American company Hilco Redevelopment Partners (HRP) has begun vertical construction on The Bellwether District, a multiuse redevelopment site in South Philadelphia, US.

The Bellwether District is situated at the centre of the US Eastern Seaboard.

This project covers construction on a 1,300-acre site and will transform an old industrial site into an advanced technology, e-commerce, and logistics complex.

The former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery is nearly demolished, which will lead to a 16% decline in emissions in Philadelphia.

The former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery was bought out of bankruptcy by HRP in June 2020.

This site will accommodate a 14-million-square-foot complex separated into two commercial campuses - 250 acres for the Innovation campus and 750 acres for the Industrial campus.

A ground-breaking event was held to mark the beginning of the first phase of vertical development on the site’s Logistics campus. Lots 15 and 16 will include two industrial buildings totalling one million square feet.

South Philadelphia City Second District councilmember Kenyatta Johnson said: “This is an exciting project that will serve as an economic hub in the Greater Philadelphia region.

“The demolition of the former refinery has already created over a thousand union construction jobs, and the construction of new buildings on the site will mean even more work for unions in Philadelphia.”

Over a ten- to 15-year period, The Bellwether District is expected to generate 19,000 direct permanent employment opportunities and more than 28,000 direct construction jobs.