More than a decade ago, local lawmakers and private investors proclaimed that the arrival of a Major League Soccer franchise in Chester and the stadium that was built to house it would eventually transform a brownfield along the Delaware River into a glitzy destination with housing, restaurants, and more, writes Caitlin McCabe for The Philadelphia Inquirer.

“It’s going to change the face of Chester forever,” said then-Gov. Ed Rendell. “This development will, I absolutely believe, guarantee that Chester will become one of the first-class cities in Pennsylvania.”

Save for the stadium, the waterfront looks pretty much the same today as it did back then.

The Philadelphia Union’s parent company is again launching development plans. (By 2017, Keystone Sports and Entertainment had purchased an approximately one-mile stretch of land.) In partnership with the Riverfront Alliance of Delaware County, the company has asked architectural firms to submit ideas and analysis for a “Chester Waterfront Master Plan.”

“A few years ago, we started this idea of trying to really retain or acquire the land around our stadium so that we could create a true waterfront campus and do something that no other sports team in Philadelphia would have,” said Tim McDermott, the Union’s Chief Business Officer. “We often hear from our fans that they would like to see more down here next to the stadium.

“By stepping in and controlling the area around us, we have a much better opportunity to do those things and bring that to life.”

Click here to read more about the Chester waterfront in The Philadelphia Inquirer.

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