This article was produced by Hilco Redevelopment Partner.
The old adage, “Leave it better than you found it,” is central to Hilco Redevelopment Partners’ (HRP) vision of transforming old, run-down areas and making the economy, environment, and community more sustainable.
Leaving it better than you found it is often easier said than done, especially when cleaning up and modernizing contaminated areas across the country. When starting a project, HRP is in it for the long haul. HRP has an unwavering passion for breathing new life into areas by redeveloping industrial sites of the past into opportunities for the future. This work requires a holistic approach centered on listening to local communities and supporting local economies, and few do it with the same level of experience as HRP.
In Philadelphia, when HRP’s CEO Roberto Perez first heard about a 150-year-old refinery that was for sale, he saw an opportunity and embraced the challenge ahead.
Where many see old industry, run-down buildings, and years of labor, HRP sees opportunity to improve the environment and potential to create a lasting impact in the city and beyond. Perez knew that HRP could transform the refinery into a sustainable, economic ecosystem—what is now called The Bellwether District.
The Bellwether District in South Philadelphia is expected to take fifteen years to develop; once it’s complete, what was once Philadelphia’s biggest source of pollution will be an environmentally sustainable development, adding 19,000 jobs—putting the region at the forefront of logistics, e-commerce, and life science industries which are vital for a 21st Century economy.
Our nation’s cities are littered with relics of obsolete industries. Another example of HRP’s commitment to transforming cities for the future is Exchange 55, HRP’s state-of-the-art development of a former coal-fired power plant in Chicago that:
- Is the city’s largest LEED-certified green warehouse
- Delivered more than 1,000 new jobs
- Contains carbon offsetting infrastructure that supports electric vehicles
- Will accommodate solar panels for one-third of the roofing
- Contains green landscaping including 700 trees and 400 native plants
- Contains bioswales that absorb up to 16 tons (14.5 metric tons) of carbon dioxide per year
HRP is redefining the future of development by changing the narrative for these retired, industrial areas, constructing a significant platform to produce positive change.
Building green facilities and areas like Exchange 55 and The Bellwether District pave a path to a more sustainable future.
HRP goes even further though. HRP empowers a stronger economy, enriches cities for generations to come, and creates a space that benefits the whole community – leaving it better than they found it.
Learn more about how HRP is transforming cities and building a healthier future by visiting hilcoredev.com.
