Graffiti Pier Collapse: What’s Next for Philadelphia’s Iconic Spot?

 

One hot summer day in August 2016, nearly eight years after my last visit, I went back over my archived photographs of the vibrant graffiti hub that had become a hot spot on Instagram so long ago. I knew it was illegal to step onto the property—it’s mostly abandoned and isolated, with over 150 acres of old industrial coal structures. But I found it quite peaceful, and I wasn’t the only one there admiring the artwork. Despite Philadelphia having some dangerous neighborhoods, I never felt unsafe at the pier.

Recently, Graffiti Pier made headlines again. On July 31, 2024, a 10-20 foot section of the pier’s eastern point collapsed into the Delaware River. This part of Pier 18, once a coal-loading site for the Reading Company in Port Richmond, has been in a state of limbo for decades. The collapse could push it towards being sold or lead to its complete demolition.

What could have been a prime riverfront public park for Philadelphia residents?

Since 2018, the Delaware River Waterfront Corporation (DRWC) has been planning to buy the land from Conrail, the current owners, to turn it into a public green space. This plan includes not just Graffiti Pier but also over 150 acres of riverfront property stretching from Cumberland Street to Alleghany Avenue, encompassing seven other abandoned piers.

DRWC’s vision includes making the trails wider and accessible for everyone, creating marshes, building new concrete walls to prevent erosion, putting up fences along the pier’s edges, and planting native plants and trees. However, the recent collapse might impact these plans. Conrail (formerly Consolidated Rail Corporation), the longtime owner of the pier, has held the property for nearly fifty years. Although it hasn’t been used since 1993, it has become a popular spot for trespassers—renegade artists, musicians, fishermen, picnickers, and dancers have all found their way onto the pier. Despite locked gates and no-trespassing signs, people have slipped into parties, and created art, or fish. The site has even been home to people experiencing homelessness and has seen open drug use and other illegal activities, according to Conrail.

A segmented section of Graffiti Pier 18. 

Former Port Richmond tidewater terminal of the Reading Railway System

The pier’s history is well-documented on social media, showcasing everything from engagement photo shoots to mosh pits. Now, Conrail is considering its options: turning the site into a public park, building condos, or even reactivating it as an industrial site.

Just behind me was the 15-foot concrete structure that fell into the water on July 31. 

Sources:

1. Litchkofski, A. (2024, August 6). Partial Collapse of Graffiti Pier Leaves Future Park Plans in Limbo. Hidden City.

2. Forman, B. (2024, August 5). ‘No trespassing’ signs have gone up at Graffiti Pier after its collapse. Philly’s street artists say they’re undeterred. The Philadelphia Inquirer. 

3. Brown, J. & Mosbrucker-Garza, K. (2024, August 7). Conrail warns Philly’s Graffiti Pier trespassers it’s not a public park — and might never be. WHYY PBS.