Defunct South Philly refinery is rebranded as the Bellwether District
HRP, the company formerly known as Hilco Redevelopment Partners, announces a new name for the PES refinery
Roberto Perez, the chief executive of HRP, walks through the former PES refinery in South Philadelphia that his company is redeveloping into a mixed-use facility called The Bellwether District.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
HRP, the company formerly known as Hilco Redevelopment Partners, on Monday unveiled a new name for the commercial real estate venture it plans to build on the site of the shuttered South Philadelphia refinery: the Bellwether District.
The Chicago company acquired the 1,300-acre Philadelphia Energy Solutions property out of bankruptcy last year. It previously disclosed plans to clean up the polluted complex, where petroleum was refined for more than 150 years, and build a warren of giant warehouses.
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HRP said the e-commerce, logistics, and life sciences businesses that it hopes to attract to the site will create 19,000 permanent jobs over the next 15 years.
The north side of the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery site in South Philadelphia, which is slated to be redeveloped into a multi-use area called The Bellwether District.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
Roberto Perez, chief executive of HRP, the company formerly known as Hilco Redevelopment Partners. HRP is cleaning up and redeveloping the 1,300-acre former PES refinery site in South Philadelphia.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
Demolition of PES refinery equipment is underway. The South Philadelphia site, closed in 2019 after a devastating fire and explosion, was purchased out of bankruptcy by HRP in 2020.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
An artist's rendering of The Bellwether District, the mixed-use development proposed for the former PES refinery site in South Philadelphia. The project is being developed by HRP, formerly known as Hilco Redevelopment Partners.Read moreHilco Redevelopment Partners
Demolition of PES refinery equipment is underway. The South Philadelphia site, closed in 2019 after a devastating fire and explosion, was purchased out of bankruptcy by HRP in 2020.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
A soon to be demolished flare tower at the former PES refinery site in South Philadelphia. The South Philadelphia site, closed in 2019 after a devastating fire and explosion, is being redeveloped by HRP.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
Roberto Perez chief executive of HRP, walks through decommissioned PES refinery equipment. HRP is redeveloping the 1,300-acre site into a mixed-use district.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
An artist's rendering of The Bellwether District, the mixed-use development proposed for the former PES refinery site in South Philadelphia. The project is being developed by HRP, formerly known as Hilco Redevelopment Partners.Read moreHilco Redevelopment Partners
Oil pumps once used to move crude oil from train cars at the former PES refinery in South Philadelphia. HRP is redeveloping the site into a mixed-used area it calls The Bellwether District.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
From left to right: Melissa Schrock, SVP of mixed use development, Roberto Perez, CEO of HRP, and Jasmine Sessoms, SVP of corporate affairs pose for a photograph at HRP’s Bellwether District build site, October 22, 2021, Philadelphia, Pa. HRP is a vertically integrated real estate investment and redevelopment company that redevelops obsolete industrial sites around the United States. One such site is the 150-year old PES oil refinery property in South Philadelphia that will be home to The Bellwether District, one of HRP’s largest undertaking. The Bellwether District is a 1,300-acre South Philadelphia property where the former PES Refinery once stood. It encompasses 2% of the land mass of the city of Philadelphia and promises to serve as a leader in e-commerce, logistics and life sciences.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
Storage tanks used for crude oil and refined products at the former PES refinery in South Philadelphia. The redeveloper, HRP, will retain some of the tank farm operations, which still have value to businesses that trade oil products.Read moreTHOMAS HENGGE / Staff Photographer
The Bellwether District name “reaffirms Philadelphia’s role as an innovator and achiever of many firsts for the country from the first library, hospital, and medical school to the birthplace of a new nation,” HRP said in a statement.
HRP, which has been under pressure from environmental and social justice activists, said the project will create opportunities for local residents and “foster meaningful connections between the city and the district.” Four new city streets are being created, two of which will be named after historic African American figures: James Forten, a Philadelphia businessperson and abolitionist, and Frances Harper, one of the first African American women to be published in America.
The new name will be launched this week in ads on billboards and radio. The venture has also locked in a slate of social media handles on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
