By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer

How can anything be developed at Byberry with all of the existing traffic congestion in the area?
What about emergency services? How will people be protected against a fire with no fire station and all that traffic?
And what about the flooding? Homes along Poquessing Creek already wind up under water after a decent rain. Won’t construction at Byberry make that problem even worse?
These questions and many more found their way to the floor last Wednesday night when the Somerton community got its first look at the latest plans for the redevelopment of the 153-acre former Philadelphia State Hospital, located west of Roosevelt Boulevard, primarily between Southampton Road and the Poquessing Creek.
Few answers to those questions were to be had at the session, which was called by state Rep. George Kenney (R-170th dist.) and held at the Walker Lodge. The biggest question of all went unanswered, too.
If the proposed buyer — the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation — gets the ground, what does it plan to do with it? Traditionally, PIDC has proposed corporate office and light-industrial development for the area.
“They (PIDC) don’t have any plans, I think, if you ask them today,” said Kenney. “As of today, nobody knows. And that’s why we’re here.”
The lawmaker characterized last week’s community event as an information-gathering session where residents could air their concerns about development on the record. A stenographer recorded every word during the two-hour meeting.
“I think you’re going to be hearing a lot from (PIDC) in the next six months to a year,” Kenney added.
The former psychiatric hospital — commonly known as Byberry — was phased out and finally closed 12 years ago by the state, which owns the expansive site. Although the property is valued at between $75,000 and $100,000 per acre, according to a PIDC official, it also is burdened by about two dozen environmentally hazardous buildings.
The dilapidated former hospital facilities contain asbestos, among other contaminants. It will cost an estimated $15 million to $22 million to clean the site, thereby negating its inherent value — and then some.
Under an agreement of sale signed in July, PIDC — a quasi-city agency that promotes business development — stands to buy about 130 acres of the land for $1. The remaining 22 acres would become state park ground, if Kenney gets his way.
He might.
The sale is contingent upon enabling state legislation. Since the ground is in Kenney’s legislative district, he would be the one to introduce the bill in the House. The lawmaker plans to make the 22-acre park a condition of legislative approval of the sale. Another condition, Kenney says, is the support of the community.
“The protection of the quality of life of people in this community is my number-one concern,” he said. “(PIDC) has six months to present a plan to the community . . . and an additional six months after that to finalize the plan.
“Until I’m totally convinced (the community is protected) — PIDC tells me, the community tells me, elected officials tell me — that is not going to be touched.”
The meeting was not without controversy. Somerton Civic Association president Mary Jane Hazell raised questions about the tax-exempt status of the land and how that will affect potential residential development. Hazell favors single and twin homes with a 55-and-older age restriction for a portion of the tract.
Under the state tax incentive program, the land is called a Keystone Opportunity Zone. But a KOZ designation applies only to business development, not residential.
“With KOZs, the state allowed the city to pick their own areas,” Hazell said. “According to the (city) commerce department, if they want to change it, they can take it out of the KOZ (program). It would take an act of City Council.”
Kenney said such a change might require state approval, too.
Frank Novak, a resident of Carter Road, which borders the western edge of the site, opposes any residential development there. The agreement of sale calls for a 250-foot-wide strip of green space between Carter Road and new construction. Novak doesn’t think that’s enough.
“I don’t know why people don’t understand the most intrusive type of development is housing,” Novak said. “It’s twenty-four/seven. Even if they’re fifty-five (years old), they’re going to be going to work every day.”
Dolores Barbieri, first vice president of the civic association, challenged the need for a 250-foot buffer strip, which amounts to 25 of the 130 acres included in the agreement of sale.
“The buffer you’re getting along Carter Road, I think, is excessive,” Barbieri said, drawing groans from many other residents of the area. “Of all the communities in Somerton, you’re going to be looking at twenty-five acres of grass. Who else is looking at that?”
Another man, who identified himself as a Milford Street resident, disagreed.
“We would like fifty acres. We’d like a hundred-and-five,” he said, drawing a smattering of cheers and applause.
Inevitably, the talk returned time and again to traffic. Specifically, residents discussed vehicles going in and out of the Delaware Valley Veterans Nursing Home and Benjamin Rush State Park across the Boulevard.
They discussed ingress and egress to the Byberry site from Southampton and Carter roads. They discussed the configuration of the Byberry entrance along Roosevelt Boulevard.
And they talked about the role that extending the nearby Woodhaven Road expressway could play in alleviating many of their traffic concerns.
“I have a husband with medical problems who the Philadelphia police and fire have saved three times,” said a woman from London Road. “Now I worry because you can’t even get out onto Southampton Road.”
City Councilman Brian O’Neill (R-10th dist.), who, like Hazell, has supported PIDC’s interest in the old hospital site, put the onus back on the state to work out traffic issues.
“In my opinion, the state should pay the fifteen or twenty-two million to clean (the site) and keep it until Woodhaven Road is finished,” O’Neill said. “I think we shouldn’t rush. I know if you don’t do anything but tear the buildings down, you’re not messing the property up.”
Kenney has said repeatedly that he’s in no hurry to have the state demolish the buildings because, as long as the structures remain, the community will be protected from unwanted redevelopment.
Paul Deegan, a Somerton resident and PIDC senior vice president, told the neighbors that his agency has no site plans to show them yet. Nevertheless, he welcomed them to review PIDC’s development history in the area.
During the 1970s and ’80s, PIDC facilitated the Byberry East and West industrial parks, working with community groups that included the Somerton Civic Association.
“All we can show you is our track record,” Deegan said. “We’ve tried not to create problems, and we’ve tried to create jobs and tax (income) for the city.”

William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com