For well over 100 years, 34th and Hartranft Streets in South Philadelphia was the location of the East Coast’s biggest oil refinery, writes Inga Saffron for the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

It was the site of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery.

However, after a 2019 explosion and fire destroyed the refinery, the then-owner was forced to declare bankruptcy. 

In 2020, Hilco Redevelopment Partners bought the refinery and will soon begin construction on two new structures — a warehouse/industrial area and a life sciences campus within those 1,300 acres of land in the area.

Hilco is calling its development project, The Bellwether District, which aims to be Philadelphia’s new home for e-commerce, life sciences, and logistics leaders.

Once completed, the large structures could dramatically help reshape Philadelphia’s economy and transform the South Philadelphia area into a mirror image of The Philadelphia Navy Yard. 

While The Navy Yard currently employs about 15,000 workers across various companies and industries, Hilco is looking to employ about 19,000 in the area by 2043.

The Bellwether District is a relatively short distance from Philadelphia International Airport, Packer Avenue Marine Terminal, and I-95. 

Learn more about how the new Bellwether District could become a key to transforming the local economy at The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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A lot of work needs to be done to transform the former site of the Philadelphia Energy Solutions into the new Bellwether District.