opportunity and shared prosperity.”
About SHIFT Capital:
Founded in 2012, SHIFT is a nationally-recognized neighborhood investment group that executes real estate projects and financing strategies that create equitable and mixed-income communities for the long-term. SHIFT believes community-centered investments create shared and sustainable economic opportunity and growth, and impact that unites people, businesses, neighborhoods, and cities. To date, SHIFT has invested over $330 million in the neighborhoods we serve to create ecosystems that strengthen entrepreneurship, creativity, and value for tenants, and health and safety for communities. SHIFT owns and manages a mix of 2 million square feet of new and refactored industrial, commercial, and residential spaces for small businesses, entrepreneurs, and residents. For more information, visit shiftcapital.us.
About Essence Development:
Essence Development is a social impact firm with a vision for building communities of opportunity. Essence begins with a scalable model that leverages the team’s years of experience with federal, state, and local programs to create and preserve affordable housing in urban cities throughout the country. One of the visions for Essence is to combine government programs with private sector resources to build and preserve communities. The model focuses on several high-impact areas to achieve this goal: Workforce Training & Income Mobility, Affordable Healthcare, Quality Education, Nutrition, Quality Sustainable Housing, and Broadband Connectivity.
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Media Contact:
Julia Limongello
