Cardone Industries, at 5501 Whitaker Ave., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on July 18 to mark completion of stormwater management renovations.
The renovations were made with a $3.4 million Stormwater Management Incentives Program grant from the Philadelphia Water Department and the Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation.
Launched in January 2012, the SMIP grant program is designed to be a catalyst for transforming large, commercial impervious properties that generate high volumes of stormwater runoff and burden the city’s sewer system and waterways, into properties that build and maintain green stormwater management practices.
The Cardone renovations included a 530-foot vegetated swale; a 10,000-square-foot above-ground detention basin; a 15,000-square-foot underground detention basin; a 40,000-square-foot underground detention basin; and a 45,000-square-foot above-ground basin.
The improvements will result in 50 greened acres on Cardone’s property. A greened acre is equivalent to one inch of managed stormwater from one acre of impervious drainage area.
The renovations will protect the water quality of the Tacony Creek and reduce Cardone’s stormwater fees.
“Today is a day to highlight the fact that government and the private sector can work together to benefit our citizens, our city and our economy,” said Cardone CEO Kevin Cramton. “Thanks to the Water Department’s help in securing the grant funding for this project, Cardone Industries was able to meet federal stormwater regulations at this facility. That greatly reduces pollution of our rivers and streams, which is good for all of us in Philadelphia, and it does so without skyrocketing costs that could have directly impacted Cardone’s ability to compete in Philadelphia.”
Cardone, founded in 1970, is a supplier of automotive replacement parts, with 6,000 employees across the United States, Canada and Mexico. Its Whitaker Avenue headquarters consists of 60 acres.
Cardone was recently honored by the Tookany/Tacony-Frankford Watershed Partnership with its Watershed Corporate Steward award.
Among those attending the ribbon-cutting ceremony were City Councilwoman Marian Tasco, Councilman Bobby Henon and Howard Neukrug, commissioner of the water department. ••
