Just a heads up, demo has started at Byberry, as of monday they were ripping down the Laundry building and there are a bunch of new signs up along carter road. Byberry has its days numbered now.

Fuk that sucks....

*Howls* Noooooooooooooooo!

14 years of fun comes to an end. Well, at least it seems to only be the South Units so far. People can still check out the Central, North and West units.

Who's paying for cleanup and are there reuse plans?

Byberry was part of the same bill that Pennhurst was in on. The current plan (unless it's changed in the past few months) is to turn the Byberry site into a retirement community. There was a lot of fighting over it by the local residents.

As for the clean up, they've got a long way to go. As far as I know nothing has been done about the asbestos and I'm sure the EPA sanction on the location will delay any major demolition until things on that end are resolved.

I've only been to Byberry once last August and time was short so we only really got into the tunnels and basements. I was really hoping to go back and get into a lot more of it. Is the site busy now because of the demo? I'd still like to go back sometime soon if it's possible.

The main site is still cool for exploring. Security is either not there or is more interested in getting liquored up. I believe they've making progress on the south buildings, across the street on southampton road, because they are the most visible and it's good PR. Daytime is great for photos. Nighttime is even better for the experience. Lots of different people hang out there.

Yeah just watch out for those open manholes...dont go alone if your not familiar with the place and even if you are, be careful...security is still there and watching and you have to worry more about the internal security now...hehe

Posted by HauntedPA Byberry was part of the same bill that Pennhurst was in on. The current plan (unless it's changed in the past few months) is to turn the Byberry site into a retirement community. There was a lot of fighting over it by the local residents. As for the clean up, they've got a long way to go. As far as I know nothing has been done about the asbestos and I'm sure the EPA sanction on the location will delay any major demolition until things on that end are resolved.

Where do you get your facts from, brian? It seems like you're ever willing to jump on a subject whether you know anything about it or not. In this case, you're regurgitating the rumors that have been floating around amongst the pre-pubescent crowd for some ten years now.

That said, The ownership of Byberry was transferred from the state to the Philadelphia Industrial Development Council in January of 04 (for the grand sum of $850,000) after the successful submission of reuse plans by three local developers. All three redevelopment proposals called for a mixture of housing, retail space, and office space. These plans were approved by the community in Nov. 03. (the transfer was contingent upon community approval).

Ownership of the property still rests with the PIDC, though a single developer - and redevelopment plan - has been chosen. At present, negeotiations are finalizing regarding sale price, zoning, and tax allowances. It has always been part of the plan that the developer would shoulder the cost of environmental cleanups - thus the low selling price.

According to the developer, demolition is scheduled to take between 90 and 120 days once the contract passes.

The 22 acre tract of land accross Southampton Rd (containing the Laundry building, garages etc) was transferred to the parks dept for redevelopment as recreation areas, specifically ball fields like those just up the road. This redevelopment is being done seperately from the main parcel.

Well the important question is this- how long do we have before demolition seriously starts? I really want to get back there one more time.

Posted by RobbieKnobbie Where do you get your facts from, brian? It seems like you're ever willing to jump on a subject whether you know anything about it or not. In this case, you're regurgitating the rumors that have been floating around amongst the pre-pubescent crowd for some ten years now. That said, The ownership of Byberry was transferred from the state to the Philadelphia Industrial Development Council in January of 04 (for the grand sum of $850,000) after the successful submission of reuse plans by three local developers. All three redevelopment proposals called for a mixture of housing, retail space, and office space. These plans were approved by the community in Nov. 03. (the transfer was contingent upon community approval). Ownership of the property still rests with the PIDC, though a single developer - and redevelopment plan - has been chosen. At present, negeotiations are finalizing regarding sale price, zoning, and tax allowances. It has always been part of the plan that the developer would shoulder the cost of environmental cleanups - thus the low selling price. According to the developer, demolition is scheduled to take between 90 and 120 days once the contract passes. The 22 acre tract of land accross Southampton Rd (containing the Laundry building, garages etc) was transferred to the parks dept for redevelopment as recreation areas, specifically ball fields like those just up the road. This redevelopment is being done seperately from the main parcel.

I never denied any of that. You haven't seemed to realize that clean up on the site is still something that needs to be done. You need to read your facts more. Yes PIDC owns the site and is responsible for finding a developer. That you are correct one. There is an EPA sanction on the property according to the state in regards to the asbestos levels. I can provide the number of the state officials of which I talked to if you so desire it.

If you are going to deny the fact that it was part of the same plan that Pennhurst was in you REALLY need to look into your research a bit more. I've talked with local goverments and the state on the matter. Have you?

I think if anyone needs to research things more here it's you.

I will second that as I am the one who made most of the calls to the state in regards to Byberry and Pennhurst.

I think if anyone knows what they are talking about in regards to Byberry Robbie does...maybe you better do your research ......quoting you brian:you REALLY need to look into your research a bit more. I've talked with local goverments and the state on the matter. Have you?


