6/29/2023 0 Comments Steam power plantThese developers hope that the building is not demolished, and instead is remediated and repurposed (OCF Realty, 2021). This appreciation of abandoned buildings, and the purpose they serve to show off Philadelphia as a historic city, is maintained by certain developers. While the Philadelphia media rarely comments on these abandoned buildings, its usual portrayal is a negative image of the plant, using diction such as “blight,” “eyesore,” and “nuisance.” However, the perception from the local Callowhill community appears to be not as homogeneous, with some residents stating that they “like the atmosphere it brings,” (interview with Jon). This building is not on the national or statewide radar, and even barely gets any attention from the city itself. However, as stated by Joel Palmer of Scioli Turco, remediation costs are projected to be upwards of $1 million, a considerable fundraising challenge for the organization (Romero 2016). This process is accomplished without using taxpayer dollars and without involving local/City resources (Scioli Turco). Recently, there have been reports that Scioli Turco, a conservator organization based in Philadelphia, has plans to remediate the industrial site and remove the excessive asbestos, using Philadelphia’s Article 135, which allows for organizations to take ownership of abandoned sites:Īct 135 is ‘An Act providing for court-appointed conservators to bring residential, commercial and industrial buildings into municipal code compliance when owners fail to comply.’ Act 135 provides an expedited means of alleviating blight and making derelict properties habitable and taxable. Not only does this building serve as a historical reminder of the industrial history of Philadelphia, including the brutal history associated with coal, but it also serves as reminder of deindustrialization–a critical era of change for the city (Mackaman 2016). No activity has been observed on the property since, and attempts to reach Tran have been unsuccessful (Kostelni 2016). Most recently, in 2005, the shuttered plan was purchased by Quyen V. In 1987, PECO sold this steam and distribution system to Philadelphia Thermal Energy Corporation, which shut down the facility and sold it in 1993 to Trigen Energy Corporation (Kyriakodis 2012). Essentially, the plant burned coal to make steam, which was then brought via rail car to Center City (Kyriakodis 2012). The Willow Street Steam Generation Plant was built in 1927 to generate steam heat for industrial users along the Reading Railroad line.
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