Chester is becoming known as a major destination in the Philadelphia region as its waterfront has undergone a major metamorphosis, including the opening of Harrah’s Chester Casino & Racetrack in 2006 and the historic arrival of the Philadelphia Union and Major League Soccer to the City in 2010.
When Chester became eligible for Pennsylvania’s Opportunity Zone, or KOZ, program, firms began to receive state and local tax breaks to invest in KOZ-designated areas of this southeastern Pennsylvania city. The Wharf at Rivertown, a $60 million renovation of the Philadelphia Electric Company (PECO)‘s 396,000 sq ft generating plant, which was originally built in Chester in 1918, has returned the waterfront to the local residents, providing both recreational and office space for new local endeavors.
AdminServer is an upstart insurance software solution company that has drawn the market’s attention. Sun Shipbuilding converted part of the shipyard to a smaller shipping concern and sold its interest, then sold off portions of the rest to new users, such as the Pennsylvania State Correctional Institution Chester. Harrah’s Casino and Racetrack built its facilities beginning in 2005, launching harness racing along the Delaware River in September 2006, and its racino in January 2007.
With the expansion of State Rt. 291 and the redevelopment of the Chester Waterfront, both theDelaware River Port Authority and PennDOT have plans in place to start construction of new exit and entrance ramps from the bridge to Rt. 291, providing an alternate route to the Chester Waterfront.
More info:
http://www.chestercity.com/
http://www.chestercity.com/soccer_stadium.cfm
http://www.chestercity.com/stadium_site.cfm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester,_Pennsylvania
