Philadelphia steam plant demolished
The art deco steam plant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania was built in 1929 by the same architects who built the rail terminal. Though the steam plant was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Amtrak has decided that it needs to be imploded, and not used for an expanded office park as they had envisioned a few years ago. The implosion was scheduled for Sunday, November 15.
Out of operation since 1964, the steam plant was contaminated with asbestos and PCBs. Asbestos is a toxic substance and a known carcinogen that was used ubiquitously as insulation and for fireproofing until the 1970s.
Both state and local historical organizations had protested the demolition of the steam plant. The Historical Commission requested a cost analysis for the possibility of retrofitting the buildings for lease to outside tenants, but Amtrak responded that post-9/11 security concerns have made such a thing impossible.
For the full story, go to Philadelphia Inquirer.
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