Opportunities

Opportunities

Interstate Highway Site Entrance Bellwether
Bellwether Bellwether Entrance Market-Frankford Line Media & Sharon Hill Lines Norristown Highspeed Line Broad Street Line SEPTA SEPTA Stop Existing SEPTA Bus Stop Proposed SEPTA Bus Stop
Interstate Highway Bellwether
Interstate Highway Bellwether
Interstate Highway Bellwether
Points of Interest

Overview

The Bellwether District is a generational project in an urban landscape in the heart of Philadelphia, the 7th largest MSA in the U.S. With unmatched scale, workforce, logistical and energy infrastructure, the Bellwether District’s location provides significant operational advantages within the region.

Convenient Access to University City and 30th Street Station

PHL is home to 1st FDA-approved cell and gene therapies

Proximity to PHL Airport’s Cool Port facility

Talent pool from 100 regional colleges and universities

Economic Incentives

Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ)

The Keystone Opportunity Zone (KOZ) Program is one of the nation's boldest and most innovative economic and community development programs. This unique program provides extensive business and real estate tax waivers to catalyze development of underutilized land and support community revitalization. The Bellwether District has recently secured approval to extend the site's KOZ designation through 2043, only the second time in state history an extension of this length has been granted to an economic development site.

Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT)

The City of Philadelphia offers tax abatement programs that provide the opportunity for users to significantly reduce their real estate taxes at the property. The PILOT Agreement, which also extends through 2043, acts as a companion to the KOZ to provide a pre-negotiated and significant reduced real estate tax payment schedule through the life of the KOZ.

Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ)

The Bellwether District site is eligible for a FTZ designation which is supported by PhilaPort as the grantee of the local FTZ. Each Tenant is required to apply for approval with the FTZ board and U.S. Customs based on their specific use. U.S. Foreign Trade-Zones encourage activity and investment in the United States. FTZs are secured, designated locations around the United States in or near a U.S. Customs Port of Entry where foreign and domestic merchandise are generally considered to be in international commerce and outside of U.S. Customs territory.

Tenants of the Bellwether District could be eligible for a variety of incentives offered by The City of Philadelphia and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For more information, please visit: City of Philadelphia | Programs and Incentives and DCED Programs and Funding.

Surrounding Amenities

Dining & Entertainment

57 within a 5 minute drive
864 within a 10 minute drive

Hotels

45 within a 10 minute drive

Retail establishments

150 within a 5 minute drive
1,833 within a 10 minute drive

Childcare/education facilities

318 within a 10 minute drive

"I am super excited by the size and scale of the [HRP] project. I’ve toured it and seen it firsthand. Not only are they transforming a huge piece of the city with an unmatched vision, but their success will mean that Philadelphia is a whole lot closer to being the number-one city in the country for biotech and life sciences."

Mayor Cherelle Parker

The Philadelphia Inquirer

March 14, 2024

"Pennsylvania has the opportunity to be an economic leader and drive innovation on a global scale – and the transformative redevelopment of The Bellwether District is a testament to what we can accomplish when we make strategic investments, harness our skilled workforce, and work together. Our Commonwealth is already a leader in growing industries like logistics and biotech – and this historic investment to build a new, sustainable community in Philadelphia will cement our position for generations to come while improving the lives of Pennsylvanians in the city and throughout the region. Under my Administration, the Commonwealth will continue to be a partner in supporting developments like The Bellwether District – along with our world-class academic institutions and our skilled workforce – to plant a flag and position Pennsylvania as a leader for decades to come."

Josh Shapiro

Governor of Pennsylvania

"I am excited to see a new day for the former Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery and I want to thank [HRP] for transforming this land into the new Bellwether District. 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."

Kenyatta Johnson

Kenyatta Johnson, Philadelphia City Council President

and District Councilmember (District 2)