YES! you just have no clue....

Posted by PaExplorations I think if anyone knows what they are talking about in regards to Byberry Robbie does...maybe you better do your research ......quoting you brian:you REALLY need to look into your research a bit more. I've talked with local goverments and the state on the matter. Have you? YES! you just have no clue....

Posted towards PAex and RK

I think coming from people who host and Post on Robbies big top forum. I think your credibility is kinda shot

Posted by PaExplorations I think if anyone knows what they are talking about in regards to Byberry Robbie does...maybe you better do your research ......quoting you brian:you REALLY need to look into your research a bit more. I've talked with local goverments and the state on the matter. Have you? YES! you just have no clue....

Um, what does that have to do with anything that I put in my last post? Robbie seemed to be denying that there is/was an EPA sanction on the property. Also the clean up on the asbestos hasn't been done yet. So how are my facts wrong?

Yes it has been sold to PIDC finally so there Robbie is correct. http://www.bizjour...story8.html?page=2 In that article it states both that there was environmental concerns and that there had been little support for redevelopment.

I also said:

Byberry was part of the same bill that Pennhurst was in on. The current plan (unless it's changed in the past few months) is to turn the Byberry site into a retirement community. There was a lot of fighting over it by the local residents.

See the "unless it changed" part? It obviously has so how I was wrong in that? Here's another thing that was ignored entirely:

As for the clean up, they've got a long way to go. As far as I know nothing has been done about the asbestos and I'm sure the EPA sanction on the location will delay any major demolition until things on that end are resolved.

Has anything been cleaned up? Has there been any major demolition on the site? No there hasn't. So is that statement wrong?

Also, to say that my facts are pre-pubecent and 10 years old is extremely WRONG. Here's an article from 2001 stating that it did have a retirment community planned: http://www.northea...tirementhomes.html The current plan for part of the site to be a residential community may include that yet. Hard to say what they will actually do with that segment of development.

Byberry and Pennhurst were part of the same legislation in which one site would be a retirment community/housing development and the other would be a veterans cemetery/park.

So looking at all that how am I wrong? I think you (Robbie and PAExplorations) need to calm the hell down a bit.

PIDC did own the property of Philadelphia State Hospital during the summer of 2002 in which the transfer from Pennsylvanian State Reality and PIDC was not yet complete as the state could not legally sell the land with an EPA section against them for asbestos. I spoke and still am in touch with a manager in the PA State Real-estate office, whom I spoke with many times in regard to access to both the property of Pennhurst and Byberry.

PDIC has had plans for the property for a while, yet with the EPA on the case they cannot demolish anything on the property without having the EPA lift the ban against any one building because of Urban development right next door. I've spoken to both PDIC and the EPA in regard to the property also, so I think I can safely say I know EXACTLY what I am talking about.

In January of 2004 the sale was complete but I believe (take note *BELIEVE*) PDIC stuck a deal with the EPA in order to finally complete the sale of the property (which was in limbo for a while due to the EPA) on the conditions that they would monitor the Asbestos removal before demolition.

You and Robbie have done nothing but give both of us hell every time we start talking about locations in Eastern, PA, What's the matter that makes you feel threatened by a group of Ghost Hunters? Is there some kind of mythical feeling you both posses that makes you believe somehow that you have this right to do nothing but bash us (and yes, we know you do) due to the fact we know about a lot of different locations in the state? Gods-forbid ANYONE knows more then you both regardless of the lack of correctness to said "knowledge".

Get off your high horses, you two (PAExplorations and Robbie) are acting like annoying five year olds who just realized they don't have the monopoly on a state and because of that feel the need to act like little snots throwing a temper tantrum.

Posted by Mike Dijital Posted towards PAex and RK I think coming from people who host and Post on Robbies big top forum. I think your credibility is kinda shot

oh mikey come on now, you know you want to be a part of the BIG TOP UE! The invite is always open!! Unlike the one you sent out to us....

as for brian and carrie we have been over this all before....blah blah blah no one can ever have an opinion or comment that differs from yours and you get all blown out of shape here..and damn i wish i had a monopoly on the state! chill out!

I think big top UE has been done before, its called the SUENM

Posted by PaExplorations as for brian and carrie we have been over this all before....blah blah blah no one can ever have an opinion or comment that differs from yours and you get all blown out of shape here..and damn i wish i had a monopoly on the state! chill out!

Chill out? We're not the ones talking shit about people behind their backs. We're also not the ones that made the first insult here. I'll point to this statement made by RK which started this whole thing:

Posted by Robbie Knobbie Where do you get your facts from, brian? It seems like you're ever willing to jump on a subject whether you know anything about it or not. In this case, you're regurgitating the rumors that have been floating around amongst the pre-pubescent crowd for some ten years now.

All I did was show that my facts were in fact true. All you have done PAex is insult me and regurgitate pointless things back at me.