PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — There's a new name and a big vision for the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery, the site of a 2019 fire and explosion in South Philadelphia. It's now being called the Bellwether District.
It's a good chunk of land: 1,300 acres, about 2% of Philadelphia's footprint. So what's going to go there?
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"Right now we are looking at a life science campus and an industrial campus. We want to attract businesses, large businesses — like in Chicago, our anchor tenant is Target," said Jasmine Sessoms with Hilco Redevelopment Partners, "so we want to go after businesses like that."
Sessoms said to expect this — along with the 19,000 jobs it will bring — over the next 15 years. But the transformation is already underway, and is visible from along 26th and Penrose.
"Our operations team has been working diligently decommissioning and demoing the site, and taking down the tanks in a safe and COVID-friendly way," she said. "We work hand in hand with a company called Evergreen. And we have an environmental specialist on staff. We have community meetings constantly."
Sessoms added, "We are committed to ensuring that we are building an economic engine that is good for the community, good for the economy."
We'll have four new street names to learn, including two in honor of black Philadelphians — pioneering author Frances Harper, and abolitionist and businessman James Forton.
As for the name of the district itself — to be a 'bellwether' means to be a leader, to take initiative.
"We think this property can be that for our city," said Sessoms. "'Bellwether' was truly a perfect indication of what we want to achieve."
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