Brownfields
Success Story
Empowered by Innovation
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Historically, the shores of Philadelphia's Schuylkill River near University City
and West Center City thrived with manufacturing jobs and businesses during
the Industrial Revolution. The 3,700 acre industrial district was one of the
older and more intensively used areas of Philadelphia and helped make the
city a workshop of the world.
Over time, the heavy industrial exploitation of the Lower Schuylkill River
contaminated the soil and groundwater of the area. Contaminants included
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals such as arsenic, lead,
and chromium.
The steady decline of manufacturing and industrial enterprises as well as the
outmigration of residents to the suburbs created a void in one of Philadelphia's
most vibrant industrial locations. Despite the high levels of pollutants, vacant
buildings, and blight from decades of decline, the Philadelphia Authority for
Industrial Development (PAID) and the City of Philadelphia recognized the
incredible opportunity for redevelopment along the Lower Schuylkill River and
decided to invest in the revitalization of the community.
EPA Grant Recipient:
Philadelphia Authority for Industrial
Development
Grant Type:
Revolving Loan Fund
Former Use:
Industrial Research and Development
Current Uses:
Mixed-use Commercial and Research
Incubator
Priming the Property for Redevelopment
In 2013, EPA Brownfield grant recipient PAID and the City of Philadelphia
formed and initiated a 20-year, $400 million master plan to remediate and
redevelop the Lower Schuylkill River area.
A key site in this effort was a former DuPont research and development site
that sat atop 23 acres of contaminated land within the Lower Schuylkill River
area. In 2015, PAID loaned and subgranted $600,000 of EPA Revolving Loan
Funds to the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn), which leveraged an
additional $37.5 million investment from the University, to clean up the
contaminated soil of the property through institutional and engineering
controls. The property was restricted to nonresidential site use and was
capped with additional coverage of pavements and buildings.
The University of Pennsylvania originally took interest in the DuPont property
due to its connectivity of the main campus to other areas of the city as well
as providing beneficial opportunities to students. UPenn had the vision to
acquire the property in October 2010. With EPA and City support, UPenn
remediated the 23 acres brownfield site to help set the stage for the
University's "Pennovation Center".
&EPA
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Above: Pennovation Works is established within the
Lower Schuylkill River area of Philadelphia near Center
City and the main Penn campus. Below: The former
DuPont facility, which was used primarily for producing
resin and dispersing it in quantities up to 300 gallons.

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Open, social spaces and an emphasis on daylighting
create an interactive hub for innovators from ail
disciplines to exchange ideas and collaborate on projects.
The transformation of the
3,700-acre Lower
Schuylkill River area into a
21st century commercial
hub will provide greater
connection for the
surrounding
neighborhoods, allow
ideas and innovation to
flow, and create a
workplace for the future
of Philadelphia. //
John Grady,
President,
Philadelphia Authority for
Industrial Development
For more information:
Visit the EPA Brownfields website at
www.epa.gov/brownfields or contact
Stephanie Branche at 215-814-5556 or
branche.stephanie@epa.gov.
Effective partnerships and collaborations were able to propel RAID's master
plan and vision forward in the early stages of cleanup and redevelopment.
Federal, state, and city dollars were invested into the Lower Schuylkill River
area to transform it into the Innovation District that is developing today.
"In planning the Lower Schuylkill, we saw tremendous opportunity for
transformation, investment, and growth of an area that had been largely
vacant and underutilized," said PIDC President, John Grady. "Realizing the
vision of the master plan takes dedicated partners like the City of
Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania, and the EPA."
Pennovation Center Today
By utilizing EPA Brownfield funding and removing the barriers to
redevelopment, the Pennovation Center has been able to bring students
and the private sector together to foster interaction and the exchange of
ideas. The Pennovation Center is a LEED Gold certified establishment of
cutting edge labs, creative common spaces, and inventor garages.
Businesses range from a working dog center to a vaccine innovation lab to a
drone and robotics lab. These facilities are designed to be an incubator for
researchers, innovators, and entrepreneurs to advance science and
commercialize research discoveries.
Green initiatives, stormwater management techniques, and sustainable
development enhance the environmental stewardship of the 58,000 sq. ft.
building. Additionally, the Pennovation center hosts a variety of programs,
trainings, and events making it the driver of greater things to come in the
Innovation District. The Pennovation Center earned PAID the prestigious
2017 Phoenix Award for excellence in brownfield redevelopment
establishing it as one of the top brownfield projects in the country.
Down the Road
The Pennovation Center has opened the gateway for community
revitalization in the Innovation District. Since opening, 64 companies and
266 entrepreneurs have used the space within the center. As these
companies and entrepreneurs grow, they can expand to adjacent businesses
or even form a business of their own.
PAID's master plan to improve the Innovation District articulated a phased
approach with initial activity focused on the Pennovation Center. If
development continues according to that plan, the Innovation District will
surface as a key engine of Philadelphia's economy.
"We have continually seen results as we work together with our partners on
the redevelopment of this area," said PIDC President, John Grady. "The
Pennovation Center is just the beginning of a next generation of
development that will continue to drive growth in this area."
Kate McNamara (third from the right) receiving
Phoenix Award for the Pennovation Center.
EPA 560-F-17-197
August 2018

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